Born in 1933 in eastern Tibet, Choden Rinpoche was recognized at age three as the reincarnation of the previous Rinpoche, who himself had been one of the candidates for the twelfth Dalai Lama.

. Choden Rinpoche was one of the two Sera Je lamas selected to debate with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His Holiness's geshe exams.

During the communist Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1959, Choden Rinpoche stayed in Tibet and went into solitary retreat for 19 years. He never left his tiny, dark room in Lhasa from 1965 to 1985, and was virtually unknown in his monastery for this reason. In 1985 he was allowed to leave Tibet for India, and has since taught for many years to thousands of students at Sera Je monastery in South India. At the request of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche has now visited the west several times to give teachings and lead retreats.

  Dagri Rinpoche, is the reincarnation of Pari Dorje Chang, one of the very great geshes of Lhasa who was the teacher of many lamas, including Lama Yeshe. Dagri Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1958. He grew up during the Cultural Revolution of 1966 - 1976.

After his recognition as a tulku, he was unable to go to his monastery because shortly after he was recognized, the monastery was destroyed by the Chinese. "I remained at home. From my father and the 'solpon' from my past incarnation I learned reading, writing, mathematics and the Tibetan language. Later I went to a regular elementary school and until I was 15 years old I also had to herd sheep and cows. Then the Chinese began a coal mine near the mountains. I was put in that camp and had to do forced labour. Many Tibetans died there.

After his escape from Tibet in 1982 he completed his 17 years of study of Buddhist philosophy and received the Geshe Lharampa degree.

Geshe Tashi Tsering

  Born 1937, Khen Rinpoche Lozang Rigdzin (aka Geshe Tashi Tsering) is a highly respected teacher who has lived and taught in the West for many years throughout Australia and New Zealand as well as in India and Tibet. He was the resident teacher at Chenrezig Institute in Queensland for 18 years. He is now the Abbott of Gyume Tantric University in south India. Born in eastern Tibet in 1937, Geshe Tashi Tsering became a monk at the age of seven years and at seventeen went to study at Sera Monastery in Lhasa. After fleeing the communist takeover of Tibet in 1959, he continued his monastic education in exile in India, becoming a Lharampa Geshe in 1984. Geshe-la was the resident teacher at Chenrezig Institute in Queensland from 1990 through 2008, where he developed an extensive programme of Buddhist teachings offered at the centre, catering to a wide range of interests and experience. More information about Geshe-la here

Geshe Tenzin Zopa, born in 1975 in the village of Tsum located at the foothill of Himalaya, is the first of seven children in his family. His parents are farmers and nomad. They lived a simple life and yet are a happy family. Ever since Geshe la started crawling, he liked to be with the late Geshe Lama Konchog in his cave. He said it is because he could stay warm in the thick blanket and got good tsampa from the late Geshe Lama Konchog. He started to spend time with the late Geshe Lama Konchog in his cave from the age of 3.

 Thubten Gyatso

 Thubten Gyatso (formerly Adrian Feldmann), was ordained by Lama Thubten Yeshe in the 1970s, and was one of the first Westerners to become a monk in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He has been instrumental in establishing a number of Dharma centres in France, Taiwan, Australia and Mongolia. Born in Melbourne in 1946, Adrian Feldmann graduated from the University of Melbourne with a degree in medicine. After practising medicine in Australia and overseas, he travelled for several years, eventually finding his way to Kopan. After much study and soul-searching, he became ordained. Since then he has run a free medical practice in Nepal, taught Buddhism and meditation in Nepal, France, Mongolia, the USA, and Australia, and establishing monasteries in France and in Bendigo

Robina Courtin

 Venerable Robina Courtin was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun in 1978. She was the editorial director of Wisdom Publications until 1987 and then editor of the international Buddhist magazine Mandala until the end of 2000. She ran the Liberation Prison Project for more than a decade and is now a full-time travelling teacher. Venerable Robina's teachings are unrelentingly challenging, hard-hitting, serious, funny, visceral, inspiring and empowering. She specialises in applying the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism to contemporary city life, using examples from TV, magazines and film. Robina will return to CI in March/April 2013

Antonio Satta

Born in Sardegna Italy in 1956, Ven Antonio was first introduced to Tibetan Buddhism at Lama Tsong Khapa Institute, Italy. After meeting Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Italy, he took novice ordination in 1979 and then full ordination from HHDL in 1981. In late 1981 Ven. Antonio spent a number of months in Sri Lanka at a Mahasi Sayadaw Insight Meditation Centre learning the practice of Vipassana.

Since 1991 Ven. Antonio has been living in Australia translating and teaching at Vajrayana Institue, Sydney; teaching and tutoring for the Buddhist Study Program at Chenrezig Institute; and teaching at other FPMT centres in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, United States, and Nepal and India. Over the last 12 years Ven. Antonio has been concentrating on trying to bring the Vipassana practice as taught in the Theravada system to westerners of Tibetan tradition.

Antonio will lead three retreats at CI in 2012; one in April and two in July.

 Australian-born Tony Beaumont trained and worked as a psychiatric nurse. Ordained for almost 20 years, he has studied at Lama Tsong Khapa Institute in Italy and Nalanda Monastery in France, and taught at FPMT centres around the world. Tony is currently the resident teacher at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharmasala India and will return to CI to teach in December 2012

 Ven. Jampa Ludrup is an Australian Buddhist monk, in the Tibetan tradition, who has been studying and practicing Feng Shui for more than 10 years at the request of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Jampa will return to teach at CI in December 2012

Artist Andy Weber spent seven years living and studying the iconographical art of Tibetan Buddhism under the guidance of accomplished masters in India and Nepal. His unique style of authentic images for visualization are highly respected not only by the growing number of Western Buddhists but also by Tibetan Lamas of all traditions, many of whom have commissioned his work. His thangka paintings (= Tibetan scroll paintings) can be seen in Buddhist centres and temples throughout the world including the Potala Palace in Lhasa and his images have become well known and popular through numerous publications. Andy will lead multiple retreats at CI in September/October 2012

 Pam founded Tara Redwood School in 1996 with the aim of educating the whole child: not only to convey the joy of learning, but to provide a foundation for the emotional and inner development of each child. The school's staff have researched, created and implemented strategies for awakening compassion, wisdom and social responsibility in the minds and hearts of children. inspired by her teacher, Lama Yeshe and following the success of Tara Redwood school, Pam founded: Lama's Vision for Kids. Blending the best of Eastern and Western approaches to education.