Chöseng Trungpa Rinpoche, the abbot of Surmang Dutsi Til monastery, has decided to postpone the consecration and grand opening ceremony for the monastery’s shedra (monastic college) and new lhakang (shrine hall) until the summer of 2017.
Although any remaining finishing work for the shedra could readily be accomplished this spring, he decided that too much work remains to be done on the monastery’s new lhakang for it to be consecrated in summer 2016. He was also advised by his uncle Domkhar Rinpoche that 2016 would not be an auspicious year to hold the consecration.
The shedra building complex, which is structurally complete, has been used as the monastery’s practice site during the construction of the new lhakang. The shedra has been funded by donors to Konchok Foundation.
Further details about the plans for the consecration are expected later this year. Meanwhile, finishing work at the shedra will proceed this year as planned. This includes work on the electrical and water systems, landscaping, furnishings, and other items.
Programs for adult monastics will commence at the consecration of the shedra. It’s possible that advanced programs for adult monastics will start even before the consecration.
The Surmang shedra is the home for an ongoing series of educational programs for local children. Those programs started at Surmang in 2008 and have been housed at the shedra complex since 2010.
