Sera Chöding Hermitage
Encyclopedia
Sera Chöding Hermitage affiliated with Sera Monastery
, is situated in Lhasa
prefecture
of Tibetan Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China. It is located close to the Sera Monastery and faces south. The hermitage has a yellow house, which was originally built by the Tibet
an Guru
Tsongkhapa who spent many years there, spread over several occasions. It was his favourite meditating place and he wrote his great work, the “Great Commentary on the Prajñāmūla (Rtsa shes Dīk chen), while in residence. He also taught there. It is also known as the hermitage where Tsongkhapa entrusted his Tantric teachings to Rje shes rab seng ge (1383–1445), the founder of the Tantric
Colleges.
(the protector) are seen flanking the stepped approaches, along the route. A new building has been constructed in place of the old hermitage, which was destroyed during the 1959 Revolution
. Below the hermitage are the Upper Tantric College (Gyuto) and Lower Tantric College (Gyu-me) of Lhasa. A further climb up the hill leads to caves where Tsongkhapa meditated.
as his emissary.
The hermitage is also revered as the location where Tsongkhapa subdued the “site-spirit” that was transformed into a protector of Buddhism
, and where Tsongkhapa fully initiated Rje shes rab seng ge (1383–1445), the founder of the Tantric Colleges in to Tantric teachings. While entrusting the secrets of the tantric teachings contained in the text, Tsongkhapa is also said to have given to Rje shes rab seng ge the mask of Chogyel, the skull-club that he had found, his own skull-cup inner offering bowl, a statue of "Guhyasamaja (gSang-ba ‘dus-pa)", and seven special thangka
(thang-ka) scroll paintings.
Rje shes rab seng ge’s association resulted in the monastery's affiliation with the Lower Tantric College. The hermitage also became one of the colleges where the annual ritual cycle (tantric) was observed. Prior to 1959, Sera deputed a monk to this hermitage as caretaker of the main temple. Subsequent to the permission granted by the Chinese to rebuild smaller monasteries in the precincts of Lhasa, the hermitage was formally taken over by the Sera Monastery. It is now under the care of a monk who keeps the hermitage open for pilgrims and visitors.
A large temple or Assembly hall (’du khang), immediately below the yellow retreat hut to its east, is the Lower Tantric College where the annual ritual cycles or chos thog is observed. The frescoes seen in the "clerestory of the temple" are of pre-1959 vintage. The second floor of this temple is an administrative office. It also provides guest house accommodation to the visiting officials and clergy of the Tantric College (sngags pa grwa tshang).
Apart from the above buildings, other structures of importance are the two Dharma
compounds (chos rwa); one courtyard is next to the main temple, while the other is in the vicinity of a spring. The spring, sacred to the "White Manjushri", was discovered on advice given by the abbot
of Sera, Dge bshes seng ge (d. 1990s); its water is reported to have some curative properties. A small building has also been erected at the location where Tsongkhapa sat (known as a 'throne') and gave his discourses which resulted in compilation of the book titled “The Ocean of Reasoning (Rigs pa’i rgya mstho). Many huts and caves in the precincts of the hermitage were used by Tsongkhapa’s disciples. The location of the hermitage also provides an impressive view of Sera Monastery complex.
Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery is one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located north of Lhasa. The other two are Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery. The origin of the name 'Sera' is attributed to a fact that the site where the monastery was built was surrounded by wild roses in...
, is situated in Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
prefecture
Prefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
of Tibetan Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China. It is located close to the Sera Monastery and faces south. The hermitage has a yellow house, which was originally built by the Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
Tsongkhapa who spent many years there, spread over several occasions. It was his favourite meditating place and he wrote his great work, the “Great Commentary on the Prajñāmūla (Rtsa shes Dīk chen), while in residence. He also taught there. It is also known as the hermitage where Tsongkhapa entrusted his Tantric teachings to Rje shes rab seng ge (1383–1445), the founder of the Tantric
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
Colleges.
Geography
Sera Chöding Hermitage is very near Sera Monastery; it lies just behind the Great Assembly Hall, about 15 minutes walk up the Purbochok hill which surrounds the Sera Monastery complex. The hermitage is reached by a track (foot path) where painted rock carvings of Tsongkhapa, Jamchen and Dharma RajaDharma Raja
Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore"...
(the protector) are seen flanking the stepped approaches, along the route. A new building has been constructed in place of the old hermitage, which was destroyed during the 1959 Revolution
1959 Tibetan uprising
The 1959 Tibetan uprising, or 1959 Tibetan Rebellion began on 10 March 1959, when a revolt erupted in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which had been under the effective control of the Communist Party of China since the Seventeen Point Agreement in 1951...
. Below the hermitage are the Upper Tantric College (Gyuto) and Lower Tantric College (Gyu-me) of Lhasa. A further climb up the hill leads to caves where Tsongkhapa meditated.
History
As the main retreat centre of Je Tsongkhapa, the hermitage is credited as the location where, apart from his teaching assignments, he wrote many scriptures, of which his Great Commentary on the "Prajñāmūla (Rtsa shes Dīk chen)" is best known. Thus, from 1419, the hermitage has been the venue of many historic events associated with Tsogkhapa. These include being the location where his most favoured disciple, Mkhas grub rje (1385–1438) met him. Byams chen chos rje (1354–1435), known as the supreme master, Jamchen Choeje Shakya Yeshe (one of the eight famous disciples of Tsongkhapa known as flag bearers of his teachings and the founder of Sera Monastery) was ordered to go to ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
as his emissary.
The hermitage is also revered as the location where Tsongkhapa subdued the “site-spirit” that was transformed into a protector of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, and where Tsongkhapa fully initiated Rje shes rab seng ge (1383–1445), the founder of the Tantric Colleges in to Tantric teachings. While entrusting the secrets of the tantric teachings contained in the text, Tsongkhapa is also said to have given to Rje shes rab seng ge the mask of Chogyel, the skull-club that he had found, his own skull-cup inner offering bowl, a statue of "Guhyasamaja (gSang-ba ‘dus-pa)", and seven special thangka
Thangka
A "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" is a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort. The thankga is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting...
(thang-ka) scroll paintings.
Rje shes rab seng ge’s association resulted in the monastery's affiliation with the Lower Tantric College. The hermitage also became one of the colleges where the annual ritual cycle (tantric) was observed. Prior to 1959, Sera deputed a monk to this hermitage as caretaker of the main temple. Subsequent to the permission granted by the Chinese to rebuild smaller monasteries in the precincts of Lhasa, the hermitage was formally taken over by the Sera Monastery. It is now under the care of a monk who keeps the hermitage open for pilgrims and visitors.
Structure
The hermitage complex faces south. It has several structures built along the west–east direction. The "yellow retreat hut" seen here was the main hermitage of Tsongkhapa’s (1357–1419). According to a local legend, the ‘local site-spirit’ (gzhi bdag) used to enter through a small window in this house to meet Tsonkhapa. A further legend is that a fresco of Tsongkhapa on the wall in the room is stated to be a speaking-statue, an “image that speaks” (gsung byon ma).A large temple or Assembly hall (’du khang), immediately below the yellow retreat hut to its east, is the Lower Tantric College where the annual ritual cycles or chos thog is observed. The frescoes seen in the "clerestory of the temple" are of pre-1959 vintage. The second floor of this temple is an administrative office. It also provides guest house accommodation to the visiting officials and clergy of the Tantric College (sngags pa grwa tshang).
Apart from the above buildings, other structures of importance are the two Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
compounds (chos rwa); one courtyard is next to the main temple, while the other is in the vicinity of a spring. The spring, sacred to the "White Manjushri", was discovered on advice given by the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of Sera, Dge bshes seng ge (d. 1990s); its water is reported to have some curative properties. A small building has also been erected at the location where Tsongkhapa sat (known as a 'throne') and gave his discourses which resulted in compilation of the book titled “The Ocean of Reasoning (Rigs pa’i rgya mstho). Many huts and caves in the precincts of the hermitage were used by Tsongkhapa’s disciples. The location of the hermitage also provides an impressive view of Sera Monastery complex.