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Editorial

In Memory of Geshe Dadul Namgyal @

Tenzin Chodrak (July 1, 1959-Jan 3, 2024)

I first met Venerable Geshe Dadul Namgyal when I He was a philosophy professor at Central Institute of
invited him to speak at the World Buddhist Conference Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarnath, Varanasi, India for
at the Istana Hotel in Kuala Lumpur in November seven years, served as the Spiritual Director of LSLK
2012. The theme of our conference was “Transcending Tibetan Buddhist Center, Knoxville, Senior Resident
Negative Emotions -- To Create Happiness and Teacher at Drepung Loseling Monastery, Atlanta, and
Wellbeing in Our Lives”, and Geshe-la spoke eloquently senior teacher at Sravasti Abbey, Washington.
on this topic. My first impression of him was someone
humble, sincere, and kind, and after a few conversations Geshe-la had also served as Senior Translator/
realized he was a fountainhead of knowledge and Interpreter with the Center for Contemplative Science
wisdom. I subsequently visited Geshe-la on August and Compassion-based Ethics at Emory University,
24, 2013 at Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta, Atlanta, where he helped produced a science curriculum
USA, where he later invited me for lunch at a Penang for use in Tibetan monasteries and nunneries.
food restaurant. Geshe-la also agreed to be a regular
Due to his expertise in both Tibetan and English,
columnist for Eastern Horizon under our Forum
Geshe-la had also served as an English translator for
section where he contributed answers to questions on
HH The Dalai Lama throughout the world. He also
Buddhism from the Tibetan (Vajrayāna) perspective
translated HH The Dalai Lama’s Power of Compassion,
while Ven Aggacitta would respond from the Theravada
and Tsongkhapa’s Speech of Gold. He had also served as
perspective, and Ven Min Wei from the Mahāyāna
a Board Member for Tibet House, New York.
perspective. But in early 2023, Geshe-la wrote to
me apologizing that due to poor health he would
Geshe-la has been a good friend of our journal. On
not be able to continue writing for Eastern Horizon.
behalf of Eastern Horizon, let us all continue to dedicate
While I was deeply saddened by his letter, I was more
merits on his behalf, and make prayers and dedications
concerned for his health and wished him a good rest
for Geshe-la to be born in a pure land or take a precious
and speedy recovery.
human rebirth, to once again impart the sublime
Buddha Dharma for the well-being and benefit of all
Geshe-la was a prominent scholar in Tibetan Buddhism.
sentient beings. EH
He earned a doctorate (Geshe Lharampa) in Buddhism
and Philosophy from the Drepung Monastic University
Benny Liow
in 1992, and a M.A. in English Literature from Punjab
May 1, 2024
University in Chandigarh, India.