meet our founder

Tools For Peace was founded in 2000 by The Venerable Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa (1951-2009) in an effort to provide those of all backgrounds – cultural, ethnic and religious – with practical methods to cultivate compassion, peace, and well-being. Seeing that the root of all suffering begins with our own negative states of mind, Lama Gyatso wanted to show people how it was possible to use the traditions which he had brought from his ancient Tibetan culture to create peace within our torn communities. He would communicate his vision in a way that did not require people to be part of any religious group, ethnicity, or political party; that would speak to the most basic qualities of kindness and compassion in all people.

Lama Gyatso found a way to distill the essence of this ancient wisdom tradition and communicate it to students who in turn were inspired to organize and gather support for what Tools for Peace has become.

"Always nurture and cultivate your own innate compassion and loving kindness, which is nothing other than your own basic goodness, a basic goodness that exists in all beings."

— Ven. Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa, Tools For Peace Founder