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Ordained Sangha
Progress is being made on the new debate courtyard at Sera Mey Monastery. A grant from the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund was given to support this work.
In September we reported that a grant from the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund was offered to Sera Mey Monastery, Mysore, India, toward the construction of a new debate courtyard. The old debate courtyard posed problems such as echoing, exposure to rain, hot sun, no classrooms or science lab rooms, among other issues. Approximately 2,000 monks study at Sera Mey, the presence of a proper area for debate at the monastery was a necessity.
The building of this new courtyard has commenced and progress is underway.
The tradition of debate in Tibetan Buddhism can be traced back to Lama Tsongkhapa, where the best scholars gather to hone their understanding of the Buddha’s highest teachings. With logical reasoning as the governing rule, students practice the art of debate by questioning one another.
The monks offered extensive offerings and prayers from The Victorious Wish-Fulfilling Jewel, the sutra-based ritual of Medicine Buddha. They offered prayers for one week and dedicated especially for the long life of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and all FPMT members and benefactors.
The FPMT Puja Fund also sponsors a monthly Medicine Buddha puja at Sera Mey by the monks. This has been offered every month since the establishment of the Puja Fund, twenty years ago. Medicine Buddha puja is so important for the overall success of the organization and all Dharma activities and is dedicated to all FPMT students and benefactors, including those who have died.
Please rejoice in the building of this new debate courtyard and in all of the beneficial prayers and activities happening at Sera Mey Monastery for the benefit of FPMT.
You can learn more about the activities of the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the FPMT Puja Fund or check out an overview of all of FPMT’s Charitable Projects.
Sera Je Monastery monk receives new robes sponsored by the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund in recognition of his memorization.
Every year the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund sponsors an oral examination of Sera Je Monastery’s top scholars who have shown a propensity for memorization. This year, 212 monks were awarded new robes for their successful memorization of particular texts. Please rejoice in these incredible accomplishments!
212 Sera Je Monastery monks were offered new robes in recognition of their memorization of important texts.
- One monk memorized Five Treatises of Maitreya
- One monk memorized Six Treatises on the Middle Way by Nagarjuna
- One monk memorized commentary on the Middle Path by Lama Jetsunpa
- Six monks memorized commentary on the Prajnaparamita, Part One, by Lama Jetsunpa
- Thirty-one monks memorized Bodhisattvacaryavatara (Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life) by Shantideva
- Seventy-four monks memorized The Essence of Eloquence on the Art of Interpretation by Lama Tsongkhapa
- Ninety-eight monks memorized a commentary on the Prajnaparamita
Please rejoice in the offering of robes to these future teachers, who contribute to the preservation the gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in the monasteries. Supporting the Sangha of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition is the main objectives of the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund.
As Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains:
“The continuity and spread of Buddhadharma throughout the world depends upon highly qualified teachers. The three great monasteries are the only place in the world where the entire, complete teachings of the Buddha are studied and practiced with deep logic.”
All are welcome to join in on this offering by contributing any amount to the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund.
You can learn more about the many activities of the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund including support given to the most senior teachers of the Tsongkhapa tradition, the annual Gelugpa Exam, and the annual Winter Debate in India and Nepal.
Through the Sera Je Food Fund, 8,300 meals are offered every day to the monks of Sera Je Monastery.
The Sera Je Food Fund offers three meals, daily, to all of the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery. Over three million meals are offered every year, a massive and collective effort of many volunteers at the monastery (who shop for, prepare, and clean up after each meal) as well as many kind donors who contribute to this fund. Lama Zopa Rinpoche started this project in 1991 and has committed to making this offering every day, every year, for as long as possible. Please rejoice that another year of food for this project has been successfully sponsored. Funds offered, together with local interest earned, is used to sponsor food for the entire year.
Many volunteers at the monastery shop for food, prepare meals, and clean up after each meal. This is a huge collective effort which must happen every single day.
Why a Food Fund?
In the Tibetan tradition, it is customary for monastics to support themselves. In addition to providing for their own housing, individual monks are responsible for purchasing and preparing all of their meals. As many of the monks are refugees from Tibet or from refugee families living in India, they have very little money for quality food and, consequently, were often malnourished and ill. Before the Sera Je Food Fund, most monks at the monastery never had a full stomach. Now, for the first time, they are well-nourished, and this makes a dramatic difference in the energy they are able to devote to their studies. Additionally, group preparation of meals and use of a communal kitchen allows more time for the monks to apply themselves to their studies without the added worry of cleaning up and preparing individual meals, monitoring their individual health for adequate protein and nutrition, etc.
Please read about the benefits of the Sera Je Food Fund and the benefits of making offerings to the Sangha by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund, read an overview of the food offered daily, or support this project with a donation of any amount.
Cooking and food staples, such as flour, were offered to 2,973 monks at Sera Je Monastery over the Summer break.
The Sera Je Food Fund is responsible for offering three nutritious meals to all the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery. As the monastery closes for the Summer (and thus, the kitchen closes), the fund makes other arrangements so the monks at the monastery have meals while the monastery is on break.
Basic dry food staples are distributed to 2,973 monks ensuring they are able to provide meals for themselves until the monastery and kitchen are back in full operation.
Without support from the Sera Je Food Fund, the monks of Sera Je Monastery would have to struggle to adequately feed themselves when the monastery closes for Summer break.
In 2011, Lama Zopa Rinpoche said the following, “Regarding the Sera Je Food Fund, this is making offerings to Sangha … wow … wow! Can you imagine the merit of that? Even making small charity the size of a single strand of hair? Can you imagine? In the monastery there are Sangha living in the five vows, but the majority of the Sangha are living in higher vows such as getsül (36 vows) and gelong, a fully ordained bhikkshu (253 vows). Most of the Sangha are gelongs and living in highest number of vows … wow … wow … wow! One creates so much merit by making offerings to Sangha due to the power of the object.” You can read Rinpoche’s complete advice, “Benefits of the Sera Je Food Fund.”
All of this is possible due to the kindness of many donors contributing in large and small ways. If you would like to get involved, to help ensure that the monks of Sera Je Monastery are offered food long into the future, you are welcome to contribute any amount to the Sera Je Food Fund.
You can sponsor meals for the monks of Sera Je Monastery as well as keep up on news and updates for this project.
View of the property where the new debate courtyard is being built for the monks of Sera Mey Monastery.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche was very happy to offer a grant to Sera Mey Monastery, Mysore, India, toward the construction of a debate courtyard. Due to the kindness of an extremely generous benefactor, the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund was able to offer a substantial contribution for this project.
Progress on the debate courtyard. September, 2015. Photo courtesy of Sera May Monastery.
The tradition of debate in Tibetan Buddhism can be traced back to Lama Tsongkhapa, where the best scholars gather to hone their understanding of the Buddha’s highest teachings. With logical reasoning as the governing rule, students practice the art of debate by questioning one another.
Without a proper debate courtyard, the monks of Sera Mey cannot engage in debate under the best conditions. The old debate courtyard was very small and had other problems such as echoing, exposure to rain, hot sun, no classrooms or science lab rooms, among other issues. Approximately 2,000 monks study at Sera Mey, the presence of a proper area for debate at the monastery will have lasting benefit.
Approximately 2,000 monks study at Sera Mey Monastery and will benefit from the new debate courtyard being built.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is extremely pleased to be supporting Sera Mey Monastery in this way. Please rejoice in the construction of this new debate courtyard which will benefit many Buddhist scholars now and far into the future.
You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the many ways which it is able to make offerings to Sangha.
Khangtsens are hostel sections of monasteries where monks share living quarters with those who share their language and cultural background.
During the 2014 Jangchup Lamrim teachings, Lama Zopa Rinpoche stayed at Ganden Samlo Khangtsen at Ganden Monastery. While there, Rinpoche discovered that essential repairs were needed and Rinpoche wanted to help. Due to the generosity of an extremely kind benefactor, US$19,600 was raised and offered to this khangtsen so the repairs could be made. Specifically, a damaged roof was able to be replaced and extended to protect from the heat.
Khangtsens are hostel sections of monasteries. Each monk is affiliated with one khangtsen according to their region of origin. This is so monks can live with others who share their language and cultural background, thus helping to limit hardships and confusion within the community.
Please rejoice in this offering. It continues to be a high priority for FPMT to support ordained Sangha.
You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund
//fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/supporting-ordained-sangha-fund/
Explore FPMT’s many charitable projects and social service activities: https://fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/
The monks of Sera Je Monastery are offered three nutritious meals every single day through the Sera Je Food Fund.
Since 1991, the Sera Je Food Fund has offered meals to the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery in southern India. Today, the fund sponsors 8,300 meals every single day for all 2,500 Sera Je Monastery monks (3,300 monks are served breakfast). This offering allows the monks to concentrate on their studies without the constant worry of sourcing and preparing their next meal.
This hour-long video shows the Sera Je Monks practicing in retreat and offering puja, engaging with the local community, and toward the end (45 mins 22 seconds) we see a behind-the-scenes look at the food fund’s operation in action.
In a recent letter from Sera Je Monastery, the abbot expressed, “The monastery is indebted to offer our devout prayers and ritual ceremonies in dedication of sponsors and supporters of Sera Je Food Fund program, its founder the ever compassionate Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and his esteemed FPMT.”
Please enjoy this short video of the monks sharing one of these meals together.
This most precious offering of food is made possible due to the kindness of many donors and benefactors. Tremendous thanks to all who have contributed to the fund. Donations of all sizes make a difference and allow the following to be provided:
- US$10: three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one month
- US$120: three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one year
- US$780: three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one day
- US$5,460: three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one week
- US$280,000: three vegetarian meals a day to all the 2,500 monks for one year
You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund:
https://fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/seraje
Explore FPMT’s many charitable projects and social service activities:
https://fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/
It takes a tremendous amount of food and collective work to offer 8,300 meals every day to the monks of Sera Je Monastery.
Every day of every year the Sera Je Food Fund offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to 2,500 monks studying at the Sera Je Monastery. An additional 800 monks join for breakfast every day. Offering this requires a tremendous amount of food and collective dedicated effort. For example, in addition to many other ingredients, approximately 65,900 pounds of rice are needed for daily lunches and dinners and 1,300 pounds of tea are required for breakfast for one year.
Over the Winter, the food fund increased the normal offerings by approximately 25% for lunch and 50% for dinner due to the Winter Debate held at Sera Je and attended by the best Buddhist scholars of the great monasteries. During this time the Sera Je Food Fund provided food for over 1,000 monks. This was also a time for school holidays for Sera Je School and most of the 800 young school monks also joined for meals.
The main additional expenses incurred by the food fund over the month of February was the dried food which is distributed to 2,610 monks for 12 days over the Losar holiday.
Expenses of US$916 were also needed over February to renovate and repair the cold storage room in the food fund’s kitchen.
Sera Je monks help prepare meals for 2,500 in the Sera Je Food Fund kitchen.
Offering food to the monks of Sera Je Monastery, and others during special events, is possible due to the kindness and generosity of many. If you would like to contribute to to this daily offering of 8,300 meals, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Sera Je Food Fund.
- US$10: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one month
- US$120: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one year
- US$780: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one day
- US$5,460: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one week
- US$280,000: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all the 2,500 monks for one year
You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund:
https://fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/seraje
Explore FPMT’s many charitable projects and social service activities:
https://fpmt.org/projects/fpmt/
There are 2,500 monks benefiting from the Sera Je Food Fund (3,300 for breakfast) and the annual cost is US$280,000.
In November 2014, staff at Kurukulla Center in Medford, Massachusetts hosted a presentation introducing students and volunteers to FPMT’s unique culture, structure and history.
At the end of the presentation, Geshe Tenley, who is the resident geshe at Kurukulla Center and also in the past studied at Sera Je Monastery, discussed his experience living at Sera Je before the Sera Je Food Fund was started by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1991 and how the offering of food positively impacted the lives of all the monks, most of whom were extremely poor and without the ability to properly feed themselves.
Geshe Tenley explained that it is very wonderful to learn about FPMT, and the unbelievable the benefits of the organization. Geshe-la explained that he also really experienced the benefits when he was at Sera Je Monastery during the time Lama Zopa Rinpoche started the offering of food to monks. Geshe-la said in the very beginning (in 1991) the Sera Food Fund offered money once a month to all the monks for their food. The monks would wait and count the days until they were able to get the money for the food because they were so very poor. The food at the time was very bad, just rice and dahl and the dahl was like water, it didn’t cling to the rice at all. The monks had almost nothing to eat. Then in the evening, even though all the monks were so hungry, they still had to study till 11 p.m. or 12 a.m. and for dinner they just got black tea and a piece of bread. They thought the bread was very delicious because they were so very hungry all the time.
Then, as Geshe-la explains, Rinpoche started the food fund enabling more monks to live at the monastery and study. From that the Sera Food Fund started and was able to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, so from that there was such big benefit.
Geshe Tenley with Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kurukulla Center, 2012.
Geshe-la went on to say that FPMT is a very useful organization of which we are all a part, and is now also helping schools and so much more.
Today there are 2,500 monks benefiting from the Sera Je Food Fund (3,300 for breakfast) and the annual cost is US$280,000.
You can watch the whole video of the presentation, Geshe Tenley discussing the benefit of the Sera Je Food Fund starting at 1 hour 57 mins.
You are welcome to contribute to this offering of food to all of the monks of Sera Je Monastery. The Sera Je Food Fund has offered over 37,379, 600 meals since 1991 and is currently offering 3,029,500 meals every year. That is 8,300 every day!
https://my.fpmt.org/donate/serajefoodfund
Recently Ven. Roger Kunsang accompanied Lama Zopa Rinpoche when Rinpoche met with Geshe Gelong, a Sera Je Monastery monk, in southern India. Ven. Roger made notes of the conversation, in which Geshe Gelong expressed the importance of the Sera Je Food Fund from his personal experience.
There are 2,500 monks benefiting from the Sera Je Food Fund (3,300 for breakfast) and the annual cost is US$280,000.
Geshe Gelong was living and studying at Sera Je Monastery prior to the establishment of the Sera Je Food Fund. He easily recalls stories of the hardships faced by the Sangha members living at Sera Je Monastery before FPMT started offering three healthy vegetarian meals every day. This offering is due to the kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the generous donations of his students and benefactors.
“Monks would have to pay for their own meals before the Sera Je Food Fund started because the monastery couldn’t afford to offer them free food. Many monks arrived at Sera Je having fled from Tibet so they had no, or very little money. They arrived unable to pay for food, some were not eating for up to a week at a time,” recalls Geshe Gelong. A lack of food inevitably led to malnutrition and high rates of TB (tuberculosis) in the monastic community. “I would drive so many monks who had TB, due to poor nutrition, to the local hospitals acting as translator for the many who didn’t speak Hindi. It was a very, very difficult life for many. With the monastery unable to offer free food and the monks unable to pay for it, many had to give up their education and leave, some having to disrobe and risk returning to Tibet. I would like to thank Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the care and opportunity the Sera Je Food Fund has brought to the monastery and the monks.”
There are 2,500 monks benefiting from the Sera Je Food Fund (3,300 for breakfast) and the annual cost is US$280,000.
“Previously thin and malnourished monks are now a healthy size with rates of TB now much lower,” Geshe Gelong explained. “Healthier bodies and minds mean the monks are now able to focus on their studies and practices and are much happier and healthier thanks to the three daily provided by the Sera Je Food Fund.”
Buckets of soup about to be offered to the 2,500 monks of Sera Je Monastery.
A heartfelt thanks goes out to all of the past, present and future donors who make this offering possible. You are welcome to offer any amount to this fund. Here is how your offering will be used:
- US$10: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one month
- US$120: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to one monk for one year
- US$780: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one day
- US$5,460: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks for one week
- US$280,000: Provides three vegetarian meals a day to all the 2,500 monks for one year
You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund, or see details of a typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner offered to the monks.
This blog post was kindly translated into Vietnamese.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with senior monks on his arrival at Gaden Monastery in Mundgod, Karnataka, India on December 22, 2014. Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL.
At a meeting held in South India in December 2014, His Holiness the Dalai Lama stressed the extreme importance of establishing the Geluk International Foundation and offices for the long term preservation of the Gelug tradition. Lama Zopa Rinpoche immediately responded to this advice from His Holiness and pledged to offer US$100,000, through the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund, toward the construction of the building needed for this project. This offering was sent out in February. Specifically, this donation will be used for:
- Office of Gaden Tri Thog Khang – the headquarters of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism
- Office of Gaden Tri Thog Khang – secretary and other staff quarters
- Office of Geluk International Foundation
- Training and research center
- First floor – assembly hall
- Second floor – photang for the Gaden Tri Rinpoche
Please rejoice in this incredible offering. May it create the causes for Buddha’s teachings to be accessible to all, far and wide, through the preservation of the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa.
You can learn more about the beneficial activities sponsored by the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund or about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT.
The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund offering food to the top scholars who are participating in the recently held Annual Winter Debate.
The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund is one of FPMT’s longest running charitable projects. Established in 1997 at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, this fund has three main objectives:
- Offering stipends to the 150 most senior teachers of the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition
In December 2014, US$20,296 was offered to senior teachers at Sera Je, Sera Mey, Drepung Loseling, Ganden, Gyume, Gyuto, Tashi Lhunpo, and Rato monasteries.
- Supporting the annual Gelugpa Exam
652 students took part in this annual exam. The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund covers the basic expenses for all participants including food.
- Supporting the annual Winter Debate in India and Nepal
The Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund is the primary sponsor of this debate where the best Buddhist scholars gather to sharpen their understanding of the Buddha’s highest teachings. The annual Winter Debate in Nepal also includes debates with nuns.
Preserving the Mahayana tradition is the primary objective of the entire FPMT organization and the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund is one substantial way to help continue this work.
Participants in the 2014 Gelugpa Exam.
Tremendous thanks to all the donors who make these offerings possible. You are welcome to offer any amount to the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund to contribute to the support being offered to the current and future teachers of the Mahayana tradition.
You can learn more about the activities of the Lama Tsongkhapa Teachers Fund or about the many Charitable Projects of FPMT.