The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office in Washington State issued a statement on 3 January advising that the body of a deceased male had been found in the area where Geshe Tenzin Chodrak (Dadul Namgyal), 64, was reported to have gone missing in November. The authorities said that the body was found in a pond that had been frozen over, but had recently thawed, noting that the clothing matched those of Namgyal, who is known to followers as Geshe-la, and that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the time and cause of death, as well as a positive identification.

Sravasti Abbey issued the following statement:

While walking around the pond on Abbey property yesterday, two monastics noticed that maroon-colored clothing was floating on the surface of the water. We contacted the Sheriff’s Department immediately. They came out, called for a boat, and retrieved a body which they think matches the description of Geshe Chodrak (Dadul Namgyal). The next step is the police will do an autopsy to allow for correct identification and more research on the time and cause of death. We will keep you posted as we learn more.

Please join us in continuing to make prayers and dedications for Geshela, so he will be born in a pure land or take a precious human rebirth. Please also make prayers for his family and for his many students around the world, so that they will see Geshela’s death with Dharma eyes and engage in the bodhisattva practices just as Geshela did. By reciting and contemplating the “King of Prayers” and dedicating the merit for Geshela, we will send Geshela off with our respect and love.

(Sravasti Abbey)

Geshe-la went missing from Sravasti Abbey, a Tibetan Buddhist community in eastern Washington State some 60 kilometers north of Spokane, on the evening of 7 November last year. According to those present, he went for a walk on the heavily wooded 121-hectare property and did not return.

On 8 November, he was reported missing and search and rescue efforts began, utilizing dogs, drones, a helicopter, and volunteers. After a week with no success, formal search efforts were scaled back, while those at the abbey continued to hope for his safe return.

Interviewed just after Geshe-la’s disappearance, those at the abbey expressed shock and hope for his safe return. “We were all surprised. We all were very concerned,” said Ven. Thubten Chonyi, a senior Buddhist nun at the abbey. “We assumed somewhere along the line his walk yesterday. He walked some places that he didn’t know, or he walked some places, who knows if he fell or something.” (KXLY)

On 8 December, Geshe-la’s family offered a missing person’s award of US$25,000 for information leading to his recovery. Nonetheless, no new information came in before now.

Geshe-la joined the abbey in 2023 as the community’s first male resident teacher, joining abbess and founder Ven. Thubten Chodron and Ven. Sangye Khadro as senior teachers at the monastery. Before joining the abbey, Geshe-la worked for Emory University’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-based Ethics. He was also the senior resident teacher for Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta for 13 years.

Further information will be released by the county coroner on the results of the autopsy. Members of the public are encouraged to report any information or leads they might have on the case to investigator Travis Stigall at The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office at (509) 447-3151.

See more

Press Release Regarding Missing Monk: Dadul Namgyal (Facebook)
Prayers for Geshe Dadul (Sravasti Abbey)
Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office searching for missing 64-year-old monk (KXLY)
Missing monk’s body located near Sravasti Abbey (KXLY)
Reward offered in monk’s disappearance (Bonner County Daily Bee)

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