The Most Essential Teaching:
The Four Noble Truths
with Geshe Tashi Tsering

“Whatever we study after the four noble truths will echo back to this most essential teaching, and conversely this teaching will be revealed in everything else we study.”

— Geshe Tashi Tsering

Shantideva Center is delighted to host Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering, abbot of Sera Mey Monastic University, to teach on the Buddha’s first and most essential teaching. The whole of Buddhist philosophy and the entire path to enlightenment can be found in the four noble truths:

1. Life is characterized by suffering.

2. The cause of suffering is ignorance.

3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.

4. There is a path to the cessation of suffering.

This spring, contemplate these four noble truths with the skilled guidance of Geshe Tashi Tsering. In his characteristic warmth and clarity, Geshe-la will offer a series of four online Saturday morning teachings on the Four Noble Truths Sutra (also known as “Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dhamma“). By listening to teachings on this text, we will become familiar with the three phases of engaging with these truths: knowing the nature of the truth, knowing what needs to be done in connection with that truth, and finally, accomplishing what needs to be done. This foundational teaching is always relevant, no matter where you are on your spiritual journey!

Additional Materials

Recordings

About the Teacher

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering is the 91st abbot of Sera Mey Monastery. He was appointed in May 2018 by H.H. Dalai Lama to serve in this role. Prior to this, he was the resident teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London from 1994 to 2018 and the principal teacher at Jamyang Leeds and Jamyang Bath. 

Geshe Tashi graduated with a Lharampa degree from Sera Mey Monastery in South India in 1990. The following year, he completed his monastic education at Gyuto Tantric Monastery. In 2017, he received an MA in Social Anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies University of London.

Geshe Tashi has led courses, conferences, and interfaith dialogues in many European countries, USA, and Asia. Geshe-la frequently accompanied HH Dalai Lama during his visits to the UK or Europe and he was the official Buddhist Chaplain for the 2012 London Olympic Games. In June 2019, Geshe Tashi was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s birthday honors list for services to Buddhism in the UK.

Geshe Tashi created The Foundation of Buddhist Thought (FBT) and the Lam Rim Chenmo campus and on-line courses. He is the author of a six-volume FBT series published by Wisdom Publications. Geshe Tashi distills complex Buddhist philosophy into practical teachings and conveys them with clarity, kindness, and a delightful sense of humor.