If you wish to donate, or volunteer with CKSL, write to us at info@cksl.in
Choe Khor Sum Ling (CKSL) is a centre for the study and practice of Buddhism from the Tibetan Mahayana tradition. We’re located in Southern India, in the Bengaluru city of Karnataka. We have a quiet colorful temple which is open for lectures and structured courses. The use of our well-stocked library of Dharma books for loan is open to all.
CKSL is affliated with FPMT – website: fpmt.org. If a centre is affiliated with FPMT, it means that the centre follows the spiritual direction of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It means that the centre uses FPMT’s educational programs and material, created in the unique lineage of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
CKSL was founded by local students, after His Holiness the Dalai Lama requested one of His most devoted disciples, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, to support a Buddhist centre. Since then FPMT registered teachers have been coming weekly to CKSL to teach and lead our spiritual program.
Keep in touch with what's happening at CKSL through our monthly newsletters, The Dharma Lamp: March 2025.
Born in Virginia, USA, Geshe Tenzin Legtsok has a Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College- Ohio. In his quest for the ‘most happy and meaningful life’, Geshe la majored in philosophy during college, which gradually led to his study of meditation and philosophy with teachers among the exiled Tibetan communities in India and Nepal. Geshe Legtsok ordained as a Buddhist monk with His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama in 2001. Geshe la is currently completing his studies at Sera Jey Monastery and a senior Teacher at CKSL.
Geshe Ngawang Norbu was born in South India to a Tibetan refugee family. Geshe Norbu currently serves as a science teacher and research coordinator at Sera Jey monastery. Geshe la studied science at Emory University- Atlanta GA and was one of the six selected monk scholars with the goal of introducing a science curriculum into monastic education, which is the great vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Geshe Norbu has participated in several science exhibitions designed and presented by monastics to create awareness on the importance of learning science for the monastic as well as the general Tibetan community.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Venerable Tenzin Namjong studied and trained in Zen and Theravada traditions before embracing the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Princeton University, post which he held several prestigious positions in the corporate world. Venerable received his full ordination vows from His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama in 2005. Venerable Namjong is currently in the Geshe study program at Sera Je Monastery and is also a senior Teacher at CKSL.
Born and raised in India, Venerable Thubten Kalden received ordination from His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama in the year 2008. With an MBA from IIM Calcutta and a B.Tech from IIT Bombay, Ven. Kalden worked extensively in the corporate sector prior to his ordination. Venerable Kalden is currently pursuing his Geshe studies in Buddhist Philosophy at Sera Jey monastery.
Venerable Gyalten Lekden was born and raised in the Boston area. Venerable Lekden holds a B.A. in Religious Studies as well as a B.A. in Theatre from Wesleyan University, CT, and a Masters of Divinity (M.Div) in Buddhist Ministry from Harvard Divinity School. Venerable Lekden received full ordination vows from His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama and is currently in the Geshe study program at Sera Je Monastery.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Geshe Tenzin Namdak (Visiting Teacher) had a typically secular Dutch upbringing that included studying for a degree in hydrology at Van Hall Larenstein University before going on to being an environmental researcher. Geshe Namdak took full ordination vows from His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama in 1996. He is the first Westerner to complete the full course of studies at Sera Je Monastery and also to sit for the final Geshe examination there. Geshe Namdak is currently the Resident Geshe at Jamyang London Buddhist Centre- London.
Born in Singapore, Venerable Gyalten Rabten (Visiting Teacher) received his full monastic ordination vows from His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama in 2004. From year 2005 onward, he spent several years at Sera Jey Monastery, studying and assisting the monastery administration and other monastic teams. Venerable Rabten relocated back to Singapore in 2021 but often travels to India and is a Teacher at CKSL.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent shutdown, we have had many new recordings and live sessions on the YouTube channel choekhorsumling – to
These and other recordings are available for viewing. The recording of many of the other sessions in the centre are available on request – email