Caption: Venerable Lobsang Monlam, computer genius monk, Credit: www.lobsangmonlam.org
Image by: www.lobsangmonlam.org 
Venerable Lobsang Monlam, computer genius monk 

Tibetan monk, computer genius

From: The Tibet Connection
Length: 00:05:52

This Buddhist monk from Tibet went from learning how to switch a computer on to programming sophisticated, innovative software all on his own in just three years. Now he makes deals with the world's leading computer companies. Read the full description.

Lobsang-monlam_small Computer experts around the world have all asked the same question: How did he do it? Lobsang Monlam, a Buddhist monk from Tibet  had to be shown how to turn on his first computer. Three years later, without taking a single class and without speaking a word of English, he was designing sophisticated and innovative software to help Tibetans communicate online and off.

He claims he just spent hours at night (after each day of Buddhist studies) fiddling with the computer to see what would happen. Geeks and experts have been scratching their heads in wonder at how he could possibly have become a self-taught programmer without any books or classes, and large computer companies have been wooing this self-taught genius. Even the Dalai Lama – upon seeing a demonstration of the monk's software – told him to keep it up.

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Piece Description

Computer experts around the world have all asked the same question: How did he do it? Lobsang Monlam, a Buddhist monk from Tibet  had to be shown how to turn on his first computer. Three years later, without taking a single class and without speaking a word of English, he was designing sophisticated and innovative software to help Tibetans communicate online and off.

He claims he just spent hours at night (after each day of Buddhist studies) fiddling with the computer to see what would happen. Geeks and experts have been scratching their heads in wonder at how he could possibly have become a self-taught programmer without any books or classes, and large computer companies have been wooing this self-taught genius. Even the Dalai Lama – upon seeing a demonstration of the monk's software – told him to keep it up.

Broadcast History

Only heard on TheTibetConnection.org and its podcast

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

And now the story of a remarkable young Tibetan monk who went from learning how to turn on a computer to making software programming deals with the world's largest computer companies in just three years. All without taking a single class or speaking a word of English. Rebecca Novick reports from Dharamsala, India.

OUTRO:

Related Website

http://www.tibetangeeks.com/geeks/lobsang_monlam/