|
Since 1972,
when His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave
his blessing for the re-establishment of
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in the Tibetan
settlement of Bylakuppe, in South India,
the Monastery has continued to offer the
highest levels of teaching to its
students.
Joining the
monastery at between the ages of 9 and
11, the monks follow the same pattern of
philosophical study as they would have
done in Tashi Lhunpo in Shigatse in
Tibet. In addition, the Monastery now
offers a modern education in its new
school, where the young monks study
Tibetan language and literature, Hindi,
Chinese, English, Maths, Science and
Social Studies.
During the
sixteen years of Lobnyeir, Higher
Studies, the monks will cover the arts
of healing, dialectics, Sanskrit.
metaphysics, art and the philosophy of
religion. The system of Dialectical
Debate reinforces their understanding of
the meaning of the texts and written and
oral examinations are held twice a year.
After completing their higher studies
and the six-year Gelugpa examination,
monks attain the degree of Kachen
(Doctor of Divinity).
Upon
achieving the qualification of Kachen,
many monks will choose to join the Tashi
Lhunpo Maha Tantric College and study
the four branches of Tantra, as well as
the mudras, the making of torma cake
offerings, construction of mandalas and
the art of sacred music and monsatic
dance.
|
