Ven. George Teng was born in Estonia. After fighting in World War II, he headed for California where he turned his mind toward spiritual transformation. After renouncing worldly ac...view moreVen. George Teng was born in Estonia. After fighting in World War II, he headed for California where he turned his mind toward spiritual transformation. After renouncing worldly activity and pleasures, he became a Tibetan Buddhist monk at age fifty-four and devoted the remainder of his life to practicing dharma and teaching others of all faiths. Ven. Teng maintained a silent retreat for eight years prior to his death in 1997.
Francis Paone met Ven. George Teng, his first Dharma teacher, in 1969. After receiving a BA in Study of Religion from UCLA in 1978, he continued to study Buddhism with Ven. George Teng, Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen and other Tibetan masters. In 1997 Francis and his wife Jean began a long meditation retreat under the direct guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Currently they retreat most of the year and teach occasionally.view less