Education - Drati Khangtsen

Education

Sources of New Students:

In Tibet, there is a traditional system by which each Khangtsen enjoys jurisdiction over a specific area of places and regions. The new students from these places will enter a particular Khangtsen depending upon their respective regions. Under this tradition, Drati Khangtsen also covers a large portion of areas and regions from where it receives new students.

Present Enrolment:

Ever since the re-establishment of Drati Khangtsen here in Bylakuppe, south India, with twelve elderly monks, the number of monk students had increased manifolds. The total number of monks at our Khangtsen stands at 380 at present. Of the total 380 monks, we have 10 Rinpoches or Reincarnated Tulkus, 26 Geshe Degree Holder, 200 young scholars and 150 young school students.

1) Rinpoches/Tulkus (Reincarnated Lamas):

There are 10 Rinpoches or Reincarnated Tulkus in our Drati Khangtsen. Most Venerable Kyabje Thupten Zopa Rinpoche is the most senior Rinpoche of our Khangtsen from the early time at Buxar camp.

Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche

Our other Rinpoches are:
*   Dromo Geshe Rinpoche
*   Gomo Rinpoche
*   Dolhai Rinpoche
*   Khamlhung Rinpoche
*   Daktse Rinpoche
*   Sarong Rinpoche
*   Lunglha Rinpoche
*   Ngawang Namgyal Rinpoche

* Tenzin Gyurmey Rinpoche

Dromo Rinpoche

Dromo Geshe Rinpoche

Among the above Rinpoches, Gomo Rinpoche, Dolhai Rinoche, Ngawang Namgyal Rinpoche and Tenzin Gyurmey Rinpoche are presently continuing their philosophical studies at monastery

2) Geshe degree holders:

Our Drati Khangtsen has 26 Geshe degree holders who had completed all their Philosophical and dialectical studies after studying for more than 20 years at the Monastic University. Sera Je Monastic University at Bylakuppe is one of the most important seats of learning Tibetan Buddhist Dialectical Philosophical Studies in India. The monastic academic courses covers all the five main subjects of Buddhist studies based on Lord Buddha's Sutras and its commentaries and explanatory being written by Indian and Tibetan scholars.

Among the above Geshes, we have 13 top Lharampa Geshes who had appeared for six years in Gelug Examinations after completing all the studies on five main principle subjects at Monastery. Lharampa Degree is the highest monastic academic degree awarded after completing all the studies and appearing for all the examinations.

The list of Lharampa Geshes:

*   Geshe Jampa choephel
*   Geshe Lobsang Sherab
*   Geshe Lobsang Wangdue
*   Geshe Lobsang Choeder
*   Geshe Lobsang Sherab
*   Geshe Thupten Zopa
*   Geshe Thupten Phuntsok
*   Geshe Tashi Tseder
*   Geshe Thupten Khedrup
*   Geshe Thupten Rabten
*   Geshe Dhondup Tsering
*   Geshe Thupten Choeden
*   Geshe Tenzin Tenpa

List of non-Lharampa Geshes:

* Geshe Thupten Wangchuk
* Geshe Lobsang Yonten
* Geshe Ngawang Dhondup
* Geshe Chonga Tsering
* Geshe Kunchok Tsering
* Geshe Lobsang Gyatso
* Geshe Ngawang Namgyal
* Geshe Tenzin Choeying
* Geshe Tenzin Dremey
* Geshe Tenzin Choedup
* Geshe Ngawang Gedun
* Geshe Jampa Thaye
* Geshe Ngawang Tashi

* Geshe Lobsang Khedrub

* Geshe Lobsang Topjor

* Geshe Tashi Norbu

Geshe Jampa Choephel and Geshe Lobsang Sherab are the two senior most Geshes of our Khangtsen. They are only two monks who came from the original Sera-Je Drati Khangtsen in Tibet after 1959. They took the whole responsibility on their shoulder for the re-establishment of our Drati Khangtsen.

Geshe Jampa Chopel Geshe Lobsang Sherab

Geshe Lobsang Wangdue is the first Geshe lharampa Degree holder among the Tibetans monks grown up in India. After the completion of his Philosophical and Tantric studies, he is taking the responsibility of teaching the younger scholars at the monastery.

All the Geshes and elder monks in Drati Khangtsen have many students under their care. Most of the teachers have about 30 to 40 students under their care and they arrange their accommodations, foods, robes, books and everything free.

Geshe Lobsang Wangdue

3) Young monastic scholars:

There are about 200 young monk scholars in Drati Khangtsen who attend the main Debating classes for Buddhist philosophical Studies. The traditional way of Buddhist studying needs lots of memorizing and reading different texts and explanations for studying. Their day starts at 5 am in the every morning and ends at 12:30 or 1 am in the morning. The five main subjects that they learn at the monastery and the time or year taken for respective courses are as follows:

It takes 26 years for the completion of all courses for a new student. Besides Buddhist studies, students also have opportunity to learn Tibetan Grammar, Histories, Medicines, modern educations such as English, Science etc.

4) Monastic Modern School monks:

About 150 young novice monks of Drati Khangtsen attend Sera Je Monastic School. At the school, they get opportunity to learn all the modern educations such as English, mathematics, science, social studies, histories and computers etc. They have access to complete and proper modern education up to secondary levels. After the completion of schooling up to 10th class, they join main Debating class at the University for further Buddhist studies.

Monastic School Monk