SERA MONASTERY
Sera
Monastery lies on the northern edge of Lhasa at he base
of Tatipu Hill.Sera means merciful hail,denoting its rivalry
with Rice Heap(Drepung), since hail destroys rice.Sera was
smaller than the Drepung with 7000monks, but very rich and
comparable in power. Today it has 300monks and some of its
buildings house a farm.It was founded in 1419 by one of
Tsong Khapa's eight disciple. It become famous for its tantric
teaching, while Drepung drew fame from its governing role.The
monks of sera were considered clever and dangerous.Its small
army of warrior monks the dob-dobs, were admired as athletes
but also feared.Sera's rebelliousness some time posed a
threat to the state.In 1947,its leaders planned to kill
the regent and install a rival.witness recount that stopped
in Lhasa were barricaded and the nobles armed their servants
for fear of rampaging monks. Sera Monastery has three colleges,
are
SERA JE COLLEGE: its holy west chapel contains an awesome,
horse-headed demon-god,Hayagriva, whose origins go back
to the pre Buddhist Bon religion. DEBATING GARDEN COLLEGE:
Here monks prepare for monastic examination by staging mock
debates in the ritual way.Some sit cross legged under the
trees, while others run from group to group giving vigorous
handclaps to end a statement or make a point. Masters and
dignitaries sit on the raised tiers when a real examination
takes place.In Tibetan Buddhism, the debating garden is
the whetstone on which the mind is sharpened, and the importance
of the institution can not be stressed too strongly.Years
of study, memorization meditation and intellectual struggle
produce monks with outstanding abilities who keep alive
a profound religious tradition. Painting of sera( rock painting)
is notable, blue yamantaka with Prajna, Tsong Khapa above
and sera abbot, Sakya Yeshe. At the top. Entering in the
ASSEMBLY HALL(Tsokchen) at roof level and in an east chapel,
find the greatest treasure of Sera's -glided Chenrezi with
hundred of hands and eyes.Acolossal Maitreya can be seen
from both the roof and chanting hall.
Ngag-pa College has
many interesting objects, but the chanting hall of SERA
ME COLLEGE down the hill is truly remarkable.It has the
best vestibule murals anywhere,especially its wheel of life.
