Chökyi Gyatso Institute, Dewathang, Bhutan
for the Study of Buddhist Philosophy and Practice
In 1972, the late Lama Sonam Zangpo, a great master and Rinpoche's maternal grandfather, built a small temple in Dewathang, in eastern Bhutan, with the wish that in future Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche could establish a shedra (a Buddhist college) there. Fulfilling Lama Sonam Zangpo's wish, in 1990 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche initiated Chökyi Gyatso Institute.
It is Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's intention that this institute function as a shedrup, an institute that provides for the study of Buddhist philosophy as well as practice. Rinpoche also has under his direction two large shedras: Dzongsar Kham-je Shedra in Tibet and the Chökyi Lodrö College of Dialectics in India.
Dewathang Chökyi Gyatso Institute upholds the tradition and practices of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo's lineage. Philosophical study includes four years at the elementary level, continuing with higher studies. Just like all shedras, the syllabus contains core texts along with elective texts. To incorporate practice with the studies, the institute annually holds six drupchens (extended group practices): Khandro Sangdü, Gyalwa Gyamtso, Pema Tseyi Nyingthik, Vima Ladrup, Miniling Dorsem, and Pama Nyingthik, along with other practices. Regular retreats ranging from a few months to three years are also included in the curriculum for senior students.
About Chökyi Gyatso Institute
The temple overlooks Dewathang village, in the low Himalayan foothills, and its view stretches down into the great plains of Assam in India. Ugyen Wangchuk, the manager of Chökyi Gyatso Institute, was only a child then, but he remembers the elders saying, "Lama Sonam Zangpo says that some day in the future a shedra will be built here and monks will come from all over to study Buddhism."
In December 1990, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche began to establish a shedra in Dewathang. Under Rinpoche's direction, with 35 student monks and Khenpo Sonam Tashi as the abbot, Chökyi Gyatso Institute was established, and the wheel of Buddhadharma was turned in Dewathang as Lama Sonam Zangpo had predicted.
Since the establishment of the institute, full-time academic courses in Vajrayana Buddhism have been conducted in line with the objectives of supporting Buddhist culture and values, facilitating the teaching and practice of the Buddhadharma, and promoting world peace through Buddhism.
The institute offers an Acharya degree, which includes extensive study of Buddhist philosophy and practice. The monks rise around 5 AM, followed by morning prayers, classes, individual study, evening prayers, and individual study until 9 PM every day.
Recent Developments
After some 30 years, the original structures are now in dire need of repair, maintenance, and in some cases replacement.
The year 2003 started with construction of a new water tank and the installation of a pipeline that runs about 4 km into the woods and is fed directly from fresh, unlimited mountain stream water.
In April 2003 construction began on two new, two-storey hostels to accommodate 96 monks.
The main temple, a three-storey structure with a ground-level assembly hall capacity of 300 people, is presently under construction.
At the end of 2004, we completed building two new hostels for the monks. We started this project in 2003 with the hope of building three hostels, but due to a shortage of funds we were able to build only two. Our monks moved into the new hostels in December 2004.
At the beginning of 2005 we started with our next project, the construction of the main temple for Dewathang Monastery.
We were very fortunate that Rinpoche came to conduct the ground-breaking ceremony at the temple site. Many sponsors, locals, and officials attended the ceremony, which concluded with song and dance to mark the special event.
As the work on the temple began, many volunteers, young and old, came to help, along with their friends and families. Taking part in building a temple was their way of sharing in the merit of working for a good cause. Most of the volunteers brought their own lunches, and we provided simple refreshments like tea and juice.
If we do not face any financial shortage or too many rainy days (the latter sadly seems to be our major obstacle presently), by September 2005 we will complete the ground floor of the temple, and hopefully continue with the first floor.
We are very grateful to all our sponsors for supporting and encouraging us. It is solely through your kind support that we were able to launch such a project. We pray that the merit of such activity may benefit all beings, and especially those who make it happen. We also pray that by their pure intention, the Dharma may forever continue and increase.
The institute welcomes all practitioners who wish to deepen their understanding of Buddhist philosophy or to conduct a retreat in meditative surroundings in the beautiful wilderness of eastern Bhutan. So far Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche has been the sole benefactor of these works. However, the institute is now raising funds to support the construction of these new buildings, including the main temple. Thus, Chökyi Gyatso Institute is launching an appeal and seeks your assistance.
Your contribution, large or small, will go directly to the development of this project, and we will be very grateful for your gesture of goodwill. It will also accrue great merit. We can see throughout history that even a small effort, combined with others in a common purpose, has the potential to accomplish great tasks. Such an act is regarded as "sharing the merit."
This temple project, while a good cause in itself, will be even better if we work together towards its accomplishment. Therefore we invite you to become directly involved in this auspicious event and to register as a participant.
We assure you that your financial contribution will be used strictly for construction purposes only. If you wish, you can make a specific donation, directed toward temple structure, temple shrine and statues, temple wall frescos, hostel, library and books, dining hall, etc.
If you have any questions or concerns, our staff will be happy to address them or to provide further information. You can contact us at uge@druknet.bt. If you would like to see the structural drawings, financial reports, and detailed proposals, including the estimated budget for specific work, these can also be made available to you. You can send your donation by cheque directly, payable to Chökyi Gyatso Institute, Dwathang, Bhutan.
You can also contact the Siddhartha's Intent office in your area and ask them about the Chökyi Gyatso Institute project.
Thank you for your generosity and support. Such good will and noble actions preserve and maintain the Buddha Dharma in today's world.
We are very pleased that, with the generous support of our sponsors and well-wishers, our Institute is functioning and progressing very well. We are very grateful for your kind support, and we highly appreciate for you effort. Such intention gives us great encouragement to move forward.
Contact Information
Ugyen Wangchuk
Chökyi Gyatso Institute
Dewathang
Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan
Phone: + 975 7 60123
Fax: + 975 7 60127
Email: uge@druknet.bt
In 1972, the late Lama Sonam Zangpo, a great master and Rinpoche's maternal grandfather, built a small temple in Dewathang, in eastern Bhutan, with the wish that in future Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche could establish a shedra (a Buddhist college) there. Fulfilling Lama Sonam Zangpo's wish, in 1990 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche initiated Chökyi Gyatso Institute.
It is Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's intention that this institute function as a shedrup, an institute that provides for the study of Buddhist philosophy as well as practice. Rinpoche also has under his direction two large shedras: Dzongsar Kham-je Shedra in Tibet and the Chökyi Lodrö College of Dialectics in India.
Dewathang Chökyi Gyatso Institute upholds the tradition and practices of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo's lineage. Philosophical study includes four years at the elementary level, continuing with higher studies. Just like all shedras, the syllabus contains core texts along with elective texts. To incorporate practice with the studies, the institute annually holds six drupchens (extended group practices): Khandro Sangdü, Gyalwa Gyamtso, Pema Tseyi Nyingthik, Vima Ladrup, Miniling Dorsem, and Pama Nyingthik, along with other practices. Regular retreats ranging from a few months to three years are also included in the curriculum for senior students.
About Chökyi Gyatso Institute
The temple overlooks Dewathang village, in the low Himalayan foothills, and its view stretches down into the great plains of Assam in India. Ugyen Wangchuk, the manager of Chökyi Gyatso Institute, was only a child then, but he remembers the elders saying, "Lama Sonam Zangpo says that some day in the future a shedra will be built here and monks will come from all over to study Buddhism."
In December 1990, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche began to establish a shedra in Dewathang. Under Rinpoche's direction, with 35 student monks and Khenpo Sonam Tashi as the abbot, Chökyi Gyatso Institute was established, and the wheel of Buddhadharma was turned in Dewathang as Lama Sonam Zangpo had predicted.
Since the establishment of the institute, full-time academic courses in Vajrayana Buddhism have been conducted in line with the objectives of supporting Buddhist culture and values, facilitating the teaching and practice of the Buddhadharma, and promoting world peace through Buddhism.
The institute offers an Acharya degree, which includes extensive study of Buddhist philosophy and practice. The monks rise around 5 AM, followed by morning prayers, classes, individual study, evening prayers, and individual study until 9 PM every day.
Recent Developments
After some 30 years, the original structures are now in dire need of repair, maintenance, and in some cases replacement.
The year 2003 started with construction of a new water tank and the installation of a pipeline that runs about 4 km into the woods and is fed directly from fresh, unlimited mountain stream water.
In April 2003 construction began on two new, two-storey hostels to accommodate 96 monks.
The main temple, a three-storey structure with a ground-level assembly hall capacity of 300 people, is presently under construction.
At the end of 2004, we completed building two new hostels for the monks. We started this project in 2003 with the hope of building three hostels, but due to a shortage of funds we were able to build only two. Our monks moved into the new hostels in December 2004.
At the beginning of 2005 we started with our next project, the construction of the main temple for Dewathang Monastery.
We were very fortunate that Rinpoche came to conduct the ground-breaking ceremony at the temple site. Many sponsors, locals, and officials attended the ceremony, which concluded with song and dance to mark the special event.
As the work on the temple began, many volunteers, young and old, came to help, along with their friends and families. Taking part in building a temple was their way of sharing in the merit of working for a good cause. Most of the volunteers brought their own lunches, and we provided simple refreshments like tea and juice.
If we do not face any financial shortage or too many rainy days (the latter sadly seems to be our major obstacle presently), by September 2005 we will complete the ground floor of the temple, and hopefully continue with the first floor.
We are very grateful to all our sponsors for supporting and encouraging us. It is solely through your kind support that we were able to launch such a project. We pray that the merit of such activity may benefit all beings, and especially those who make it happen. We also pray that by their pure intention, the Dharma may forever continue and increase.
The institute welcomes all practitioners who wish to deepen their understanding of Buddhist philosophy or to conduct a retreat in meditative surroundings in the beautiful wilderness of eastern Bhutan. So far Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche has been the sole benefactor of these works. However, the institute is now raising funds to support the construction of these new buildings, including the main temple. Thus, Chökyi Gyatso Institute is launching an appeal and seeks your assistance.
Your contribution, large or small, will go directly to the development of this project, and we will be very grateful for your gesture of goodwill. It will also accrue great merit. We can see throughout history that even a small effort, combined with others in a common purpose, has the potential to accomplish great tasks. Such an act is regarded as "sharing the merit."
This temple project, while a good cause in itself, will be even better if we work together towards its accomplishment. Therefore we invite you to become directly involved in this auspicious event and to register as a participant.
We assure you that your financial contribution will be used strictly for construction purposes only. If you wish, you can make a specific donation, directed toward temple structure, temple shrine and statues, temple wall frescos, hostel, library and books, dining hall, etc.
If you have any questions or concerns, our staff will be happy to address them or to provide further information. You can contact us at uge@druknet.bt. If you would like to see the structural drawings, financial reports, and detailed proposals, including the estimated budget for specific work, these can also be made available to you. You can send your donation by cheque directly, payable to Chökyi Gyatso Institute, Dwathang, Bhutan.
You can also contact the Siddhartha's Intent office in your area and ask them about the Chökyi Gyatso Institute project.
Thank you for your generosity and support. Such good will and noble actions preserve and maintain the Buddha Dharma in today's world.
We are very pleased that, with the generous support of our sponsors and well-wishers, our Institute is functioning and progressing very well. We are very grateful for your kind support, and we highly appreciate for you effort. Such intention gives us great encouragement to move forward.
Contact Information
Ugyen Wangchuk
Chökyi Gyatso Institute
Dewathang
Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan
Phone: + 975 7 60123
Fax: + 975 7 60127
Email: uge@druknet.bt