As was prophesied by Lord Buddha that Buddhism would flourish infinitely in Tibet, a prestigious Drepung monastic university-one of the three largest Tibetan monastic universities- which is more popularly known as the second Nalanda University, was founded by Jamyang Chojey Tashi Palden in 1416- a close disciple of Je-Tsong Kha Pa. In the prophecy by Je Tsong Kha Pa, it was said that this university would surpass the one founded by Je-Tsong Kha Pa himself. With the passage of time, seven highly learned and scholars from Drepung University established seven colleges of which the largest was Drepung Loseling College.  Drepung Loseling College has hitherto produced highly learned lamas like Khechen Lekden, Jamyang Gawe Lodoe, Panchen Sonam Dakpa, over eighty abbots of the monastery, about thirty Gaden Throne Holders from Je Monla Pel- the eighth Gaden Throne Holder to Je Lobsang Nyima- the hundredth Gaden Throne Holder, His eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Professor Samdong Rinpoche-the prime minister of Tibetan Exile govt. directly elected by the people, to name a few.

Over thousand resident teachers are engaged in meditation and retreat, and to gain deeper meaning of the entire text of Sutra and Tantra through reflective enquiry, the students exceeding 10000 monks followed the ‘debate and practice’ technique. Thus, the fame of the monastic college spread in all the direction. Besides Loseling College, there are over thousand other monasteries that study the same manual written by Panchen Sonam Dakpa. Over thousand monasteries in Tibet, China and Mongolia that uphold the religious tradition of this monastery grew by leaps and bound, and their virtuous activities spread beyond the horizons of the sky.

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama received his Geshe degree in 1985, the total monk population in Loseling College alone was over ten thousand.

However, following the political upheaval in Tibet, only about 305 monks managed to flee into India and in accordance with the instruction of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a temporary monastic college was re-established at Bauxa in West Bengal to resumed their studies on the five treatises of Buddhist Philosophy at the monastic college temporarily re-established at Bauxa in West Bengal. And later in 1969, the monastery was moved to Karnataka State where land was allotted to a large group of Tibetan refugees including lay people for settlement. Initially, there were only about hundred odd monks at this re-established monastery because some monks from Bauxa quit the holy order to join military while others disrobed. Gradually, the monk population rose to 237 with the enrolment of aspiring and enthusiastic young boys from various Tibetan settlements in the monastery.

Following Beijing’s policy of liberation of the early 1980s, there has been steady flow of monks from monasteries in Tibet affiliated to this college and from all the Himalayan belts. Currently, the monk population in our college stands over 3000. The general monk students are primarily engaged in studying the entire text of Buddhist Sutra and Tantra while besides focusing on Buddhist philosophy as the main subjects, the younger monk students are given the opportunity to study other subjects like Tibetan grammar, science, English and Chinese language up to class X. Our printing press unit and library have also made remarkable contribution in printing out many of the rare texts authored by Indian and Tibetan scholars and to make them easily available for the monk students as important reference. The monastery also offers training through handicraft center and computer section to all the interested monks of the monastery.

Losel Shedup Ling, a Dharma Centre of Loseling Monastery based in Atlanta, USA has been actively engaged not only in making arrangement for monastic tour groups to USA, Europe and other countries, but also takes it as a privilege to give Dharma teaching and to introduce Tibetan tradition to all the interested people, while Loseling Nangten Dharma Centre and Loling Kunphen Dharma Centre in Taiwan have endeavoured and is relentlessly making effort to teach Tibetan Buddhism and tradition to all the interested Chinese friends. The monastic clinic which is directly under the aegis and financial aid of the Loling Kunphen Dharma center in Taiwan has been set up to render medical service and dispense medicines to all monks and nuns free of cost and to the lay people irrespective of caste, creed and colour on concession rate. In the interest of public convenience and service including the monks’ community, the monastery holds the distributorship of HPCL LPG cooking gas and has been rendering service to the local public by way of the sale of cooking gas cylinders to the customers without any profit motive.

Last but not the least, in deference to the instruction from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and that of our exiled govt. based in Dharamsala, the monastery has been striving towards achieving success in all the activities that aims to benefit people all over the world through our spiritual and political contribution.

Kunkhen Jangchup Bhumpa or Jangchup Woeser, one of the seven great disciples of Lama Tsongkhapa, founded Sera Mey Monastery in the Iron Ox Year of Tibetan calendar, corresponding to the year 1421. Sera monastery is located to the north of Lhasa, at the majestic feat of a mountain that looks like the Auspicious White Umbrella standing out tall among the range of mountains that look like a sleeping elephant. The monastery was founded as a center of learning and practicing the extensive and profound teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni. Sera Mey monastery had produced thousands of learnt scholars and experienced practitioners since it’s inception.

In 1959, when Tibet was forcefully occupied by China, thousands of Tibetans managed to escape to India.  Our monks who managed to escape and survive formed the monastery along with other monasteries at Buxall, an old British prison complex in the state of Assam.  They stayed there for ten years and finally in 1969, on 13^th of Dec, moved and settled at Bylakuppe of Mysore in South India.

From then onwards, the monastery began to receive new monk students and started expanding and finally grew to this present monastic institute. The monastery had to construct its main prayer hall three times, each time when the former was too small in size. Due to the compassionate blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, it now has a library, a school for younger ones, a hospital and a computer center. Aside from imparting traditional and modern education to the monk students, the monastery is also engaged in social services.

Each year, it produces graduates of different levels who either continue to stay and serve in the monastery or go on to serve in different parts of the world. The aim of this monastic institute is to impart and preserve the rich tradition of Buddha Dharma. We hope that a day will come when all Tibetans will be able to gather together back in Tibet and live in peace and harmony.

INTRODUCTORY HISTORY
The history of Sera Jey Monastery dates back to early 15th Century AD. Founded by Venerable Jetsun Kunkhen Lodroe Rinchen Senge, during the early History of Buddhism in Tibet and at the time of the great Lama Tsong Khapa (1357 – 1419) the founder of the Gelug Order, a highly learned & noble saint and master of the Scriptures on Buddhism with a gift of supreme power of visualization and knowledge.

Following in the footsteps of this Divine Master Lama Tsong Khapa, a devoted and noble disciple, Kunkhyen Lodroe Rinchen Senge, possessing profound knowledge, a master at the Drepung Monastery, who fatedly left to join Sera Monastery where Sera Jey Monastery was formed.

sera-jhe002History and legend has borne the records of the magnificent accounts that led to the birth of Sera Monastery and the subsequent establishment of Sera Jey Monastery. It was when Lama Tsong Khapa, the master and founder of Gelug Order, during one of his deep prayer and meditation on Manjushri (Jampel Yang) behold the vision in which he clearly saw the entire text of Prajnyapara-mitta’s 20 slokas on Shunyata spread over the sky. The unique moment spelled upon him total insight in the complete knowledge of Tsawasehrab (Fundamentals of Madhyamikka or Shunyata) Text.

sera-jhe003Simultaneously, he beheld the vision of a rain like “AA” characters descending from the sky. This was an auspicious symbol to his prophesies on the birth of a great source of learning on Buddh-ism. Which after twelve years, Jamchen Choje Shakya Yeshe acting upon the supreme wishes of his Master, began establishing the proper Seat of learning where knowledge of complete teachings and practices of Mahayana Tradition are imparted and pursued.

Nedong King Dagpa Gyaltsen gave financial support for the construction of a Monastery and laid down the foundation in the year1419. All the subsequent development including installing sacred Images and other objects of worships were completed according to the supreme wishes of great Lama Tsongkhapa. It was soon known as ‘ the Seat of Theckchen ling (Mahayana Tradition)’. It is said that name ‘SERA’ came to be attached with this great Monastery from its location being surrounded by raspberry shrubs called ‘Sewa’ in Tibetan, that formed like a ‘ Rawa’ in Tibetan meaning ‘Fence’. In the following years very soon the fame of this great Monastery as a great seat of learning Gelug tradition spread all across Tibet and elsewhere in Buddhist influenced neighbouring countries.
   
       
   

JETSUN CHOEKYI GYALTSEN
Jetsun Choekyi Gyaltsen (1464 – 1544) is the author master of the Monastery’s entire scriptural syllabus. His Holiness is one of the most distinguished learned scholar in the history of Sera Jey Monastery. During his lifetime, He has extensively written many volumes on philosophical studies and authored several books on the works of Lama Tsong Khapa’s two closest disciples. Later his works has been incorporated into the Monastic course, which form the integral part of the study curriculum, and is followed to this present day.
   
       
    ORACLE & PROTECTING DEITY OF THE MONASTERY    
   
Tamdin Yangsang (Haya Griva) is the protecting deity of Sera Jey Monastery. It was rightly given this place by venerable Kunkhenpa Lodroe Rinchen Senge, after significantly experiencing various forms of divine predictions and auspicious symbols, which led him to accept and initiate in the worshipping of this sacred and divine deity.

Haya Griva is the wrathful characteristics of Chenre sig (Avalokteshwara). The deity is well known for its supreme power in removing obstacles and also for its healing power.

Tokden Yonten Gonpo, father of Kunkhepa, a learned and firm devotee of Haya Griva deity, during the final days of his life, had offered to is beloved son the complete teachings of Pema Yangsang & Tandin, with the advice to commit oneself in complete devotion & follow them.

Kunkhenpa, as one of the most dedicated disciple of Lama Tsong Khapa, sought the virtuous advice and consent of his master. The all-knowing noble master laid his hand on the head of his learned disciple & scholar, blessing him to give his approval. An indentation mark of the saintly master’s palm was left on the head of the devoted pupil Kunkhenpa. Thus leaving a memorable legend to the history of Tamdin Yangsang /Haya Griva’s emergence as the sacred deity of Sera Jey Monastery. From thereafter, Kunkhenpa institutionalised Tamdin Yangsang / Haya Griva as the Deity of Sera Jey Monastery.
   
       
    Re-establishment of Sera Jey Monastery from 1959    
   
Ever since Sera Jey Monastery grew and became known to be a great place of Learning, from the time of its great founder & masters in its early history, to subsequent periods spanning decades & centuries to this present age; its prominence & distinction spread far & wide across to India, China and other surrounding Buddhist influenced nations; scores of renowned and saintly scholars were graduated from this Monastery. A historical records indicates that the Monastery’s total population strength of monks in 1959 before the communist Chinese troops destruction & persecution of Monastery & monks, at around 5629 monks.

The event of 1959, that witnessed the invasion of Tibet by the communist China, was the darkest period in the History of Tibet and its religious faith – Buddhism. It brought the near end of centuries old Monastic Culture and Practice, by the indiscriminate destruction of monasteries and persecution of monks. And Sera Jey Monastery was one of the most severely affected from this spiritual & cultural genocide.

Sensing the immense threat to the existence, survival and freedom of right to worship the traditional & cultural faith of Buddhism, an integral part & a way of life of Tibetans for centuries, His Holiness The Dalai Lama devotedly acting on the responsibility of His leadership as the temporal and spiritual head of Tibet, took the most tough & noble decision when He took flight to India. Followed by many thousands of Tibetans in His footsteps, who are fortunate to escape the communist Chinese troop’s ruthless dragnet to check any Tibetans from leaving Tibet. Few hundred of Sera Jey members comprising of lamas, geshes and monks were fortunately able to escape to India.
   
       
    Rehabilitation and Restoration    
   
On reaching India in 1959, under the leadership of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, the members of Sera Jey Monastery along with escaped monks of all the four different Monasteries under the four Orders of Tibetan Buddhism, were rehabilitated at a special camp at Bhaksa in the state of West Bengal. This was especially intended by His Holiness concern over the fate of Tibet’s culture & religion, which has abruptly come under the terrible threat to its very survival from the appalling cultural genocide perpetrated by the invading communist Chinese at Tibet; and in his visionary effort to preserve and resurrect the unique culture, religion & identity of Tibet in a land of refuge, away from the reach of communist Chinese brutal oppression.

Hence this special rehabilitation of monks, about 1500 no in total from the four Buddhist Orders, was to program for the preservation of our traditional culture and religion in the very first stage. And secondly, from this existing human resource, to develop & prepare for the promotion and education of the younger & new Tibetan generation that will take root in India. At the rehab camp, all the monks were chiefly engaged in learning & teaching Buddhist Text & Philosophy. The younger monks were given special couching on Tibetan language & literature. For a period of 10 years the monks engaged in various religious and educational activities in a complete new environment & life, amidst struggling with the unadepted harsh climate that has inflicted large no of contagious lung infections, where quite many no of them succumbed to it.
   
       
    Re-establishment at Bylakuppe    
   
After almost 10 years of this special task program aimed for preservation & preparation of a knowledgeable human resource, in 1970 the group of 197 Sera Jey monks with 103 of Sera Mey monks was moved to a special site within the resettlement of Bylakuppe in Mysore District, in the South Indian state of Karnataka, for re-establishing the Sera Monastery, under the patronage of H.H. The Dalai Lama and the Central & State Government of India. A forestland area of 225 acres, measuring ¾ acres in ratio per monk were given to the two monasteries. For Sera Jey Monastery the share for 193 monks were given 147. ¾ acres.

The Indian Government sponsored 38 one-room tiled houses for the overall 300 monks of the two Monasteries, with 24 for Sera Jey and 14 for Sera Mey. The monks did all the construction labour. Also the surrounding area of 225 acres bulldozed were cleared by the monks of the two monasteries, and made available for cultivation. Cultivation was done on these lands during the onset of monsoon rainfall season, and there was one harvest in a year, which was then the only resource and means of survival to the entire monks. In the initial years, the monks were more or less obliged to engage for their livelihood & survival.

Each & every individual monk put up their best effort & time to create & harvest resource for the survival of the community in the initial stage, that laid the strong foundation for the development and establishment of a well organised Monastery.

The first Assembly Prayer Hall of the Monastery at Bylakuppe was built in 1976 and completed by the end of 1978. The Prayer Hall has a capacity to hold an assembly of 1500 monks, which was the total no of monks present at the Monastery then. It was inaugurated in the year 1979. Prior to this first Assembly Prayer Hall, a smaller one with asbestos sheet roofing has been built which was used until then.
   
       
    The New Assembly Prayer Hall    
   
Since the beginning of the early eighties, many young Tibetans began to flee Tibet. Majority of them were of teenage years and some at pre teenage. They were either monks or laypersons. On reaching India, they received special audience & blessing from His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

To their historically & genetically spiritual binding background, the past experienced life of repression & curtailment of religious freedom and human rights have created a vacuum of spiritual faith in almost every single new arrivals from Tibet. Which is evident from the vast majority of them joining Monasteries spread across in most parts of Tibetan settlements in India.

As this Monastery is recognised for its principal & renowned learning institution and its affiliation to the various sub & smaller monasteries spread across various regions of Tibet, the no of recipients of these new arrivals is by far the greatest in this Monastery. During the initial exodus in the early eighties they number in several hundreds at every single year that by late nineties the total no of member of the Monastery has reached an unprecedented record level crossing over 3000.

This dramatic increase in population has resulted in the shortage of residential accommodation, and especially the total inadequacy of the Assembly Prayer Hall. This inadequacy was the major & compressing issue for resolution.

Hence in 1995, the General Board Members of this Monastery unanimously proposed for the construction of a new Assembly Prayer Hall. This was a gigantic project, for the construction involved was an unprecedented enormous one, with the expected project cost estimating to a mind-boggling amount.

The arduous task of making available the needed financial fund was the second biggest mission undertaken since the re-establishing at Bylakuppe. The Monastery geared up for an unprecedented Fund Raising Project, by organising various activities and programs.

For three consecutive years there was incessant program of rigorous work schedule both in and off the field project. With the construction work in full progress, and the fund raising programs spontaneously generating generous sponsorships and & funds. That finally after 3 most eventful & most busy years, saw the completion of the new Assembly Prayer Hall.

This new Assembly Prayer Hall is a magnificent creation, its sheer massive size & enchanting holy ambience has set an unprecedented new & inspiring monastic experience. The main assembly hall has a glorious 31-foot high spacious area measuring 23,275 sq ft, supported by 110 haughty pillars. It has created a distinct place in the history records of this Monastery. And undoubtedly it has gained a significant position in the circles of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, notably for its significance of the huge assembly surpassing 3500 no of monks conducting prayers in a single Monastery.

The construction of this new Assembly Prayer Hall was a marvellous achievement that the Monastery and its entire monks are extremely proud and happy, and nevertheless immensely grateful to every single donor, sponsors, supporters and to each & every devotional volunteers – member monks & lay devotees, for their committed hard labour and time.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama graciously inaugurated the new Assembly Prayer Hall on 31st December 1997.