MONASTIC EDUCATION 

Philosophy Studies

Memorizing is considered an essential skill in Buddhist studies, as it sharpens the mind and trains the memory. This skill has been mostly lost in Western school education.  When the young monks enter the monastery, their first task is to memorize all the prayers and pujas that are part of the monastery's daily schedule. This takes several years, during which the monks also attend their regular school classes. 

It is interesting to understand why memorizing is emphasized so much in the Tibetan tradition. To put it in simple terms, without knowing and remembering the actual words, you will not be able to remember the meaning without using notes, etc. This applies not only to the meaning of words, but also to logical arguments. Without knowing and remembering the actual words, you will not be able to remember the meaning without using notes, etc. This applies not only to the meaning of words, but also to logical arguments. 

Memorising a text in preparation for debate.

Debate occupies an important place in monastic education. To be a good debater is considered a high mark, and much time is spent on refining the logical arguments needed. 

The essence of effective learning, according to the scriptures and also to modern research, is to listen, then contemplate, and then debate. The first step for the student is to memorize the text he is studying. This will give the mental flexibility to refer to any part of the text in debate without hesitation. The next step is for the teacher to elucidate the meaning of the text, backing up his statements with reason and logic. Questioning the validity of these statements sharpens the mind.

One To One Debate

In debate these statements are then challenged again and again by fellow students, trying to prove their own point of view or disproving their debate partner's point of view. The aim of the debate is to come to a conclusion based on valid reason and logic and not just following the words of teachers. Compared to the way we learn in the West, this is a radically different approach and extremely effective. To watch a debate can look like there is some sort of serious argument going on. There is indeed, but without the personal and emotional overtones of everyday arguments. It is a battle of the minds, probing deeply into the meaning of the scriptures and testing them and clarifying one's own doubts with the help of one's fellow students in many different ways, till one is convinced of their validity. 

Debating philosophical topics is in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha, who said we should analyze the teachings before accepting them, just as we would analyze the purity and quality of gold before buying any. If you are unfamiliar with the Tibetan way of debate, then, when observing it, all you will see is the monks shouting and jumping up and down and shouting at each other. it can looks quite chaotic.  However, there is much more to it.    Read more on Debate here

Every year the monasteries in the Kathmandu valley meet for a two week inter-monastic debate called Jang Gunchoe, where the various debating teams are taking the measure of each other's knowledge and progress in a friendly way. 

Understanding the importance of developing our own wisdom and the superiority of insights we have achieved after much effort and discussion, many teachers refuse to clear up difficult points at first and tell their students to try to find out during the debate class. In the course of their studies the monks cover all the main topics of the method side as well as of the wisdom side of the teachings. This is combined with training in logic so that the student is able to clearly analyze and realize the teachings. The teaching on logic shows us how to change our ordinary way of thinking, which is following the wrong kind of reasoning, to a correct one, following perfect reason.

Kopan Monastery has been affiliated with Sera Monastic University in South India since its inception. Recently permission was given by Gelug Society, which oversees the accreditation of geshes, and Sera Monastery for geshes graduating from Kopan to attend an intensive study year at Sera Monastery. This is a great honor and a milestone on the way to developing a monastic university in Nepal, where the geshes can engage in postgraduate studies and receive international accreditation. The new graduates take up positions at the monastery, such as taking the office of disciplinarian (Gegu)  teaching memorizing, and preparing the  younger monks for the philosophy study.

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Tantric Studies

Studying tantric texts and rituals is part of the of the monastic studies of all monks.  Although the monks at Kopan always had received some tantric instructions, In the beginning, these were mainly confined to the preparation of the ritual offerings (tormas), performing fire pujas and constructing sand mandala. To improve the quality of the ritual studies, some years ago, Khensur Lama Lhundrup invited a senior monk from Gyurme Tantric College in South India to teach a selected group of monks in tantric rituals and established the Kopan Tantric College as a study program. 

Now the Tantric College has sixty students, usually selected by the abbot according to their suitability. Most of the tantric monks are also enrolled in the philosophy program and will graduate as geshes with an additional degree in tantric studies. The tantric college has its own building with gompa and living quarters, large memorizing rooms, and a fire puja house.  On completion of the six year course, the graduates receive the title of Master of Ritual studies.

 The senior tantric monks perform the three cycles of the main gelug  deities in their entirety every year. They start with memorizing the texts of the three great tantric cycles of Heruka, Yamantaka and Guhyasamaja which is followed by instructions on how to visualize and meditate. The in-depth instructions on the complete ritual includes teachings on how to do the retreat, fire puja, self initiation and sand mandala.

Making a torma

The monks also receive instructions in rituals such butter sculpture, making tormas,  lama dance, filling and consecrations of holy objects, retreat rituals and playing ritual instruments such as the different types of drums, gyaling (a reed trumpet), and the long horn used in tantric pujas. The young monks enjoy blowing the conch shell during pujas, testing their mettle among them themselves on who can produce the longest, the loudest and the purest sound.

Offering tsog during puja

Geshe Lama Konchok, a great yogi and tantric master, introduced the monks in the mid 90s to the art of Lama Dance (Cham).  Due to Geshe la's kindness, Kopan has a wonderful store of costumes and masks that can be admired at the performance during the famous November course picnic on the last day of the one-month course.

The tantric college performs the prescribed monastic rituals throughout the year, such as the purifying rituals at the end of the Tibetan year. it also has the responsibility of performing  the daily and monthly pujas for the monastery and the re-consecration of holy objects, a once a year special ritual.  The senior monks assist Western students with practical advice and help in the preparation and conclusion of their retreats. The monks also perform tantric pujas for the lay community, made more powerful by the deep knowledge of the deity invoked.

Some Statistics:

·         A number of Kopan Monks have graduated from Sera Monastery, and are now teaching in FPMT centers as resident or traveling geshes.

·         Twenty-one Geshe Rabjam have graduated from Kopan so far, serving now monasteries, nunneries and centers in Nepal and many parts of the world.

·         Fifteen translators were trained at Kopan, and are now living all over the world, some of whom are still translating and some of whom have retired.

·         Several monks are serving as attendants to resident teachers or lamas, three  of whom are attendant of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

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