Teachers at DharmaSun

Dr. Thomas Doctor arrived at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery from Denmark in 1989. Soon after, he became a close disciple of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche who eventually gave him the use of a small cement house in the monastery’s compound. Thomas wasted no time in learning the Tibetan language. Tibetan lamas and khenpos often frequented the house to chat or discuss esoteric topics. Consequently, Thomas honed his Tibetan language skills, both colloquial and classical. Reading through the complex treatises of Buddhist masters, he quickly learned the abundance of terminology utilized in the diverse Buddhist philosophical schools and grasped the subtle nuances such terms conveyed according to a particular context.  Recognizing Thomas’ innate potential, Rinpoche encouraged him to return to university. Thomas thereafter received his BA and MA degrees in Tibetan Studies from the University of Copenhagen and his PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of Lausanne. His main research interests have been the pāramitā and mantra views and Buddhist practices in India and Tibet. As a scholar-practitioner, he has translated such classical Buddhist philosophical texts as Ju Mipham’s commentary to the Madhyamakālaṃkāra, entitled Speech of Delight, and Mabja Jangchub Tsöndrü’s commentary to the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā entitled Ornament of Reason.  Since 2006, Thomas has worked together his with younger brother, Dr. Andreas Doctor, as a member of the Dharmachakra Translation Committee wherein he has participated in numerous significant translation projects and publications, most recently in the translation of sutras and tantras from the Tibetan canon.

Thomas serves as the principle of Rangjung Yeshe Institute, since 2024.

Thomas regularly contributes to 84000, the ongoing project to translate the Tibetan collection of the Buddha’s words and associated treatises into English. Thomas also plays a key role in the ‘Center for the Study of Apparent Selves.’