The monastic college was established by the 8th Kenting Tai Situpa. At that time, it was the first monastic college with systematic schedules for students to learn the five clarities of knowledge. The 8th Kenting Tai Situpa Chokyi Jugne personally took the responsibility to be the chief Khenpo. The shedra had achievements and been famous especially in the area of language, medicine and astronomy sciences.
The 11th Kenting Tai Situpa moved the shedra to a new site. He made the rules for the shedra and re-arranged the courses to include Three Pitakas (Sutta, Vinaya and Abhidhamma), Tantra and Sutra, and all the different schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He invited Khenpos from different lineages to teach in the shedra, hence to widen the students' viewpoints. The monastic college trained and cultivated many non-sectarian great scholars and Khenpos, who then further trained and cultivated even more great scholars and Khenpos.
By the funds from local disciples and the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa, the monastic college was restored and resumed its recruiting in 1989. Among more than 400 graduates till now, many outstanding ones were assigned as Khenpos to teach in the more than 40 branch monasteries and temples of Palpung Monastery.
The monastic college is in a three-storey building in traditional style with a courtyard surrounded by monk's quarters and classrooms. The main shrine hall, which was set according to traditions, can hold 300 monks to study inside; it contains 1000 brass statues of Buddha; on its second floor conserves hundred of volumes of Tibetan books and scriptures, among of them many are important and rare scriptures.
The shedra now has four resident Khenpos and more than 200 monks who came from nearby areas like Changdu, Yushu, Diqing etc. and at the ages from 18 to 30.
Khenpo Dhundrup Tashi | Photos
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