Ven. Khenchen Lama Sherab was born in 1931, in Sakya, Tibet. He entered the Thubten Lhakhang Chenmo, the Great Sakya Monastery at the age of seven.Having completed the basic studies, he went to the Sakya Monastic University for advanced studies focused on the five main topics – Pramana (logic), Vinaya (discipline), Madhyamika (Middle Way philosophy), Prajna Paramita (transcendent wisdom), and Abhidharma (philosophy). During many years of advanced training, he also studied the Five Superior Topics of Tantra, Tibetan grammar and poetry, as well Buddhist and Tibetan history.
His Holiness the 40th Sakya Trizin Ngawang Thutob Wangchuk was his root Guru and one of the most important figures in his life. He received numerous tantric initiations, including the Lamdre and 13 Golden Dharmas from this great master, followed by various retreats which enabled him to delve deeper into the teachings and transform them into the spiritual experience. At the end of his studies, he was awarded the title of Geshe Rabjampa, which is equivalent to a PhD in Philosophy. Thus, the time had arrived to start teaching, first the monks at the main Sakya Monastery and a community of lay practitioners.
In 1960, like many other Tibetans, Ven. Lama Sherab escaped from Tibet and found exile in India, where he continued his studies at the Sakya monasteries in Darjeeling and Dalhousie. Following the request of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile, he arrived with the first group of monks to the newly established Tibet-Institute in Rikon (near Zurich), Switzerland. His main task was to help and support Tibetan refugees in Switzerland.
As the years went by, following requests of numerous westerners, he established many Buddhist centres throughout Europe. Sakya Tsechen Ling (European Institute of Tibetan Buddhism) is the main centre established in 1978 in Kuttolsheim (near Strasbourg), France. Other centres are found in The Hague (the Netherlands), Freiburg (Germany), Zurich and Arosio (Switzerland), Stockholm (Sweden), Trieste (Italy), and Toulouse (France). Regular teaching sessions are offered by all centres, and two retreats are held each year at the main centre. In 2010, Ven. Lama Sherab was conferred the honorary title of Khenchen (the Great Abbot) by His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin.
On 14 April
2014, Ven. Khenchen Lama Sherab left his body. His wisdom and compassion remain
a profound source of inspiration for all the disciples who had the great
fortune of meeting him and benefiting from his presence for many years.
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