Geshe Rapten has been Abbot at Thubten Shedrup Ling (TSL) monastery since 2015, fulfilling his duties there as a Tibetan Buddhist Abbot, as well as teaching at the adjacent Atisha Buddhist centre. Abbot Geshe Rapten is uniquely qualified to fulfil the duties of an Abbot of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, as well as highly revered for his experience in providing teachings and advice. There is no Australian monk with the qualifications to replace him.

An application for a labour agreement that would allow him to stay has been rejected by the Department of Immigration on the controversial grounds that he does not work in a monastic and cloistered environment, as defined by the Department. If TSL monastery is not a monastic environment, then what is?

His students and the Buddhist community have described the potential loss of Abbot Geshe Rapten as being like the loss of a father figure who gives his all to those needing his religious advice and encouragement. Senior monks at the TSL monastery have described it as being like a "boat without a rudder".

This petition asks Acting Minister, Alan Tudge to reverse his Department’s decision, as only he is in the position to do so.  See https://cdn.atishacentre.org.au/ABC_Report.mp4