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Ngari Khangtsen Monks

We receive monks from Western Tibet and also from the Himalayan region of Ladakh, Lahoul and Spiti and Nepal. The youngest is (2007) 8 years and the oldest is 77. There are over 15 monks under the age of 12.

Mostly, these young monks belong to less privileged section of the community and the Khangtsen has to provide for their accomodation, clothing and their other physical needs, as well as their education. Some indeed are refugees without any means of sustenance, perhaps not even having parents alive!

The cost of the sustenance of a monk is around 8500 Indian Rupies a year. That is 105 GBP or 105 € or roughly USD 210.

All students from a very young age must follow comprehensive studies, including regular Indian state-approved schooling.

Students living at the Khangtsen receive a Khangtsen guardian who is directly responsible for the health and education of the novice under this care.

Students start regular school at 6 years of age, continue for the 10 mandatory years of schooling following the Indian educational system, and then proceed to pursue the higher Geshe-degrees in Buddhist Philosophy.
Some of the less fortunate children arriving as refugees and without parents in their new home country, can start the appropriate level of schooling regardless of age. This means in practice that a 12-year old who cannot read and write will be allowed to study with the younger kids, until he catches up.

Schooling itself is provided for free of charge by the Exile government in Dharamsala, and the Indian government.

If they students are lucky enough to have parents or relatives who can visit, they are allowed to do so once or twice a year.

The School Day

Students follow a strict daily routine, starting with Morning Prayer at 6 am, scripture memorization, breakfast followed by morning classes ususally starting at 9 am and finishing for lunch at 12. After lunch, afternoon classes held from 2 pm till 5 pm.
They have supper after school is over. In the evening they say prayers and memorize scriptures till 8 pm whereafter they are allowed back to the Khangtsen.

Back in the Hostel, they do home-work, meditate and study till late night and go to bed.

Since self-study also involves meditation practice and scripture learning best done in solitude, the crowded confines of a room shared by 3-4 others is not conducive to this.