His Eminence the 104th Ganden Tripa (དགའ་ལྡན་ཁྲི་པ་, Holder of the Golden Throne of Ganden), Kyabje Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Palsangpo, the spiritual head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, is reported to have entered a state of tukdam on Friday morning at Sera Jey Monastery in Karnataka, India. He was 90 years old.
Widely recognized as one of the highest realized masters of the modern era and a highly accomplished scholar, His Eminence was formally appointed as the 104th Ganden Tripa by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on 24 June 2017, holding the seat until he stepped down in 2024.
In a public announcement, Sera Jey Monastery shared:
We offer our solemn prayers and respect to His Excellency the 104th Gaden Tripa, Jetsun Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, who passed away this morning of 26th September 2025 at 09.55 IST, at his personal residence in Sera Jey Monastery, Bylakuppe, India. . . .
He was a renowned master and learned scholar in Buddhist sutra and tantra, having proficiently served and led in the capacity of Lama Ozed and Abbot of Gyudmed Tantric Monastery, and the exalted Gaden Jangtse following his appointment in 2010, by His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama. . . .
We, the Abbot, former Abbots, Tulkus, Disciplinarian, Chant Master, Geshes, member monks, and community of Sera Jey Monastery, offer our profound prayers and respect to the late His Excellency The 104th Trisur Jetsun Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, with deepest reverence and memory.
Tributes to His Eminence were widely shared across social media.
His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin Ratna Vajra Rinpoche observed:
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of His Holiness the 104th Ganden Tripa Rinpoche. His extraordinary life of scholarship, practice, and service to the Dharma is an immense inspiration and his loss is felt profoundly across the Buddhist world.
On the few occasions that I was fortunate to meet him, I was deeply touched by his humility, warmth, and the depth of his wisdom.
At this time of great loss, I offer my heartfelt condolences and pray that he achieve a swift and most favorable rebirth.
Drepung Monastery in South India noted:
We the whole Sangha of Drepung Monastery, South India are deeply saddened by the passing away of His Eminence Gaden Trisur Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche and pay our humble tribute to him for the unparalleled legacy he left, and sincere condolences to his disciples/ devotees for the great loss for all of us.
The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) shared:
H.E. Ganden Trisur Rinpoche was teacher to thousands of Sangha and disciples worldwide and many within the FPMT organization, particularly from Kopan Monastery, offering tremendous support to Kopan over the years. Participants of the 2025 CPMT Summit at Kopan were blessed to receive Rinpoche’s wisdom and presence during a very special visit to Kopan during the meeting in April. . . .
The loss of such a highly regarded teacher with such obvious qualities will be felt deeply by students around the world. We join all students of His Eminence the 104th Ganden Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang in praying for his swift return and deep rejoicing in this truly beneficial and inspiring life of kindness, service, and humility.
Born in Tibet in 1935, he was ordained as a novice monk when he was 10 years old by Khenchen Tenzin Gyatso of Gaden Wogmin-ling Monastery. He joined Sera Jey Monastery at the age of 16, receiving a rigorous education, and at 23 received full ordination from Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, senior tutor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Following China’s occupation of Tibet, he fled to India in 1959, continuing his education under Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Wangchuk and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. In 1970, he relocated to Bylakuppe, South India, as part of an initiative to rebuild Sera Jey Monastery in exile.
His Eminence recalled the hurried departure from Tibet:
We didn’t carry anything with us; we left everything, even our tsampa, as we were fleeing out of fear of being bombed. There was no planning or packing, but when word spread about the Chinese plans to bomb the monastery that night, most of the monks made the decision to flee. (Jamyang Buddhist Center London)
Over the course of his long monastic career in service to the Buddhadharma, His Eminence held key monastic and spiritual leadership roles, and received numerous initiations, transmissions, and teachings directly from the Dalai Lama and other esteemed lamas.
He was appointed the 104th Ganden Tripa by the 14th Dalai Lama in 2017, served in this seat until November 2024. Following his request last year to step down from the seat of the Ganden Tripa, His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed His Eminence Sharpa Choeje Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Dorjee Pelsangpo as the 105th Gaden Tripa in November 2024.
The seat of the Ganden Tripa is an elected position held for a term seven years. It is awarded based on a rigorous selection process based on scholarly merit and spiritual accomplishment as a Buddhist practitioner, as well as administrative experience and seniority.
The first Ganden Tripa was King of Dharma Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) the founder of Ganden Monastery and the Gelug school. He was succeeded by his heart sons Dharma Rinchen Gyaltsab Je (1364–1432) as the Second Ganden Tripa and Gelek Pelzang Khedrub Je (1385–1438) as the Third Ganden Tripa.
See more
Sera Jey Monastic University
Brief Biography of the 104th Kyabje Gaden Tripa Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzn (Sera Jey Monastery)
The Passing of His Eminence the 104th Ganden Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin (FPMT)
Former head of Gelugpa tradition, 104th Gaden Tripa, passes away at 90 (Phayul)
In Memory of His Holiness Ganden Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Palsangpo (1934–2025) (Jamyang Buddhist Center London)
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