Deer Park Buddhist Center was established in order to make the teachings of the Buddha accessible to persons committed to practicing Buddhism within the tradition developed by Tibetan spiritual masters and scholars.  It is named after the place in Sarnath where Buddha Shakyamuni gave his first teachings after attaining enlightenment. Deer Park Buddhist Center was founded in 1976 by Geshe Lhundub Sopa who served as the Abbot until August of 2012 when he became the Abbot Emeritus. Regular and ongoing teachings are presented at Deer Park Buddhist Center by  Geshe Tenzin Dorjee, the current Abbot of the Center, and by resident teacher Geshe Tenzin Sherab.