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Sera Je Food Fund News
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.
It takes a tremendous amount of food and collective work to offer 8,300 meals every day to the monks of Sera Je Monastery.
Over the past year we have reported details about the incredible amount of food required to offer three nutritious meals daily to all of the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery (3,300 for breakfast, 2,500 for lunch and dinner).
The Sera Je Food Fund thrived in 2014. An incredible 3,029,500 meals were offered . This is due to the kindness of many who contribute to the US$280,000 needed every year to continue this project.
In 2014, interest amounting to 4% of the annual budget was accumulated from fixed term deposits and this interest was put back into the Sera Je Food Fund to help offset 2015 food expenses. Additionally, an annual wealth vase puja was offered and dedicated to the continued success of the project.
In December, 125 monks were not able to attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Mundgod, but dry food was left for these monks so they would still have food even though the typical meal service was not offered during his Holiness’s teachings.
Please rejoice in this incredible offering that is provided every single day to the monks of Sera Je Monastery. You are welcome to offer any amount to this beneficial project.
- 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 keep up on all the news from the Sera Je Food Fund or learn more about the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
8,300 meals are offered every day to all of the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery.
The Sera Je Food Fund offers 8,300 meals every single day to the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery. 3,300 monks are offered breakfast and 2,500 monks are offered lunch and dinner.
65,900 pounds of rice is needed every year to offer lunch and dinner to 2,500 monks.
Amazingly, approximately 65,900 pounds of rice are needed for one year of daily lunches and dinners. Additionally, 1,300 pounds of tea are required for breakfast for one year. An incredible amount of other fruits, vegetables, starches and other ingredients are also required to offer this ongoing commitment o three nutritious meals daily. You can see more details about what the monks are offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The cost of offering all the food to all the monks is currently US$280,000 yearly. If you would like to contribute to the Sera Je Food Fund, you may offer any amount you are able.
You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund or the other Charitable Projects of FPMT which offer support to many beneficial activities around the world.
Sera Je monks help prepare meals for 2,500 in the Sera Je Food Fund kitchen.
Every day, 8,300 meals are offered to all the monks studying at Sera Je Monastery. 3,300 monks join for breakfast and 2,500 monks are offered lunch and dinner. Every three months, approximately 750,000 meals are offered through the Sera Je Food Fund. An astounding amount of food is required for this ongoing offering.
Just to give a glimpse of the amount of food that is offered over three months to the monks of Sera Je Monastery:
64,300 bananas are offered in a three month period through the Sera Je Food Fund.
Breakfast:
- Butter: 289 pounds
- Flour: 8,433 pounds
- Cooking Oil: 170 gallons
You can read more about a typical day’s breakfast offering.
Lunch:
- Bananas: 64,300 pieces
- Dal: 10,417 pounds
- Rice: 11,217 pounds
- Green Vegetables: 5,570 bundles
You can read more about a typical day’s lunch offering.
Green vegetables being prepared and cleaned for 2,500.
Dinner:
- Cooking Oil: 165 gallons
- Soy Sauce: 115 bottles
- Cheese: 432 pounds
- Potato: 1,000 pounds
You can read more about a typical day’s dinner offering.
Many other ingredients are used for the monthly meals, the above numbers are merely examples of certain foods and ingredients used. Please rejoice in this incredible offering.
You are welcome to offer any amount toward the US$280,000 needed each year for this project:
You can learn more about the Sera Je Food Fund as well as the other Charitable Projects of FPMT.
800 young monks of the Serea Je School are offered breakfast daily through the Sera Je Food Fund. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Secondary School Facebook.
The young monks are able to focus on their studies without worrying about where there next meal will come from. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Secondary School Facebook.
In addition to offering three meals a day to all 2,500 monks studying at Sera Je Monastery, the Sera Je Food Fund offers breakfast daily to 800 young monks studying at the Sera Je School. Lunch and dinner are sponsored through another generous source.
The cost is US$29,200 to offer 800 meals per day which is 292,000 meals every year. This is something amazing to rejoice in as these young monks will later enter the Sera Je Monastery curriculum. Investing in their early education is a true investment in the future of qualified Buddhist scholars and teachers.
You are welcome to donate any amount toward this offering:
8,300 meals are offered every day to the monks of Sera Je Monastery.
Every day, many volunteers at Sera Je Monastery shop, prepare, offer and clean up after each of the three meals offered to all 2,500 monks through the Sera Je Food Fund.
The cost of offering all the food to all the monks is currently $US280,000 yearly. If you would like to contribute to the Sera Je Food Fund, you may offer any amount you are able.
- 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
In this video, you can see thousands of these monks enjoying a meal provided by the Sera Je Food Fund.
There are extensive prayers and dedications made by the monks at Sera Je for those who contribute to the fund. These dedications continue to generate merit for those donating to the fund for as long as the monastery exists.
Please read about the benefits of the Sera Je Food Fund and the benefits of making offerings to the Sangha by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
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Learn more about FPMT Charitable Projects and all of the beneficial activities which they support. You can find further information about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his beneficial activities by visiting Rinpoche’s webpage, where you will find links to Rinpoche’s schedule, new advice, recent video, photos and more.
Every day, the 2,500 monks of Sera Je Monastery are offered three vegetarian meals
through the Sera Je Food Fund.
You can see details of what they are offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This project is only possible due to 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.
Young monks enjoying their breakfast offered by the Sera Je Food Fund.
Please enjoy this short video of the monks sharing one of these meals together.
The Great Yogi Milarepa said: “The practitioner and benefactor offering food create the cause to achieve enlightenment together.”
Thanks to all who help make this offering possible.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with the Abbot of Sera Je Monastery during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recent teachings in Italy.
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.
It is difficult to imagine the sheer volume of food it takes to offer 8,300 quality vegetarian meals daily.
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2,187 pounds of flour are required for one month of breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Rice and vegetables is typically offered as part of the nutritious vegetarian lunch provided to 2,500 monks through the Sera Je Food Fund.
- 46 pounds of tea leaves are needed for a month’s worth of breakfast tea.
- For lunch alone, 5,300 bananas, 460 bundles of green vegetables, and 772 pounds of rice is offered during a typical month.
- Dinner for one month requires 23 bottles of soy sauce, 2,780 pounds and 50 bundles of vegetables and 34 gallons of cooking oil.
These examples are just small fraction of the ingredients needed to offer about 250,000 meals every single month.
The annual cost of the meals offered through Sera Je Food Fund is US$280,000. You are welcome to donate any amount toward this most incredible offering to the monks of Sera Je Monastery who are studying very hard to be able to be of most benefit to the world.
All of the monks of Sera Je Monastery are offered three nutritious meals daily through the Sera Je Food Fund.
Every day, 8,300 meals are served to all 2,500 monks studying at Sera Je Monastery through the Sera Je Food Fund. Before each meal, all of the monks offer prayers and dedications to all of the many kind sponsors of the Sera Je Food Fund which provides an annual operating budget of US$280,000 in order to provide 3,029,500 meals every year.
This video shows the monks offering prayers, before lunch. The prayers are always dedicated for the supporters of the Sera Je Food Fund.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Sera Je Monastery Abbot are also seen enjoying the same nutritious vegetarian lunch offered to all the other monks.
You may donate any amount to this incredibly beneficial project which provides one of the most fundamental needs for life – food – and allows the monks to focus on their studies without the burden of sourcing and preparing their own meals.
Monks at Sera Je Monastery after lunch sponsored by the Sera Je Food Fund.
“Path to Geshe” by William Judge and Bodhi Leaf Productions tells the story of monastic life at Sera Je Monastery. You can learn more about this wonderful film on the Bodhi Leaf Productions website. You can also view the trailer below.
Sera Je Monastery is the learning institution of many of FPMT’s teachers. Nearly all of the 46 geshes teaching in FPMT centers around the world come from Sera Je Monastery. Since 1991, the Sera Je Food Fund has been offering meals to all the monks studying at this monastery. The fund currently offers three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks studying at Sera Je.
This film is now available to the public and can be purchased via Amazon.