SERA JEY MONASSTERY

Do Phen ling Gompa, the new Monastery established by Sera Jey Monastery was inaugurated by His Holiness The Dalai Lama on the 26th of May 2005

The Gompa is situated on the foothills of the hillock – Lha Solsa (Puja Offering Place)
at Chandmari, P.O. Raj Bhavan, Gangtok, Sikkim.

How the Gompa came into being

History records that this special hillock where the Gompa is built was gifted by the Chief Buddhist Priest of Sikkim to the community of devotees in Gangtok in the year 1947 exclusively for Puja Offering purpose.

Thence the special place was reserved by the community for prayers & offering ceremonies, becoming the main venue for making offering ceremonies on all important festivals and the place for devotees to fly their Lungta (Wind Horse).

This special Hillock received a unique name - Lha solsa (offering place)from the communities.

And ever since then this special place was devotedly taken care by the five Joint Tibetan Regional Communities of Gangtok.

Community’s Role -
Sera Jey Monastery was brought into the role of the community of devotees in Gangtok – Sikkim, when special requests were received at the Monastery from devotees of Gangtok for dispensing puja & prayer offerings for the community. Respecting the enthusiastic & dedicated devotee wishes, the Monastery deputed 10 monks to Gangtok in 1998 for the spiritual mission. The devotees were overwhelmed of the beneficial spiritual service of our Monastery’s monks and contemplated the Monastery on setting up a branch at Gangtok.

Upon this contemplation, the community of devotees of Gangtok requested Sera Jey Monastery for establishing a branch Monastery in Gangtok, to avail puja & prayer offering service & for the spiritual development of the community at large; and the five Joint Tibetan Regional Communities dedicated a land plot at the vicinity of the special hillock for the establishment of the Monastery.

Local & State Government Support -
The entire project of establishing this new Monastery received due support from the Local & State Government facilitating all aspects of the project.

After allotting the land plot and handing over the site to Sera Jey Monastery for the construction of the new Monastery, a committee headed by Ven. Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen was assigned by Sera Jey Monastery and commenced the initial construction work in the year 1999. The committee was encouraged by the good will and ardent support of devotees, communities, Local & State Government.

On the occasion of His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s 69th Birth Anniversary celebration at Gangtok in the year 2004, the Chief Minister of Sikkim granted a financial assistance of Rs.5,00,000.00 towards the concluding construction work and a sum of Rs.51,000.00 for the inaugural ceremony.

Inauguration Ceremony
By March 2005, the entire construction & interior work was completed. On the 26th of May 2005, His Holiness The Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso inaugurated this new Do Phen ling Gompa. Guest of Honor & other Prominent guests include the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Member of Parliaments, Department Secretariats, Teachers of Government & Private schools,…etc. Tens of thousands of devotees attended the inaugural ceremony.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s message
On the occasion of inauguration ceremony His Holiness The Dalai Lama expressed His serene pleasure on the establishment of this Monastery; and reiterated the monastic obligation of disseminating the Buddha Dharma in true faith, respecting other existing beliefs & faiths of the community.

His Holiness hoped that the monastery will serve to benefit the spiritual needs of the community, and to eventually develop to a learning institute of Buddhist Philosophical Studies for the privilege of local & surrounding communities.

SERVICE TO POOR & NEEDY
In August 2005, Do Phen ling Gompa had effectively coordinated in helping over 160 young children boys from poor & needy families of the locals, for securing better education & future by admitting at Sera Jey Monastery in Bylakuppe. Where they receive free education, food and other essentail needs.

All the young boys are admitted at Sera Jey Monastery and enjoy the same privilege & benefits equally. Each are in the custody of a guardian member, who fosters & guides him to a responsible & able monkhood.

The young boys are now enrolled to normal regular school at the Monastery - Sera Jey Secondary School, of CBSE Board. These childrens like other young monks of the monastery are at will to leave/discontine to be member of the Monastery when they complete the school or at any given point of time, if desires so.