Lhasa Sera Monastery
History of the Sera Monastery
Like the Drepung and Ganden monasteries, it had three colleges: Sera Mey Dratsang, built in 1419, which gave basic instruction to the monks. Sera Jey Dratsang, built in 1435, was the largest, and was reserved for wandering monks, especially Mongol monks. Ngagpa Dratsang, built in 1559, was a school for the teaching of the Gelukpa tantras. Sera Monastery once housed more than 5,000 monks in 1959. Although badly damaged, it is still standing and has been largely repaired. It now houses a few hundred Buddhist monks.
There are two arguments about the source of the name Sera Monastery: the first is that when laid a foundation of monastery there came a fiercely hailstone, hailstone in the Tibetan language pronounce as a "sera", so after the completion of monastery it named "Sera", meaning "hail monastery"; Second is that the monastery built in the middle a blooming multiflora, hence the name "Sera monastery," the multiflora in the Tibetan language also pronounce "sera". The full name is Sera Mahayana Monastery.
What to see ?
The highlight of this visit will be watching a monks debating inside the shady courtyard behind the main temple. Every day, hundreds of red-robed monks assemble in small groups and practice their debating skills. It is a highly entertaining spectacle, during which they strike poses not dissimilar to hip hop rappers. They are clap, turn, and finger point, whoop, holler, and throw their prayer beads about. In most cases, one monk sits on the floor, while another one stands, and between them, they argue about Buddhist rituals - immensely enjoying their debates.
As tourists you are allowed to walk around the edge and observe the very dynamic and animated monks asking and answering questions like ‘why', ‘what came first the chicken or the egg' and ‘who is your favorite Buddha'. The spectacle is just so fun-filled and high energy. It's a bit like a Sicilian market place, or a football match, increasing in volume all the time, and some of the monks are really good showmen, sometimes mischievously involving you in their debates, as if trying to get you onto their side.
Festivals in Lhasa Sera Monastery
Shoton Festival
Another popular festival witnessed by visitors and locals is the Shoton Festival held in the month of August in the Tibetan calendar. The festival represents the symbolic Buddha-Unfolding, where worship of the Buddha is the essential part. And every festival, there will host Sun Buddha ceremony.
Sera Bengqin Festival
In Sera Monastery there is a large and impressive festival called “Sera Bengqin Festival”, which is the particular festival of Vajra adhisthana of Sera Monastery, largely attended by monks and devotees. It is said that in the late 15 century AD, a Vajra came from India, people called it flying Vajra, and later Nagaba Dratsang Khenpo enshrined it in Tenzin Dharma Temple. In the past, the executive of Nagaba Dratsang rode a post-horse and ceremoniously took it to the Potala Palace to present Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama offers prayers to the Buddha to bestow strength and blesses the Vajra, and then the Vajra would be transferred back to Sera Monastery. Thereafter, the pestle is briefly placed on the heads of the monks and disciples by the Ngaba Dratsang Khenpo, So blessed with inspiration. The festival is held some time in February as per the Gregorian calendar corresponding to specific date fixed by the monastery according to the Tibetan calendar.
Travel Tips
Add: No.1 Sera Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Opening hours: 09:00-16:00
Entrance Fee:
Transport: take bus No.6, 16, and 24 to Sera Monastery stop.
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