Ven. Losang Gendun

Teacher in Amsterdam (online)

Buddhist teacher Ven. Losang Gendun is a Dutch monk.

Ven. Losang Gendun’s spiritual journey started with a Trappist monk in the early 1970ties, who exemplified the fruits of a long life dedicated to simplicity, contemplation, and the care for others. Though it was the meeting with the abbot of a Dutch Theravada monastery a decade later, that provided his path with new direction and proper foundation.

He worked in diverse areas such as palliative care, tech, refugee organizations, and commercial management. In 2006 he finally felt called to make a life changing decision and chose for ordination in the Tibetan tradition. During his nine years at Nalanda Monastery in France, he had the privilege of studying under some of the most respected Buddhist teachers, including H.H. the Dalai Lama, Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, Geshe Losang Jamphal, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Ven. Gendun spent over four years in retreat, training in Tibetan Lojong and Mahamudra methods, as well as Vipassana-shamatha meditation in the Theravada Forest Traditions of Sayadaws U Pandita and Pa Auk (Myanmar). 

For the past 15 years, Ven. Gendun has been teaching Buddhist philosophy, psychology, and meditation in countries like the Netherlands, France, Monaco, the US, and the UK, and was the resident teacher of FPMT’s Maitreya Institute in Amsterdam for six years. Much conflict and polarization in the world arises from the pull of sectarian identities and the fear that suppression of doubt causes. Ven. Gendun has a strong commitment to living and promoting the ‘examined life’, in which the false security of dogmas is replaced by a fearless heart and inquisitive mind. In that pursuit he collaborates with different contemplative communities, notably Benedictine, Sufi, Liberal Jewish and Eastern Orthodox.

He is also a member of Mind & Life Europe, whose mission it is to alleviate suffering and promote human and societal flourishing by integrating science with contemplative practice and wisdom traditions. In his activities he specifically promotes the importance of equality and inclusion as essential ingredients for a thriving, cohesive humanity. 

Photo credit: Jurjen Donkers

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