Tibetan Monk Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten Expelled for Violating Pledge of Discipline

According to TibetanReview.net, In a significant decision made on May 10, 2026, the Drepung Gomang Buddhist Monastic College, based in the Tibetan settlement of Mundgod, Karnataka, India, officially expelled Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten, a prominent monk and member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE). The action came after the monastic body found that Atuk Tseten had deliberately violated a solemn pledge made in January 2026, committing to uphold monastic discipline and abstain from past mistakes.

Atuk Tseten, who had recently won re-election to the 18th Tibetan Parliament in Exile as one of the two Gelug representatives, now faces the consequences of his actions, as the Drepung Gomang Monastery leadership voted unanimously to expel him. The decision followed a series of events that called into question Atuk Tseten’s commitment to the ethical standards expected of him as a monk and a representative of the Tibetan people.

The expulsion stems from his actions that were seen as a direct violation of a January 20 pledge. On this date, Atuk Tseten, alongside another Gelug representative, was rebuked by the Nechung Choegyal Chenpo, Tibet’s principal state oracle, for past misconduct. The rebuke had come after the two monks were accused of publicly insulting His Holiness the Dalai Lama and engaging in religious and provincial bigotry, thus betraying the spiritual and national interests of the Tibetan people. During a formal atonement session in January 2026, the two monks had promised to refrain from such actions in the future, acknowledging their past infractions and vowing never to repeat them.

However, the governing body of the Drepung Gomang Monastery discovered that Atuk Tseten had not only failed to abide by the pledge but had attempted to revive the issue of the Nechung Choegyal’s rebuke. In a session of the 17th TPiE held in March 2026, Atuk Tseten reportedly dismissed the state oracle’s pronouncements as “fake” and “unacceptable,” while making unfounded allegations against the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and its staff. These actions were deemed undermining the authority of the Dalai Lama and creating potential harm to the monastic community’s reputation among lay Tibetans.

As per the resolution passed on May 10, the monastery viewed these actions as not only harmful to the monastic discipline but also as a violation of the sacred bond of trust between the Tibetan spiritual community and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The leadership of Drepung Gomang emphasized that such behavior was unbecoming of a monk and a representative of the Tibetan people, leading to the unanimous decision to expel Atuk Tseten from the monastic community.

In addition to expelling Atuk Tseten, the monastery also passed two important resolutions. The first decision bars members of the monastery from standing for election to the Tibetan Parliament in Exile or the Sikyong (Tibetan political leader), unless they permanently renounce their monastic status. This new rule reflects the monastery’s stance on maintaining political neutrality within its spiritual community.

Furthermore, the monastery reaffirmed its unwavering loyalty to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Gaden Phodrang, the central Tibetan government-in-exile. Any monastic member found guilty of making defamatory remarks or unfounded accusations against His Holiness or the Gaden Phodrang will be expelled, as outlined in the third resolution. The monastery’s leadership reminded its members of the unparalleled debt of gratitude owed to His Holiness for his leadership and support of Tibetan Buddhism.

This decision and the accompanying resolutions signify a major step in preserving the integrity of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and the ethical conduct expected of those who hold positions of responsibility. It also highlights the monastery’s commitment to upholding the spiritual and moral values of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as ensuring the stability and unity of the Tibetan community, both in exile and in Tibet.