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Lama Konchok Choephel
Lama Konchok Choephel was appointed the resident Lama at The Melbourne Sakya Centre after consultation with His Holiness Sakya Trizin and his two sons, their Eminences Ratna Vajra and Gyana Vajra Rinpoche.
H.E. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche had the following to say about lama la, as he is known at the centre: "Due to his knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism and his good conduct, he will make a good resident lama for Melbourne. More importantly he is a good person who has a kind heart."
Lama la first became a monk at the age of 14 in Tibet. He entered the Lhakhang Chenmo temple in Sakya (the main Sakya monastery) and stayed there for the next 6 years learning the traditional rites and rituals of Tibetan Buddhism.
In 1992, he and a few other fellow-monks made a very difficult and dangerous journey to India via Nepal. He arrived at the Sakya Center in India, and stayed there for the next 7 months. He then enrolled in the well known Sakya College, Dehradun, staying there for the next 7 years, to finally graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Buddhist Philosophy.
Upon his graduation, he spent a year in Nepal where he taught young monks at the Pema Tsa'l School in Kathmandu (now located in Pokhara).
In the year 2002, he entered the Sakya Dolma Phodrang as an attendant and secretary to His Holiness Sakya Trizin. Since his time at the Phodrang, he has served His Holiness with sincere dedication. He has travelled extensively as part of His Holiness entourage to countries like Taiwan, Singapore, and France (for the curious, he can be seen with His Holiness in a number of online videos).
On 2 April 2008 Lama Konchok Choephel arrived at Melbourne Airport, and since that time as launched himself into the role of being our resident lama and all that this entails.
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