Tergar Osel Ling Monastery
Dharma
Osel Ling Monastery is the vibrant spiritual core of the Tergar Lineage, and the home of our spiritual leader the seventh Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher, spiritual leader and tulku from the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions that have been unbroken for almost a thousand years.
Located at the top of Chhokdol Height, Sitapaila, Kathmandu, Osel Ling is a place of peace, tradition, ritual, education and meditation, and a support to the local surrounding community. The monastery is fully functioning, housing over 150 monks who live, study, meditate and debate together. The monastery is similarly a place of inspiration, study and contemplation for students from all over the world.
A Brief History of Tergar Osel Ling
When times began to change in Tibet, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche’s father, was among the many lamas and tulkus who left their homelands for India and Nepal. It is thanks to his great inspiration that Tergar Osel Ling came into being.
Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche was a highly realized scholar and practitioner, holding both Mahamudra and Dzogchen lineages. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche obtained the land for the new monastery in 1986, and in 1990, the main temple was completed. He bestowed on it the name Ngédön Ösel Ling, 'Place of the Definitive Meaning, Clear Light.' Later, principal charge of the monastery was given to his son Tsoknyi Rinpoche, including overseeing the construction of a large extension.
After establishing a new Tergar monastery and school for young children in Bodh Gaya (2001-2006), Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche observed that in order to further preserve and share the teachings more widely, it would be important for Tergar to develop a monastic college (in Tibetan, shedra). Thus the intention to create a Tergar shedra was formed. Rinpoche's older brother, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, requested that Mingyur Rinpoche establish the shedra at Osel Ling, under the Tergar name, and take over responsibility for the monastery.
Respecting the wishes of his elder brother as well as the counsel of other lamas, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche officially took charge of Osel Ling in a formal ceremony on the third day of the first month of the female earth ox year (February 16, 2010), and inaugurated the shedra. The monastery's name was expanded to Tergar Ngédön Lungrik Ösel Dargye Ling, 'Flourishing Place for the Clear Light of the Definitive Meaning of the Scriptures and Reasonings. The new shedra was entrusted to Khenpo Gyurmé Wangche as the Head of the shedra. Intending that this monastery be, first and foremost, a focal point for study of the major scriptures of the Buddhadharma, Rinpoche personally and wholeheartedly took responsibility for the monastic college. To this day, several Khenpos provide the teachings on the sutras and tantric buddhism, while Mingyur Rinpoche provides the profound meditation instructions on both Mahamudra and Dzogchen. Thus, it has become a center for both study and practice in Nepal.
In 2015, Nepal was hit by a powerful earthquake creating great damage and losses. Osel Ling was not spared from the destruction. The original temple and monks' quarters were badly damaged. Therefore, after emerging from his wandering retreat, Mingyur Rinpoche raised funds from devoted sponsors around the world, and began to rebuild the monastery. Due to their kindness and generosity, construction of a grand new temple and new monks' quarters is nearly complete.
The Monastic College (Shedra) at Osel Ling Monastery
Under the direction of Khenpo Gyurmé Wangche, the Tergar Ngedon Osel Ling Shedra continues to flourish since 2010.
The Study Curriculum
The course of study at the monastic college consists of a thirteen-year program comprising a preparatory year followed by twelve consecutive years. Below is an overview of the curriculum from beginning to end, as it is normally followed. Occasionally minor adaptations are made.
| Year | Core Class | Ancillary Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Year | The Common Collected Topics of Dialectics - Level 1 | English; introductory Tibetan grammar and spelling |
| Year 1 | The Common Collected Topics of Dialectics – Levels 2 & 3 | English; the Tibetan grammar text called Mirror Elucidating the Difficult Points |
| Year 2 | Cognition and Reasoning by Yongdzin Namgyal Drakpa | English; the Tibetan grammar text called The Great Commentary on Grammar and Spelling |
| Year 3 | Dharmakirti’s Commentary on the Compendium of Valid Cognition, the chapters on one's own benefit and the benefit of others. | English; supplementary studies in Tibetan grammar and orthography |
| Year 4 | Prajna Paramita (Perfection of Wisdom), section 1 | English; supplementary studies – principally in Tibetan grammar and orthography |
| Year 5 | Prajna Paramita (Perfection of Wisdom), sections 2-4 | English; Nepali; supplementary studies – principally in Tibetan grammar and orthograpy |
| Year 6 | Prajna Paramita (Perfection of Wisdom), sections 4-8 | English; Nepali; supplementary studies – principally in Tibetan grammar and orthography |
| Year 7 | Karmapa Mikyö Dorje's commentary on Entrance to the Middle Way | English; Tibetan grammar and poetics |
| Year 8 | Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Treatise on the Middle Way | English; Tibetan grammar and poetics |
| Year 9 | Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje's commentary on the Abhidharma | English; Tibetan grammar and poetics |
| Year 10 | Dharmakirti’s Commentary on the Compendium of Valid Cognition, the chapters on direct perception and establishing validity | English; Tibetan grammar and poetics |
| Year 11 | Mandala of the Sun: A Commentary on the Vinaya; The Sutra of Individual Liberation; and Presentation of the Essence of the Three Vows | |
| Year 12 | The Sublime Continuum of the Mahayana; The Profound Inner Meaning; and the Hevajra Tantra |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5:30-6:30am | Wake-up, wash, and memorize the root verses of the great treatises |
| 6:30-7:00am | Breakfast |
| 7:00-10:00am | Textual Study Class |
| 10:00-11:30am | Personal study, language classes, or other ancillary studies |
| 11:30 am-1:30pm | Midday break |
| 1:30-3:00pm | Personal study or ancillary classes |
| 3:00-3:30pm | Tea break |
| 3:30-4:30pm | Textual Review Class |
| 4:30-5:30pm | Meditation period |
| 5:30-6:15pm | Debate in the courtyard -- first shift |
| 6:15-7:00pm | Evening collation |
| 7:00-8:00pm | Ancillary textual study class or personal study time. |
| 8:00-8:30pm | Recitation of the root verses of the great treatises |
| 8:30-10:30pm | Debate in the courtyard -- second shift or oral practice |
| 11:00pm | Bedtime. All monks should be in bed by eleven o’clock |
The Daily Schedule
The Weekly Schedule
From Friday to Wednesday, we follow the above daily schedule of classes.
On Tuesday nights at 8:30pm we alternate between a Tibetan-style debate competition and a Western-style debate/discussion.
From 4:30pm Wednesday until Friday morning, we have our weekly break.
Monthly Events
On the 8th day of the Tibetan month, all the monks shave their heads.
On the 10th day of the Tibetan month, the entire sangha gathers for the day-long ritual of Guru Dorje Trolö.
In the morning of the 15th day of the lunar month, the sojong ceremony is performed for repairing and purifying the monastic vows. In the afternoon, from 1:30 pm, we assemble for the middle-length Accomplishment of Enlightened Mind's Activity ritual.
On the 29th of the Tibetan month, starting at 1:30 pm, we perform the Extensive Offerings to the Protectors' puja.
On the 30th of the lunar month, we again gather in the morning for sojong, the ritual for restoring the monastic vows.
Yearly Events
On the first day of the Tibetan new year (in February or March), we gather to make an auspicious connection by offering a mandala and representations of body, speech and mind to our lama and abbot Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, and perform a smoke offering together.
Beginning on the second day of the first Tibetan month, we have a yearly month-long break.
After returning from the break, two days are dedicated to cleaning the monastery environment and preparing the classrooms. Then, to create auspicious conditions for a successful year of both practice and study, we begin by reciting the words of the Buddha (the Kangyur) for five days, and performing rituals of Tara to clear away any adversity.
Once this is completed, the year's classes begin.
On the fourth day of the sixth Tibetan month at 7 pm, the whole sangha gathers together in a celebratory manner and, in honour of Chökhor Düchen, monks offer Dharma teachings, engage in debate, and read their compositions to the assembly.
Beginning on the fifteenth day of the sixth Tibetan month (around late July), all the sangha members participate in the one-and-a-half month 'Yarnay,' or ‘rainy-season retreat’.
During the Yarnay, at a suitable time, the grand ritual of Pema Benza (Skt. Padma Vajra) is performed for three to seven days, on behalf of all the deceased who have a connection to Tergar.
In the fall, at a suitable time in Rinpoche's schedule, all the sangha must gather for the great accomplishment puja for mending and purifying tantric vows called “Ngak So” (Tib. sngags gso), for seven to nine days.
Around the eleventh Tibetan month (approximately January) at a time which depends on the dates of the Kagyu Günchö, (Kagyu Winter Dharma Gathering), classes finish and all students have time to prepare for the yearly grand exams. There are the three kinds of exams – written, recitation, and debate, which are given over the course of ten days.
Once exams are completed, the monks participate in the yearly Kagyu Günchö and Kagyu Monlam Chenmo (Grand Prayer Festival of the Kagyu), on the dates given for these.
From the 24th to the 30th of the twelfth Tibetan month (approximately February), the sangha assembles to perform the week-long Great Averting Torma of Dorje Trolö ritual, as thes end-of-the-year purification offering.
Sometimes, at the request of the local people and others who have a connection with Tergar, monks will gather to perform a day of ritual service and prayers of dedication for the benefit of the deceased or the living.