The Venerable Acharya Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, a highly realized and internationally respected teacher of Gelugpa Buddhism, was born in Tibet in the province of Kham in 1948. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche was recognized as the 13th incarnation of Lama Konchog Tenzin of Zuru Monastery.

In 1959, during the Chinese invasion, he escaped from Tibet and continued his education for sixteen years in India under the tutelage of many of the greatest teachers of Mahayana Buddhism.

In 1975, Zasep Rinpoche left India to study in Thailand where he joined the monks of a forest monastery. For eighteen months he studied and practiced with them. He then traveled to Australia and translated for Tibetan speaking Lamas for a number of years.

Since 1976 he has taught western Dharma students in Australia, Canada, and the United States and has developed Dharma centers in each of these countries. Rinpoche regularly visits these centers and offers extensive teachings, initiations and retreats which his many students enthusiastically attend.

In 1999, Rinpoche and his students created the Gaden for the West umbrella organization to more effectively support and nourish the study of Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhism in the West.

For an extensive biography of Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, and a library of Rinpoche's teachings, please see the Golden Blue Lotus Tara Center website.