Geshe Thupten Phelgye (born 1956)[1] is a Tibetan Buddhist lama who is known for promoting vegetarianism and humane treatment of animals, and for his work as a peace activist.

Geshe Thupten Phelgye, born 1956, was from Riwoche District the traditional Tibetan province of Kham and was named Dorje Tinlay.

Thupten Phelgye saw the inside of a slaughterhouse as a young monastic who showed up early to the market one morning while helping a sick elder.

As a result, from that day forward he became a fearless warrior advocating for not only vegetarianism[6] but Universal Compassion for all beings.

(UCM), with the mission of bringing people together to help animals who are slaughtered or suffer cruel and inhumane treatment by promoting Universal Compassion in our lives and for all beings.

He blessed around 100 pets that day, mostly dogs, at Marymoor Park to promote compassion and peace.

[16] In 2002, the Geshe acted as a senior monk in an Indian Hindi film, directed by Shaji N. Karun, Nishad (English title: Octave).