Erdne Ombadykow - Early Life and Career

Early Life and Career

Erdne Ombadykow was born in Philadelphia, PA to working class, immigrant parents of Kalmyk origin as the youngest of brothers Tschon, Tseren, Dava, Jigmid, Jaba and sisters Marguerite, Gerel and Rolma. As a child, Erdne determined that he wanted to be a Buddhist monk, the way other boys want to be policemen or firemen. By the age of seven, Erdne's parents permitted him to move to India where he would study Buddhism at a monastery until 1992. It was reported on ChessBase News, when asked why was he was sent to a monastery in India to be trained as a Buddhist monk at age seven, he said his family wanted one of the sons to become a monk, and he had shown the greatest interest. In New York he met His Holiness the 14th Dalai lama of Tibet and the Dalai lama recommended him to go to the Drepung Gomang Monastery in South India for proper training. While studying at the Drepung Gomang Monastery for 13 years, Erdne Ombadykow was recognized as the current reincarnation (tulku) of Tilopa, a revered Buddhist saint.

Read more about this topic:  Erdne Ombadykow

Famous quotes containing the words early, life and/or career:

    Two sleepy people by dawn’s early light, and two much in love to say goodnight.
    Frank Loesser (1910–1969)

    Only those who know the supremacy of the intellectual life ... can understand the grief of one who falls from that serene activity into the absorbing soul-wasting struggle with worldly annoyances.
    George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)

    In time your relatives will come to accept the idea that a career is as important to you as your family. Of course, in time the polar ice cap will melt.
    Barbara Dale (b. 1940)