Ngawang Choden Geshes la was born in 1963 in Markham, East Tibet. His father was called Pema Gyatso and mother Atsom Lhamo. In 1981 he entered Ganden monastery in Lhasa where he became a novice monk and commenced his studies in the Gelugpa rituals, recitations and monastery traditions. In 1984, he took the vows of a fully ordained monk from H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama.
After a visit and teachings from Panchen Rinpoche he was inspired to travel to India. With no form of transport and in very cold weather, he walked all the way and often slept on the roadside. For the most part during his journey over the Himalayan Mountains he even went without food. Yet he overcame these hardships and difficulties to reach Dharamsala in India and achieve his goal of furthering his studies of Buddhism. To his great delight he met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, who suggested he enter the monastery of Drepung Loseling to study Dharma. Here he studied Buddhism with the finest teachers: H.H. Dalai Lama, Khenpo Pema Gyaltsen, Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Dorje, Nyima Gyaltsen and so on, and always achieved the highest possible marks.
In 1986, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Drepung monastery where he listened to debates on each of the five treatises, from monks of the two great Drepung colleges; Losaling and Gomang. Ngawang Choden Geshe la represented Loseling College and Yongzin Losang represented Gomang College. They answered questions with perfect logic, and had a wonderful discussion regarding Madhyamika philosophy in front of many thousands of monk scholars from three great monasteries and great throne holders. Especially Ngawang Choden Geshe la answered questions very clearly, logically and precisely; with the power of a lions roar. He received a excellent burst of applause during this highly respected debate. His Holiness was very pleased and when commenting he said that Ngawang Choden had mastered the great treatises, including mastering the extensive studies; the Gelug Gyudro.
On entering Gyuto tantric college he received all tantric transmissions and quickly realised the four tantras to become a renowned master of Tantra. Whatever questions he was asked on the vast and profound aspects of the complex treatises, he answered just as profoundly as the question required, and in accord with students of higher, middling and lower intelligence. In such a way he was known to be highly qualified in giving a unique perspective on the holy Dharma.
Ngawang Choden Geshe la studied in the monastery of Drepung where he achieved maximum grades. In the top geshe degree exam, he obtained the highest score for the Galupa geshe exam known as “Lharampa”. He became vey famous in Gelupa monasteries because of His clear and perfect logic.
In 2003 Ngawang Choden Geshe la visited Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia where he taught the basis, path and fruit according to the great exposition of Lam Rim and many people received great benefits from his teachings on Buddhism.
Ngawang Choden geshe la is currently resident in Canada, and works tirelessly to promote the teachings of the Buddha, where his main goal is to promote to people the many benefits of Buddhism.
Geshe La lead his Malaysia students to visit H.H. Dalai Lama in India.
Debate model in Drupong monastery