New debate hall in Serpom monastery

[whitelion]

Great news to share, after the grand opening of Serpom Thoesam Norling monastery we received another great news from Serpom. Currently, Serpom monastery is doing preparation to build their debate hall which will protect the monks from weather. Serpom monks are doing their daily debate session in an open court yard right in front of the main gompa (prayer hall) for this moment.

Geshe Thubten have choosen to be in charge to do this exciting project by the monastery. Geshe Thubten is also the person in charge who builded the current Serpom gompa, he oversee the whole project from design to altar set up, which statue to be place to even every single tile that use for the gompa. 
Even though the DS practitioners are facing so much difficulty (fund, support, man power and etc) but the DS practitioners will never stop bringing benefit to others.   

I believe this new debate hall will be as beautiful and functional just like the main prayer hall.

Some video of Serpom monastery grand opening:

1) Part 1:

The Grand Opening of Serpom Monastery (Part 1)

2) Part 2:

The Grand Opening of Serpom Monastery (Part 2)	Small | Large

3) Part 3:

The Grand Opening of Serpom Monastery (Part 3)	Small | Large

4) Part 4:

The Grand Opening of Serpom Monastery (Part 4)	Small | Large

** attached a pic of model of the new Serpom debate hall.

[Ensapa]

Wow thanks for the update, whitelion! More proof that Dorje Shugden's practice is indeed beneficial for the growth of the Dharma! I rejoice at Serpom Norling's expansion as it will be the platform for the development of many, many qualified Gelug scholars after its completion. It truly brings joy to my heart to see the platform in which many future scholars and Geshes can emerge from. As time passes by and despite the ban more and more Dorje Shugden monasteries grow or are built by Lamas who trust their lineage and their own Gurus. I find this a very strong message for everyone indeed, to follow their teachers all the way.

[kris]

Thank you whitelion for sharing such good news! I have been to Serpom monastery and witness their debate at night on the open court yard. It is freezing at night during winter but everyone still participate actively (though I don't understand what were they discussing). With the debate hall, the monks can participate in debate without having to deal with the harsh weather.

Debate is a very important aspect of Vajrayana Buddhism to encourage learning, and that is also why many Vajrayana monks are very fast in their thoughts and speed, and they can explain teachings in a very logic manner.

I rejoice in this news and can't wait to see photos/videos of the new debate hall!

[samayakeeper]

Against heavy odds, the monks and lamas in Serpom Monastery braved much difficulties but they never gave up. Their effort,  love, dedication and labor are really admirable and inspiring.

May this new debate hall be the cause for more great lamas to emerge to teach the dharma and the practice of Dorje Shugden far and wide.

[Ensapa]

Against heavy odds, the monks and lamas in Serpom Monastery braved much difficulties but they never gave up. Their effort,  love, dedication and labor are really admirable and inspiring.

May this new debate hall be the cause for more great lamas to emerge to teach the dharma and the practice of Dorje Shugden far and wide.

This hall is a very strong testament to what you have mentioned there, and for sure this hall will be the birthplace of many more qualified scholars and pandits that will spread Lama Tsongkhapa's pure tradition far and wide, undiluted or unmodified by external influences. It is very heartening to know how nobody gives up despite all the difficulties and problems that they face and also all of the discriminations that they have to go through as Dorje Shugden practitioners but yet they did not give up and continue on with their Dorje Shugden practice and not giving up their Guru's instruction in favor of more comforts and luxuries or with the support of the community or not.

[Jessie Fong]

A debate hall is absolutely necessary considering that the monks engage in debates almost everyday. And to think that they had to debate out in the cold during winter ... shivers!!!

This new debate hall is a sign of expansion - to cater to the increasing number of monks and thus DS practitioners.

Thanks to Geshe Thubten who saw the project from beginning to completion.

[WisdomBeing]

The success and growth of Serpom show that the monks at Serpom were correct to follow their lineage and their protector, Dorje Shugden, is authentic and powerful. If Dorje Shugden was a demon, Serpom would have fallen apart when it separated from Sera Monastery and sponsors would not have continued to support them. However, as Dorje Shugden is a Buddha, the Dharma will continue to flourish and a new generation of Dorje Shugden practitioners will continue the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa throughout the world. This new debate hall is evidence of this.

[christine V]

" Serpom Thoesam Norling monastery situated in Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement, Mysore District, Karnataka State, India, Serpom Thoesam Norling Monastery is a registered non–profit organization and monastic university for advanced Buddhist studies. ..
With assorted tools, the monks removed roots and cleared rocks in order to fertilize the land. Finally tractors ploughed the land to turn it into fields. Monks labored daily in the construction of the houses and the planting of corn in the fields. Day and night the field was guarded against pigs and elephants. The harvest took four months. The very first year, the monastery had a good harvest -- each plant produced three giant corn cobs. Tibetans who visit the monastery returned with corn as a souvenir." - source: http://serpommonastery.org

The monks not only have to study; chant daily and yet they are involved in the building of the Serpom Monastery. Despite so many difficulties they faced, e.g: The banned of Dorje Shugden issues, financial difficulty, they do not give up. 

Now with the news that the debate hall that is going to build, it is a great news to share.  The monks have a place to debate, not to worry about the changing of weather.

Why is Debate important
One of the main purposes of debate in the Buddhist training is to help to develop decisive awareness (nges-shes)… debating provides a situation more conducive than meditation for beginners to develop concentration…debate helps to develop personality, Whether win or lose, the debate provides an excellent opportunity to recognize the "I" that is to be refuted. .. In a debate the motivation must always be to help the partner to develop clear understanding and firm conviction in what can be logically proven.[/i]- source: http://www.berzinarchives.com

With the understanding that debate is important to the study of Buddhism, this debate hall is essential and is very beneficial to the people who involve in building the hall.

Thanks to Whitelion for sharing this news. Rejoice on this news.

[Big Uncle]

Wow! This is wonderful news! It is great to see that the Dharma is growing. A debate hall is absolutely essential for any Tibetan monastery particularly for a Gelug monastery because debates are the essential aspect of monastic life. On top of that, great pandits of India and Tibet advocated debate as a great way to expedite learning and absorption of the Dharma. For many great practitioners, that helped to cut their doubts, have unparalleled mastery of the Dharma and ultimately to gain realization.

Debates are a ritualized means from which any given topic is dissected from all angles from the viewpoint of a Buddhist and non-Buddhist proponent. The best debaters are able to take on both roles and said to be able to make the opponent see black as white and vice-versa. It is said that Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Lama Tsongkhapa and other forms of Manjushri bestows 7 forms of wisdom and one form of wisdom of debate.

[Ensapa]

Wow! This is wonderful news! It is great to see that the Dharma is growing. A debate hall is absolutely essential for any Tibetan monastery particularly for a Gelug monastery because debates are the essential aspect of monastic life. On top of that, great pandits of India and Tibet advocated debate as a great way to expedite learning and absorption of the Dharma. For many great practitioners, that helped to cut their doubts, have unparalleled mastery of the Dharma and ultimately to gain realization.

Debates are a ritualized means from which any given topic is dissected from all angles from the viewpoint of a Buddhist and non-Buddhist proponent. The best debaters are able to take on both roles and said to be able to make the opponent see black as white and vice-versa. It is said that Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Lama Tsongkhapa and other forms of Manjushri bestows 7 forms of wisdom and one form of wisdom of debate.

In short, debating is crucial for the monks to see a teaching from all angles and it is especially needed if they are to spread Dharma in regions where people are not tamed by the Dharma, or that they are sent to teach in places where there is no Dharma consciousness, which explains why do Tibetan Lamas are so successful in anywhere where they teach. The wisdom of debate enhances the teaching capabilities of the Lamas, where they can explain things from their disciples' point of view and help them dissolve and preempt doubts even before they have a chance to surface.

The opening of Serpom's new debate hall would make many such lamas of high calibre which will spread the pure teachings of Conquerer Losang to the 10 directions.