A four-day Drolang or deliberations on the Buddhist subjects composed by the Buddhist scholars of the past is underway at the Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University in Thimphu. The Tsugla Lopen of the Central Monastic Body is presiding over the deliberations. Including Khenpos and Lopens about 300 monks from 14 Buddhist colleges and institutions are taking part in the programme.
The Drolang programme, which is a first of its kind where several monastic institutions under the Zhung Dratshang came together, will now be organised as an annual event.
The annual deliberations are done to improve the standard of education in the Dratshang and to encourage the exchange of knowledge among monks.
‘‘These deliberations will help them to develop their knowledge by hearing new things and knowledge. Drolang is one of the important ways to improve the monks’ knowledge, among others,” said Khenpo Karma, Vice President of Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University.
He added that the monks will deliberate on Kuenkhyen Pema Karpo’s scripture, ‘Pekar Lekshay’ for the first three days as this text is one of the main subjects learned in monastic institutions across the country.
‘‘Monks have to serve the country, need to preserve the teaching and doctrine of the Buddha, and have to fulfil His Majesty’s vision. Therefore, the main objective for organising such a programme is to benefit monks themselves, others, and the country as well through different religious concepts,” said Khenpo Karma, the Vice President of Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University.
‘‘We study hard before such a programme. Therefore, it helps us to remember the concept of different scriptures. With this, it helps our students to enhance their knowledge,” said Pema Dendup, a teacher of Lakshay Jungney Shedra in Punakha.
‘‘Such programmes help us to enhance our knowledge. It also helps us to make friends among monks. Through this programme, we also get new knowledge to teach our students in the future. This is because we gain a lot of knowledge when we gather together,” said Passang Tshering, a teacher of Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University.
More than a hundred monks from different monastic institutions joined over 200 monks of the Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University for the programme.
The four-day programme will end on Monday where about 40 monks will recite the ‘Pekar Lekshay’ without looking at the scripture.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Sherub Dorji