The Monks of Sera Je Monastery

India

The Geshes

Four levels of Geshe Degree are awarded after a monk has completed his studies in the Monastery: Lharampa, Tsogrampa, Rigrampa and Lingse. There are some monks who, even though they have the knowledge and qualifications to become a Lharampa Geshe (the highest level), choose to get one of the lower level Geshe degrees or even sometimes decide not to get a Geshe degree for various reasons. After obtaining a Geshe Degree, a monk will be called a Geshe.

Nowadays, Sera Jhe produces around 10 Lharampas, 6 to 8 Tsogrampas, Rigrampas and Lingses, a total of around 34 Geshes every year.

Most of the Geshes will then join either the Gyume or Gyutho Tantric College for at least one year. At these Tantric Colleges, they study different texts on Vajrayana or Tantra such as the Tantric Grounds and Paths, commentaries on the generation and completion stages on various Tantric Buddha practices, focusing mainly on the Guyasamaja, Chakrasamvara and Yamantaka. They also learn about all the rituals, including the drawing of Mandalas and so on. The schedule there is very tight and long, practices or pujas will sometimes last for 12 to 16 hours a day. Sometimes, the pujas start around 2.30 in early morning and last until 6 or 8 in the evening with only half an hour break for lunch and dinner and about 10 minutes break in between sessions.

After completing their studies in one of the Tantric Colleges, some Geshes will return to Sera Monastery to become teachers there. The teachers teach the monks for 5 to 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. No salary or pocket money is provided to these teachers. Occasionally some students who get extra money would make an offering to their teachers. But as most of the monks are poor, it is usually the teachers who help the students instead. Therefore it is clear that the teachers teach purely out of compassion without any expectations from their students.

Many Geshes are invited to teach in Buddhist organizations around the world. Currently, in FPMT centers alone, there are over 30 resident Geshes and Lamas. Others are requested to teach in monasteries, schools or universities in Tibetan settlements in countries such as Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Tibet. Some Geshes decide to remain in their monasteries such as Sera Jhe, to offer their services in different departments like the Health Care Committee, Education Committee, and Ritual Practice Committee etc. A few of them will eventually be appointed as the abbot of their monasteries. Some Geshes do retreats such as the 3 year retreat or even for the rest of their life.

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Living Conditions at Sera

India is a poor country, and the living conditions at Sera Je are quite basic by western standards.  In the early days food was scarce, and medical provisions were non existent. However, nowadays the monastery  provides two meal per day. The other meal per day comes via sponsorship. 

The monks live in single story thatched houses that typically have a single bed per monk (usually 2 to 3 monks per room), a small study desk and a common kitchen. Many monks sleep on a mat on the floor.  Often, bathing facilities are a simple cold water tap outside, and is also used for washing dishes.     Houses are sprawled around the monastery, in varying degrees of disrepair.  Each new monk is assigned to a house, and given a carer,  who will help him assimilate into the monastic life and tend to his nurturing needs.

The monks teacher provides some basic needs for the monks to share i.e. bedding, text books and robes,  but the resources are spread thin and much more are needed.

Disease and illness is an ongoing major problem.  Medical treatments have improved slightly at the Monastery, but still have a long way to go and are short of funds.  In addition to the scheme, Khensur Kangur Rinpoche recently set up the Emergency Medical Fund, where you can make single payments to this fund which is kept aside for medical treatment for the monks.

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Benefits of Sponsorship for the Monks 

The basic amount of sponsorship is AUS$10.00 per month.  While this is a relatively modest amount in western terms, e.g. the price of a cup of coffee per week, the low cost of living in India means that this small amount of money has a significant impact on a monks life.  

The monks live together in houses and the money received via sponsorship is pooled together, and, under the direction of the house leader (usually a senior monk), is used collectively for all the monks in a house.   The pooled money in each house is used only for food and very basic medical needs i.e. bandages, antiseptic etc. 

Monks often write to their sponsor thanking them for their contribution, which does provide a significant improvement in their quality of life.  Some sponsors find that they have now a "son" or "brother", and form a close and long lasting bond.  Letters are often written through translators, although  not too often as the translators are in high demand, and also have their own studies to attend to. The following is a  typical letter (the robes he is referring to is for ordination of a student at at Buddhist Centre):

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Letters from Monks

As the scheme is run by volunteers, 100% of the money (i.e.AUS$10.00 per month) reaches the monk.  No money is held back for any reason, although the amount of Indian Rupees the monk receives does vary slightly each time with international currency rates.

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