Monastic Studies

The rules of study in Sera basically were same as that of Drepung or Ganden. But between the colleges within Sera itself bore some difference as to the name and division of classes, of the time needed in each of these classes. Both colleges, Je and Med, had thirteen different classes for scholars.

Following were the setting of Je College:
Three classes for "elementary of metaphysics", the time for three years; Five classes for "Perfection of Wisdom", time for five years; Two classes for "Avoidance of Extremes", the time for four years (each class two years); Two classes for "Discipline", the time for four years (each class two years); Two classes for" Metaphysics", the time four years (each class two years); One class for "Kharam" (for the preparatory class for the examination of the Doctor of Metaphysions), the time two or three years;
Total: 22 to 23 years.

Following were the setting of Med College:
One class for "elementary of metaphysics", the time two years; Six classes for "Perfection of Wisdom", the time seven years; Two classes for "Avoidance of Extremes", the time four years (each class two years); Two classes for "Discipline", the time for four years (each class two years); Two classes for "Metaphysics", the time for four years (each class two years); "Kharam" class was not particularly set up, but the time one two years was given for it.
Total: 23 to 24 years.

Boys from Lhasa, or nearby, enter monastery at the age of seven, and two years were spent for elementary studies and recitations. Since the age of ten lessons on the "Five Principal Subjects" were given, by the time of achieving the degree for the Doctor of Metaphysics, the scholars would be in their thirties well off.
Scholars from the Kham, and Amdo, and Mongolia would be later still owing to the distance from their homeland. They would be in forties when achieving the degree for the Doctor of Metaphysice.

Both colleges, Je and Med, were to produce two candidates each a year for the examination of the Doctor of Metaphysics, and in each six or seven years one more candidate could be added from each college.

Two to three years of study in the "Khram" class was in fact the preparatory class for the examination of the Doctor of Metaphysics.

Those that had achieved the degree of the Doctor of Metaphysics in the annual Great Prayer Festival of Lhasa were to join either the Upper or the lower Tantric School where they were to face further studies on Tantricism for a few years, the post of the Displinarian for a few months, the post of the Cantor for three years, the post of the Abbot for three years, and lastly as an ex-Abbot for about seven years. The mext, they were to move their residence to Ganden monastery where they were to become the Abbot of either the Shartse or the Jangtse College for seven years, and finally to become the Chairman of Ganden for another seven years; by this time mostly become beyond the ages sixty or seventy, excepting a few of extraordinary talents.

A list of ninteen Chairmen of Ganden produced by the Med College:
17th, Dorje Sangpo of Minyak House;

22nd, Gendun Tenpa Dhargye of Minyak House; 36th, Tenzin lekshad from Kongpo; 37th, Gendun Rinchen of Pomra House; 45th, Tsultrim Dhargye of Shungpa House; 47th, Lobsang Chonpel of Pomra House; 49th, Lobsang Dhargye of Shungpa House; 59th, Ngawang Chodak of Thepo House; 61th, Tsemonling Ngawang Tsultrim of Tsador House; 63rd, Lobsang Kechok of Tsador House; 65th, Gendun Tsultrim of Pomra House; 68th, Lobsang Gelek of Tsawa House; 71st, Yeshe Tardo of Kongpo; 73rd, Tsemonling Jampla Tsultrim of Tsador House; 74th, Lobsang Lhundrup of Gyalrong House; 75th, Lungtok Yonten Gyatso of Tsawa House; 83rd, dJang chub Namka of Gyalrong House; 84th, lobsang Tsultrim of Gyalrong House; 87th, Tsemonling Lobsang Tenpai Gyaltsen of Tsador House; A list of fourteen Chairment of Ganden produced by the Je College: 15th, Panchen Sonam Dakpa of Tsethang; 28th, Gendun Gyaltsen of Misal House; 32nd, Tsultrim Chonpel of Tsangpa House; 42nd, lobsang Donyo of Tsawa House; 54th, Ngawang Chokden of Samlo House; 58th, Ngawang Chodak of Samlo House; 60th, Lobsang Tenpa of Tsawa House; 64th, lobsang Tashi of Tewo House; 66th, Ngawang Nyandak of Samlo House; 72nd, Jampal Tsultrim lof Tsangpa House; 86th, Lobsang Gyaltsen of Tsangpa House; 91sh, Lobsang Gyaltsen of Lawa House; 94th, Lhundrup Tsundu Rimpoche of Tsangpa House; 96th, thubten Kunga of Hardong House;

sera has also produced many other famous figures. Some were skilled at literary works; some made contributions to the unity of the motherland; some remained in the monastery and trained many scholars; while others after their completion of study of the Five Principal Subjects left for hermitage; still others left for their homelands where they did a great deal of teacking and their names can be seen on the records of local monanasteries.