Once the shedra program launches this fall, we will need to support the ongoing education on the monks and nuns who enroll. In addition to salaries for khenpos, the cleric-scholars who will teach at the shedra, the main expense will be daily meals, cooked in the shedra kitchen. It costs $1 a day to feed a monk or nun during their studies at the shedra.
Anyone who is able to give a monthly donation of $30/month will be helping to support a monk or nun in studying at the Surmang Shedra.
A shedra is a monastic college in which monks and nuns study a range of subjects including philosophy, linguistics, and medicine as well as the skills of exposition, debate and composition. This depth of training provided in this traditional style of education is crucial to the survival of Tibetan culture and the flourishing of Buddhism on the Tibetan plateau.
There is already a group of monks ready to attend the shedra at Surmang. The nuns who live scattered throughout the Surmang valley will also be encouraged to participate.
On the donate page, select “Sponsor a Monk or Nun” to direct your donation.