Discussion with Venerable Losang Gendun

Venerable Losang Gendun is visiting NYC this month, and he will preach at All Souls followed by an afternoon conversation. His sermon and our conversation will be about our instinct to blame and how that causes us suffering. A more peaceful path, for ourselves and others, is finding forgiveness and the joy of shared responsibility.

Venerable Gendun is a Buddhist monk very dear to Pamela and with whom she has been studying for a few years. He has dedicated nearly four decades to practicing Buddhism and has served as a Bhikshu (Buddhist monk) in the Tibetan tradition for the past 18 years. Prior to his ordination, he worked in diverse fields such as palliative care, technology, refugee organizations, and commercial management. His extensive training includes ten years of studying Buddhist philosophy and practice in monasteries across France, India, Nepal, and Myanmar. Additionally, he spent over four years in retreat.

Beyond his Buddhist affiliations, Ven. Gendun serves as an interreligious canon at the Peace Cathedral in Tbilisi, Georgia, and feels at home at a Mevlavi Sufi dargah in Istanbul. In 2023, he founded The Buddha Project, which engages in long-term guidance for Buddhist meditators, scientific research, art projects, and intercontemplative social engagement.