From 1991 to 1995 Gelong Thubten Gyatso (a.k.a. Gen Thubten or Neil Elliot) was appointed as a 'Gen-la' and Resident Teacher of Madhyamaka Centre (Pocklington, York) and as Geshe Kelsang's future successor. He was described by NKT as "the first qualified English Tantric meditation master in Britain". He was known as the 'heart-disciple' of Geshe Kelsang and Geshe Kelsang himself wrote a prayer for his long life which was recited regularly at NKT centres. According to Madeleine Bunting

Madeleine Bunting

Madeleine Bunting is an English journalist and writer who is an Associate Editor and columnist on The Guardian.Born in Oswaldkirk, North Yorkshire, Bunting was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where she read History, and won a Knox postgraduate fellowship to study Politics and teach...

"Gen Thubten [..] is described by former members as having been the 'power behind the throne'." Bunting states further that "Former members understand that Gen Thubten was disrobed because of a breach of his monastic vows. He was deeply revered by the 3,000 NKT members for his knowledge of Buddhism and his charismatic teaching."