Our meditation and study center is one of the oldest Tibetan temples in Canada and it follows the great Gelugpa monastic universities of Ganden, Sera and Drepung which were originally founded in Tibet by Lama Je Tsongkhapa in the 15th century.

 

Venerable Geshe Khenrab, was one of the first four lamas invited by the Canadian government in the 1970s. He founded the Center (Tibetan Buddhist Temple Gaden Chang Chub Chöling) in 1980 and was a pioneer in presenting and advancing the Tibetan Gelugpa spiritual path in the Western world. Since its inception, the Center has been honored by visits from numerous high lamas, including Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.

 

After the Parinirvana of Geshe Khenrab in 1993, Ven. Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin oversaw the Center, and in 2003, nominated Ven. Zawa Tulku Rinpoche as Resident Spiritual Director and teacher.

 

In 2015, the Montreal Center was relocated in the forest of Ste Sophie to provide a peaceful countryside environment. The opening ceremony, presided over by His Holiness Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche, was graced by the presence of high lamas from around the world, leaders of Canada's indigenous communities, city leaders, civil servants and many friends of the Center.

 

In the summer of 2022, Tsongkhapa Meditation Center came under the auspices of Gaden for the West, a Gelugpa organization founded by Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche in 1999.

​

In the current configuration, according to the uses and law under which the Tsongkhapa Meditation Center operates, voting members of the general assembly are appointed by the Resident Spiritual Director based on their participation to the development of the Center and its seniority.

​