Gaden Shartse

"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." Gaden Shartse

Gaden Shartse was founded in 1415 by the Great Master Tsongkhapa. The school is part of the Gelupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1959, the Gaden Shartse monastery was destroyed by the Chinese Communists. More than 1.2 million Tibetans were killed and its monks were driven into exile.

From that time on, after realizing the uncertainties and subtleties of the Chinese policies, the Tibetans began comparing the Chinese presence to a Tibetan proverb about leprosy- that it kills one slowly as the fingers fall away from the hand.

In 1969, the Gaden Shartse Monastery was re-established in Mundgod, India. Since then, it has become an intense cultural and religious focal point in America and other countries. As a result of the blessings and success that have come about in recent years, the relationship with the Chinese may now be more aptly expressed by another Tibetan proverb which reads;

A father deserted by a wise son is like being caught in a shower without a felt!

Gaden Shartse Monestary is now widely known around the world and is supported by notable names such as that of Richard Gere. It is at the forefront of the revival of Tibetan Monastic education and houses more than 1600 resident students, teachers, scholars and spiritual practitioners. Due to the success of the academic program and the quality of the teachers at the monastery, Shartse has established a reputation as being the leader in the field of Buddhist and Tibetan studies.

Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.

In depth education in all aspects of Buddhist philosophy and practice are the focal point of the academic program at Shartse. They offer courses in Tibetan History, Literature, Poetry, Grammar, English, and Math. Advanced courses include Elementary Dialectics, Buddhist Logic, The Six Perfections, The Heart Sutra, The Middle Way Philosophy, Ethics and Epistemology. A world tour by members of Shartse features Tibetan Buddhist Monks who bring a cultural exchange of Sacred Earth and Healing Arts to many parts of the world. As of 2007, the Gaden Shartse Ngari Khangsten Tour continues to visit in the United States and has been a monumental success.



References

www.gadenshartse.net
gadenshartsecf.org
Kaplan, Janice, (1989), Sacred Healing Chants Of Tibet, Catapult Label