The first Kundeling Tatsak Choktrul Trichen Baso Choekyi Gyaltsen was born in 1402. He was the brother of Khedrup Rinpoche (one of Lama Tsongkhapa’s two main disciples) and was himself considered to be one of Je Tsongkhapa’s best students. He was enthroned in 1463 as the Ganden Tripa, the highest seat in the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. During the era of the great master Je Tsongkhapa, His Eminence received all of Tsongkhapa’s teachings, in order to take responsibility for preserving and spreading the precious teachings of the Buddha.
The 13th incarnation in this great lineage, His Eminence received a geshe degree from Drepung Monastic University in Mundgod, Karnataka, South India and studied tantric rituals at Gyudme Monastery, in Hunsur, South India. He has received many teachings and initiations from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and many other highly revered masters. His Eminence travels the world teaching students about compassion and peace.