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Sera Jey Monastic University
for Advanced Buddhist Studies & Practice, has evolved
and developed from over centuries of Monastic University Tradition,
Custom & Practice, with its beginning as early as 15 century
to the post era of 1959 re-establishment at the refuge in
Southern India at Bylakuppe. This re-established Monastic
University at Bylakuppe in South India, has now grown &
reached the status as one of the largest & principal Buddhist
Seats of Learning. It provides the Basic Fundamental to the
highest Advanced Buddhist Studies on Philosophy, Dialectics
and Practice. The monastic academic curricula covers the entire
course of Studies affiliated to the Gelug Order, and awards
the distinctive Geshe and the highest monastic academic Degree
- Lharam Geshe |
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The Five Principal treatises under the
Monastic academic course |
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| Tsel
Ma Namdrel (Pramana Vartikka) |
› |
Commentaries
of Logic |
| Pharchin
(Paramita) |
› |
Perfection of Wisdom |
| Uma (Madhyamika) |
› |
Avoidance
of Extremes |
| Dul-Ba
(Vinaya) |
› |
Canons on
Monastic Discipline |
| Zod (Abhidharmakosh) |
› |
Treasure house of knowledge dwelling
on metaphysics & cosmology |
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Faculty Course |
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| Sl |
COURSE
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SUJBECT |
DURATION
in years |
| 1 |
Dus-chen |
Elementary Philosophy 1st Stage |
1 Year |
| 2 |
Dus-dring |
Elementary Philosophy 2nd Stage |
1 " |
| 3 |
Dus-chen |
Elementary Philosophy 3rd Stage |
1 " |
| 4 |
Shung-sar / Prajna Paramita |
Perfection of Wisdom 1st Stage |
1 " |
| 5 |
Shung-nying / Prajna Paramita |
Perfection of Wisdom 2nd Stage |
1 " |
| 6 |
Sur-sar / Prajna Paramita |
Perfection of Wisdom 3rd Stage |
1 " |
| 7 |
Sur-nying Lower/ Prajna Paramita |
Perfection of Wisdom 4th Stage |
1 " |
| 8 |
Sur-nying Upper/ Prajna Paramita |
Perfection of Wisdom 5th Stage |
1 " |
| 9 |
Pharchin / Prajna Paramita |
Perfection of Wisdom Final Stage |
2 " |
| 10 |
Uma sarpa / Madhyamika |
Avoidance of Extremes / Ume chidhon 1st
Stage |
2 " |
| 11 |
Uma nyingpa / Madhyamika |
Avoidance of Extremes / Uma Gongpa rabsel
2nd Stage |
2 " |
| 12 |
Dul-ba sarpa / Vinaya |
Canons of Monastic Discipline 1st Stage |
2 " |
| 13 |
Dul-ba nyingpa / Vinaya |
Canons of Monastic Discipline 2nd Stage |
2 " |
| 14 |
Zod / Abhidharmakhosh |
Metaphysics / Treasure of Knowledge |
2 " |
| 15 |
Karam |
Preparatory Class |
2 " |
| 16 |
Lharam |
Perfection of the entire above course, specifically
on Dul-ba & Zod |
4 " |
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Course Sessions |
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The University's
Course Classes are held in four Sessions as per the four Seasons
of the year. The Spring, Fall, Autumn and The Winter. Before
each Session, there would be an Entrance Test for fresher
to join into the University Course. Following are the Four
Sessions of a year in Tibetan Calendar. |
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| Month
(Tibetan Calender) |
Day
/ Date |
SESSION |
| 1 |
25 |
Entrance |
| 1 - 2 |
26 - 16 |
1st Spring Session |
| 2 |
17 - 26 |
Break |
| 3 -4 |
08 - 07 |
2nd Spring Session |
| 4 |
08 - 15 |
Break |
| 4 |
16 |
Entrance |
| 4 - 5 |
17 - 01 |
1st Fall Session |
| 5 |
03 - 15 |
Break |
| 5 |
16 |
Entrance |
| 5 - 6 |
17 - 15 |
2nd Fall Session |
| 6 |
16 |
Entrance |
| 6 - 7 |
17 - 16 |
Break |
| 7 |
17 - 28 |
1st Autumn Session |
| 7 - 8 |
29 - 6 |
Break |
| 8 |
7 |
Entrance |
| 8 - 9 |
8 - 7 |
2nd Autumn Session |
| 9 |
8 - 15 |
Break |
| 9 |
16 |
Entrance |
| 9 - 10 |
17 - 16 |
3rd Autumn Session |
| 10 - 11 |
17 - 15 |
Break |
| 11 |
16 |
Entrance |
| 11 - 12 |
17 - 26 |
Winter Session |
| 12 - 1 |
27 - 24 |
Break |
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Class & Subject |
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Guide |
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* Tibetan Calendar Months and Dates are
followed.
* In Subject Column - the italics are Tibetan, bold are Sanskrit.
* The use of Sanskrit names is made available at all possible
extent.
* The Academic year begins on the 4th Day of the 6th Month.
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| Class |
DUS-CHUNG |
Duration
: One Year |
| Subject |
Rig lam Tul ke Dhema First
part = By Phurchok Ngawang Jampa- Primarylessons
dealing on lessons which provides eye opening of the
minds & logic, which paves the path to follow &
comprehend the higher text. |
| Class |
DUS-DRING |
Duration : One Year |
| Subject |
Rig lam Tul ke Dhema Second
part = By Phurchok Ngawang Jampa- Secondary
lessons dealing on subjects which provides eye opening
of the minds & logic, which paves the path to follow
& comprehend the higher text. With definitions &
meanings of terms & logic of some Advanced Texts. |
| Class |
DUS-CHEN |
Duration : One Year |
| Subject |
Rig lam Tul ke Dhema Final
part = By Phurchok Ngawang Jampa - Higher lessons dealing
on subjects which provides eye opening of the minds
& logic, which paves the path to follow & comprehend
the higher text. With more definitions & meanings
of terms & logic and extracts of some Advanced Texts
as:- Dub-tha=Points of View; Thoen
dheun-choo = Arthasaptati, summary of
Abhisamayalamkara, the Ornament of Clear Realization;
Sa-laam=Grounds & paths of advancement
to the state of liberation and omniscience |
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| Class |
SHUNG-SAR |
Duration
: One Year |
| Subject |
Chik-thu-del thang
khen soom = (Analysis of the mode of existence
of phenomena bythe logic of neither one nor many.)
Three kinds of Knowledge- vastujnana, the omniscient
mind; margajnana, the knowledge of paths &
sarvajnana, the knowledge of bases.
Ngyang-des thang choe-khor = Nirvana
(liberation) and Commentaries on Buddha's teachings.
Tzoe-len thang Yang-tak tha = Argument
& counter argument. And Samyag anta (The
perfect finality /reality)
Ka-den tjoe thang shae-chin, Leue nam-shac,
dhoe-pong che = (The collection of Buddhist
Canons, the teachings of Buddha & their commentaries
by Indian master-scholars) Prajna Paramita
(Perfection of Wisdom) Summary of Abhisamayalamkara,
Ornament of clear Realization. And its critical analysis. |
| Class |
SHUNG-NYING |
Duration : One Year |
| Subject |
Nam-del choe-thoc
pheu sem ke = Cittoptada (Mind Generating
or generation of themind of enlightenment.
Dham-ngak = Upadesa Instruction;
the essential spiritual communication- Oral, written
or intuitive.
Kyab-soom = Sarana (The three
objects of refuge or 3 protectors)
Dhen-nyi - The two truths- Samvriti
= kuen-zop-then-pa - the conventional truth;
paramartha satya = thoen-tham-then-pa
- the ultimate truth.
Dhen-she thang chen-nga ngoen-shae
= Catvari Satyani (the four noble truths) 1)
Dukh-ngel-then-pa = dunkha satya (the
truth of suffering); 2) Kuen-jungn-then-pa=
samudaya satya (the truth of origin of suffering);
3) Gog-pe-then-then-pa = nirodha satya
(the truth of cessation); 4) Lam-ke-then-pa
= marga satya (the truth of the path)
Chen-nga-ngoen-shae = Panca caksu
(The five eyes, possessed by the Buddhas) 1) Lhae-chen
= divya caksu (divine eye); 2) Shaae-chen
= carma caksu (fleshy eye); 3) Sherab-ki-chen
= prajna caksu (wisdom eye); 4) Choe-ki-chen
= dharma caksu (dharma eye); 5) Yae-shae-ki-chen
= jnana caksu (primordial wisdom eye)
Jor-lam = prayoga marga (Path
of Preparation) The second of the five paths, when
a practitioner gains conceptual understanding of emptiness.
Rik = Follower or the natural Buddha
lineage |
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| Class |
SUR-SAR |
Duration
: One Year |
| Subject |
Nam-del-choe-thoc-phue
tsen-nyi-soom thang Choe-khor thae ki-dang-ngae chi-thoen
= Trini laksanani (Commentary on the
three types of phenomena of valid cognition) 1) the
permanent phenomena, 2) the dependent phenomena, 3)
the empitness of a vase.And the art of interpretation.
Doh-dhok kur-dhib ne gaag-cha khoe-zeen thae
ki dang-ngae chi-thoen = Over estimation &
Under estimation - Samaropa & Abhyakyana,
refutation through logical analysis -Yukti prathisedhya
Gaag-cha doh-dhok ne sem-zog-tsam thae ki dang-ngae
chi-thoen = Parikalpita laksanam -imputed
phenomena, permanent phenomena.
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| Class |
SUR-NYING (Lower) |
Duration : One Year |
| Subject |
Sa-lam chen-mo
= The path & ground of advancement to the state
of Liberation and Omniscience.
Nam-del choe-thok = Pramana
-valid cognition.
Saam-Sug = Forms of concentration.
Thaen-del = Dvadasanga pratityasamutpada-The
twelve links of dependent origination.
Ge-dhuen nyi-shu = Vimsatih sangha
(The twenty sangha members) |
| Class |
SUR-NYING (Upper) |
Duration : One Year |
| Subject |
Nam-del choe kaph Ny-
pa thang Sum-pae chi-thoen = A section of
the second & third part of abhisamayalamkara,
the Ornament of Clear Realization.
Kuenshe = Alayavijnana - The
Fundamental consciousness |
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| Class |
PHARCHIN |
Duration
: Two Year |
| Subject |
Nam-del choe kaph she-pae
chi-thoen =A section of the fourth part of
abhisamayalamkara, the Ornament of Clear Realization.
Yul-nyen pae noe roong ne soom-pa la shae tsaen
nyi chae pae phar khee kaph she-pae chi-thoen
= The requisites of a follower to receive the teachings
of Buddha. And the fourth part of abhisamayalamkara,
the oranment of clear realization.
Kaph-she-pae shae-tsen khe-tsen & Nam-del
choe-thoc phue kaph nyi-pa = The fourth part
of abhisamayalamkara, the Ornament of Clear
Realization, dwelling on the teachings & their
differences.
Kaph-she-pae thar-pa cha-thuen ne dhoe-pong
phar = Fourth part of moksa, -The state
of liberation.The second part of abhisamayalamkara,
Ornament of clear realization.
Chir me-dhog pae thak ne kaph she-pa &
Kaph soom-pa = Commentary on the fourth part
of abhisamayalamkara, The Oranment of Clear Realization.Third
part of abhisamayalamkara- Ornament of clear
realization.
Kaph nga-pa thong laam tzae-jhor ne phar-chin
kaph lhak-nam = Commentary from the 5th to
8th part of abhisamayalamkara, The Ornament
of Clear Realization. |
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| Class |
UMA SARPA
(1st Stage) |
Duration
: Two Year |
| Subject |
U-Mae chi-thoen jhuk-she
U-Ma ne gaag-cha zog-tsam par tzoe-seen pa goe =
Pratisedhya, refutation in a logical argument
of U-Ma |
| Class |
UMA SARPA (2nd Stage) |
Duration : Two Year |
| Subject |
U- Mae chi-thoen thel-dhok
ne dhak-gog par tzoe-seen pa goe = Commentary
on the logical perception of U-Ma. |
| Class |
UMA NYINGPA |
Duration : Two Year |
| Subject |
U-Ma Gong-pa rabh-sel U
nae zog-tsam phar = Lama Tsong khapa's opinion
& clarification on U- Ma |
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| Class |
DUL-BA
SARPA |
Duration
: Two Year |
| Subject |
Tso-teek shi-thoe
= The upper elaborative descriptive Dul-Ba, Vinaya-Monastic
Discipline. |
| Class |
DUL-BA NYINGPA |
Duration : Two Year |
| Subject |
Dul-Ba tsok-teek she-mey
shog-dang = The lower elaborative descriptive
Dul-Ba, Vinaya- Monastic Discipline |
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| Class |
ZOD |
Duration
: Two Year |
| Subject |
Zod ne thang-po she
= The first four part of Zod- Abhidharma -Treasure
of knowledge. Text on metaphysics & cosmology.
Zod ne chi-ma she = The final four
part (5 to 8) of Zod- Abhidharma-Treasure of
knowledge. Text on metaphysics & cosmology |
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| Class |
KARAM |
Duration
: Minimum Two Year |
| Subject |
Perfecting - Zod - Abhidharma |
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| Class |
LHARAM |
Duration
: Four Year |
| Subject |
Dul-Ba Tsok-teek, thang
chim Zod = Vinaya & Abhidharma, The
descriptive Monastic Discipline and the Treasure of
Knowledge. |
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EXAMINATION |
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Examination is scheduled,
conducted and evaluated by the Monastic University Faculty
Committee. |
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Examinations are held for each respective
class as per the courses/subjects. |
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Examinations are of three forms Memorization,
Writing & Debate. The foundational course Dus-chung,
Dus-dring and Dus-chen has no Writing examination. |
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The Monastic University's Examination
rules and discipline requires the pupil to qualify the
exams to advance for the next class. |
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Till date the University has been following
the Examination schedule of Tibet, which are annually
held on the 7-month of the Tibetan Calendar. In order
to facilitate for a timely schedule & developmental
changes and to the growing no of pupils, the Board of
Committee for Examination Control has fixed the following
schedules:- |
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Written - 12th Month; Oral - 7th Month;
Debate/Dialectic - 9 & 10th Month. |
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Written Examination is a three-hour
time period, with questions from the respective courses. |
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Oral Recitation
Examination are of two category- Accountable to promotion
and the unaccountable to promotion. In the accountable,
the oral recitation consists of 25 sheets (both sides
of page equal to one sheet) from the respective course.
And in the unaccountable, it consists of minimum of
50 sheets (both sides of page equal to one sheet)
with no bar on the context of course, ie out of context
from respective course can be forwarded. |
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Debate Examination
is a two 15 (fifteen minute) performance. In the first
15 minute the pupil will have to put his questions
& argument to an opponent, on a topic randomly
picked from a blind folded pool of topics. And in
the other 15 minute, the pupil has to answer to his
opponent's questions & argument on a topic that
is selected in a similar manner. Lharam Geshe examination
is only of Debate, which has to be performed in the
combined assemblage of the two branches of Sera University-
Sera-Jey and Sera Mey, and in the inter Gelug Monastic
University's Debate Exam,- Gaden & Drepung University
for six years. |
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The Faculty Committee, with a working
team of selected lecturers and Lharam Geshes, organizes
the evaluation. |
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Enrolment for Course |
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The norms of this Monastery
University require every member to undertake Monastic Course
Study. The University has set periodic Entrance Test schedules
for novice pupils to avail their opportunity to enrol into
the Monastic University Course. And this Entrance/Selection
Test has been evenly scheduled throughout the calendar year
at specific period to facilitate newcomers. There are seven
no of Entrance/Selection Test schedules allotted in a year.
Following are the schedules:- |
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| Month |
1 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
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25 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
7 |
16 |
16 |
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The Entrance/Selection Test is of two-nature -oral recitation
and reading. The text to be memorized is Choechoeth-Rabh-Sel,
which is one complete volume (pothe in Tibetan) comprising
of about 500 pages, and Gyen-juug-nyi about 45 pages.. The
former text contains oral prayers, which are recited during
daily assembly sessions and at Debate Assemblies. This enables
the novice pupil to participate in the daily prayers and at
Assemblies. And the latter contains extracts of the main Buddhist
Philosophy.
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Oral Reading is also one part of the Test
that one has to go through. This is to prepare the novice
pupil to enable for efficient reading & learning of
the courses. The Oral recitation and reading Test is performed
before the Khenpo/Abbot of the Monastery.
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HOLIDAY & BREAKS |
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The University has
no gazette holidays unlike other Institutions marked for Festivals
& Commemoration days, except the one-day holiday in a
week.
The University has two holiday
breaks. One in Fall, a period of one week, from the last day
of seventh month to the 6th day of the eight month of the
Tibetan Calendar. And the second break preceding the Tibetan
New Year (Lorsa) from the 25th of the 12th Month to 6th of
the 1st Month of the Tibetan Calendar. |
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SESSION BREAKS |
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There are breaks in-between every course
sessions. They are short breaks varying in the no of days, and
are administered to facilitate pupils with free time for self-study,
besides the benefit of a break to refresh from the regular curriculum.
However during the break, morning Debate
sessions are conducted regularly. |
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