Serpom Monastery’s New School

Serpom Monastery’s new school building

Serpom Monastery was established in year 2008 in the Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement, Mysore district, India, as a monastic university for advanced Buddhist education. Serpom Monastery is a reflection of the commitment of Buddhist practitioners to uphold the pure doctrine of Lama Tsongkapa and Dorje Shugden, as it was established to protect monks who suffered from discrimination and were cast away from their original monastery (Sera Mey), after expressing their wish to continue their practice of Dorje Shugden as given to them by their lineage gurus.

Since the Dalai Lama’s proclamation of the ban, Dorje Shugden monks were deprived of access to food supplies, medical attention and participation in classes on the basis of their practice of Dorje Shugden. Instead of caving in to the pressure to abandon the practice, the monks formed Serpom Monastery to ensure the authentic lineage of Je Rinpoche is preserved for future generations to practice in a better environment. The Serpom Thoesam Norling School, opened in year 2009, was also formed to educate and instil knowledge in the younger monks, thus preserving the system of monastic education.

Serpom Monastery’s school follows the tradition monastic curriculum which includes intensive debate sessions which have been proven through time to clear doubts, develop clarity in understanding the teachings as well as strengthen memory. In addition, students also learn the English and Chinese language, to be better equipped to integrate into modern society. Through the care and guidance of the monk-teachers of Serpom School, many young monks have dedicated their lives to the study of Dharma and will eventually become the future lineage holders of Lama Tsongkapa’s and Dorje Shugden’s pure doctrine.

Below are some recent pictures of the happenings at Serpom School.

Many young monks join Serpom Monastery because of its dedication and commitment to upholding the pure doctrine of Lama Tsongkapa and the practice of Dorje Shugden

Through the kindness and generosity of sponsors, the young Serpom monks are now able to study in comfortable classrooms

An important day for the young monks: school results day!

Receiving their results from the head of Serpom School, Geshe Jampa Choegyal

Serpom School provide the young monks with an intensive and modern curriculum which includes varied subjects such as Tibetan language, Tibetan handwriting, English, Mathematics, and Science.

A sample academic report from Serpom School

A recent addition to the monastic curriculum is Chinese language classes, to enable the young monks to keep up with modern times.

Easy access to books and learning materials is something we may take for granted. However, the young monks of Serpom Monastery do not enjoy such luxuries. Therefore, the Serpom School Library provides not only Dharma textbooks but also reference books on the English language, science, mathematics and even children’s books in English, Chinese and Tibetan, made available through the kindness of sponsors from across the globe. The monks of Serpom Library have also started converting rare Buddhist texts to digital formats, preserving the precious teachings of Lama Tsongkapa and the lineage masters for posterity.

Young monks in the Serpom School Library

Learning in a comfortable and safe condition in the Serpom Library

Books are appreciated and, even, celebrated in Serpom School Library!

In appreciation of their kind sponsors, the young monks take good care of everything that was sponsored in the Serpom School

The difficulties experienced by the monks of Serpom did not end with the founding of an independent monastery. They still face frightening threats from the Tibetan populace with minimal protection from the local authorities. Despite these challenges, their dedication to the Dharma and benefiting others is admirable and a shining example of Dharma in action especially in these difficult times.

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Be inspired and lend your support to the monks of Serpom Monastery. Sponsor a student, a teacher, the upkeep of the school or simple donate a book or two for these young monks to have a better education.

Please contact Serpom Monastery to extend your generous sponsorship:

Serpom Thoesam Norling Monastery

(P.K.Cultural Institute Association, Regd. No 152/87-88)
P.O. Bylakuppe 571104,
District Mysore, Karnataka,
INDIA
Phone: +91 8223 258110,258112
Fax: +91 8223 258111
Email: [email protected], [email protected]