Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi has been the resident teacher of Amitabha Buddhist Centre since 1999. He was appointed as the Abbot of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery in Nepal on 14 July 2011.

Born in Nepal in 1962, Khen Rinpoche joined Kopan Monastery after being ordained by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1974. After 18 years of intensive study and debate in Sera Je Monastery in south India, Khen Rinpoche was awarded the title of Geshe Lharampa, the highest Tibetan Buddhist doctorate conferred in the Gelug monastic tradition.

After completing his education at Sera Je, Khen Rinpoche joined Gyudmed Tantric College for one year where he furthered his studies on tantra. The Gyudmed monastery is one of the two key monastic colleges in the Gelug tradition that specialises in the teachings of Buddhist tantra. Khen Rinpoche again excelled in his studies there and was awarded first position in his class.

With the support of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, Khen Rinpoche started teaching the FPMT Five-Year Basic Program at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in August 2003. This is a comprehensive Buddhist study program for students who wish to deepen their knowledge of the Buddha’s teachings and enhance their daily practice.

Besides being perfectly qualified to teach a study program of this calibre, Khen Rinpoche is also renowned for his ability to develop the students' analytical skills through discussion, debate and written assignments. Khen Rinpoche is held in great esteem for his illustrious conduct, vast learning, great kindness and gentle humour.

Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup told ABC members during his visit to Singapore in 2001: "You are very lucky to have Geshe Chonyi as your teacher. He has great knowledge, he is very humble, and he's a learned geshe. He has very good knowledge!"

ABC students consider themselves greatly blessed to have such a perfectly qualified Mahayana spiritual teacher as their guide on the correct and complete path to enlightenment.