Sera Jey Monastery
The Buddha’s teachings have been embodied and transmitted by
a lineage of enlightened and realized masters for over 2,500 years.
The primary responsibility for this transmission has been held by the
monastic tradition of monks and nuns who have been willing to give their
entire lives to bring the Buddha’s realization to each generation.
Sera Jey Monastery of Tibet, now relocated to Southern India, is the
training monastery for Lion's Roar Dharma Center. Our strong association
with Sera Jey Monastery ensures that teachers trained and approved through
Sera Jey embody the principles and activities of genuine Buddha Dharma.
Lawa Khangtsen
Somewhat like a British University, Sera Jey is comprised of colleges
called “Khangtsen”.
Each college has its own Temple, residence halls and teachers. Lawa
Khangtsen, the college associated with the teachers of Lion's Roar Dharma Center, supports and trains over 230 monks. Like the monastery itself,
Lawa Khangtsen is growing rapidly. Refugee monks continue to arrive
after fleeing Tibet, and Tibetans born in India are increasingly inspired
to begin monastic life. Many monks start their schooling and training
as early as seven or eight years old.
Lawa Khangtsen is responsible for the day to day training and support
of its monks. It is organized by a number of dedicated teachers, managers
and support personnel who are elected to various terms of office. Lawa
Khangtsen is supported entirely by dana (Danaparamita: the perfection
of giving). The Tibetan refugee community in India provides support,
but the majority must come from Dharma communities in the West such
as ours.
Lama Jinpa with Ven. Lobsang Gyaltsen, Manager
Ven. Bhapa Khedup, Manager 
Ven. Lobsang Yeshe, Disciplinarian
Ven. Lobsang Yonten, Ceremonial Assistant 
Ven. Lobsang Khedru, Assistant Disciplinarian
We would like you to meet the members and administration of Lawa Khangtsen
online. Here they are! »
Danaparamita is the enlightened activity of giving and sharing that
is the very heart of the Buddha’s realization. Unlike some Western
monastic and religious institutions that run businesses, the Buddhadharma
and its practitioners are expressly not meant to be self supporting.
Buddhadharma is realized and passed on by the gift interchange of Dharma
teaching with food and shelter. This mutual support between monastic
and lay sangha is the foundation of enlightened society.
We at Lion's Roar Dharma Center are committed to continue this lineage
of Dana, or the exchange of giving. Please consider making a check payable
to Lion’s Roar, earmarked for “Lawa Khangtsen”. These
funds will be used for housing, food, educational and medical costs.
There is no “administrative overhead”. All funds go directly
to help the monks.
Lama Yeshe Jinpa makes regular trips to India to visit Sera Jey Monastery
and Lawa Khangtsen to do retreat and to support the monks. It is his
wish, and the wish of the Khangtsen, that the Tibetan monks visit the
West and the United States. The sharing of Dharma and the cultural exchange
between East and West is the foundation for world peace. We invite you
to be part of this project. For details of support, and to foster exchange,
contact Lama Yeshe Jinpa at (916) 224-2163 or jinpa@middlewayhealth.com.
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