Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies
Encyclopedia
Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies incorporates two institutions: (1) the North American Seat of Namgyal Monastery
; and (2) a Tibetan Buddhist theological
seminary
affiliated with it. The two institutions share a dharma center in Ithaca, New York
. The Dalai Lama is their patron, highest authority (for the former), and consultant (for the latter).
"Namgyal" (rNam rGyal) is the Tibetan name of a long-life deity.
. It therefore belongs to the Gelugpa monastic order. Traditionally located within the Potala Palace
, and charged with various ritual tasks connected with the Dalai Lama, the parent monastery in 1959 relocated to Dharamsala
along with the Tibetan exile government. Monks from Dharamsala are rotated in and out of the Ithaca branch, with about five in residence there at any one time. They are one of several groups which send teams of Tibetan monks on tour to construct sand mandala
s.
(and Piburn
is named as the Institute's "founder" on the cover of several books). Namgyal's website names the late Pema Losang Chogyen—a monk associated with the early days of the Institute—as its "inspiration."
Namgyal Institute offers a three-year program emphasizing Tibetan language
, Buddhist philosophy
, and meditation
practice. It does not award degrees. (Its administrators initially contemplated offering a "Master of Sutra and Tantra" degree, but this is the same degree awarded by the parent monastery for thirteen years of study.) The core program was designed in part by the Dalai Lama, and aimed at Western dharma practitioners. Though oriented towards the Gelugpa school, Namgyal is "nonsectarian" in the sense of being open to non-Gelug lineages.
The teachers are drawn partly from the Namgyal monks, and partly from visiting teachers (including many well-known scholars in the field of Buddhist Studies
). There are part-time as well as full-time students, and many activities are ones which could be found at almost any dharma center, such as puja
s, dharma talk
s, workshops, retreats, and short courses.
The Institute is presently housed in a Victorian
house on Aurora Street, but is in the process of constructing a Tibetan-style temple complex, to be called Dü Khor Choe Ling (dus 'khor chos gling, "Kalachakra
Center").
A number of books from Snow Lion Publications bear the label "A Namgyal Institute Textbook."
Namgyal Monastery
Namgyal Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery associated with the Dalai Lamas. Founded in 1575 by the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, Namgyal Monastery was historically housed within the Potala Palace...
; and (2) a Tibetan Buddhist theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
affiliated with it. The two institutions share a dharma center in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
. The Dalai Lama is their patron, highest authority (for the former), and consultant (for the latter).
"Namgyal" (rNam rGyal) is the Tibetan name of a long-life deity.
The North American Seat of Namgyal Monastery
Namgyal Monastery (Ithaca) is a branch of the personal monastery of the Dalai Lama, also called Namgyal MonasteryNamgyal Monastery
Namgyal Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery associated with the Dalai Lamas. Founded in 1575 by the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, Namgyal Monastery was historically housed within the Potala Palace...
. It therefore belongs to the Gelugpa monastic order. Traditionally located within the Potala Palace
Potala Palace
The Potala Palace is located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It was named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara...
, and charged with various ritual tasks connected with the Dalai Lama, the parent monastery in 1959 relocated to Dharamsala
Dharamsala
Dharamshala or Dharamsala is a city in northern India. It was formerly known as Bhagsu; it is the winter seat of government of the state of Himachal Pradesh and the district headquarters of the Kangra district....
along with the Tibetan exile government. Monks from Dharamsala are rotated in and out of the Ithaca branch, with about five in residence there at any one time. They are one of several groups which send teams of Tibetan monks on tour to construct sand mandala
Sand mandala
The Sand Mandala is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition involving the creation and destruction of mandalas made from colored sand...
s.
Namgyal Institute of Buddhist Studies
The Institute was founded in 1992, on the advice of the Dalai Lama. The major organizer was Sidney Piburn, former middleweight boxer and editor/co-founder of Snow Lion PublicationsSnow Lion Publications
Snow Lion Publications is a book publisher established in 1980 in Ithaca, New York. It is devoted to the preservation of Tibetan Buddhist culture. It is the largest press devoted to Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism, printing over one million copies, and distributing over 650 titles published by other...
(and Piburn
is named as the Institute's "founder" on the cover of several books). Namgyal's website names the late Pema Losang Chogyen—a monk associated with the early days of the Institute—as its "inspiration."
Namgyal Institute offers a three-year program emphasizing Tibetan language
Tibetan language
The Tibetan languages are a cluster of mutually-unintelligible Tibeto-Burman languages spoken primarily by Tibetan peoples who live across a wide area of eastern Central Asia bordering the Indian subcontinent, including the Tibetan Plateau and the northern Indian subcontinent in Baltistan, Ladakh,...
, Buddhist philosophy
Buddhist philosophy
Buddhist philosophy deals extensively with problems in metaphysics, phenomenology, ethics, and epistemology.Some scholars assert that early Buddhist philosophy did not engage in ontological or metaphysical speculation, but was based instead on empirical evidence gained by the sense organs...
, and meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
practice. It does not award degrees. (Its administrators initially contemplated offering a "Master of Sutra and Tantra" degree, but this is the same degree awarded by the parent monastery for thirteen years of study.) The core program was designed in part by the Dalai Lama, and aimed at Western dharma practitioners. Though oriented towards the Gelugpa school, Namgyal is "nonsectarian" in the sense of being open to non-Gelug lineages.
The teachers are drawn partly from the Namgyal monks, and partly from visiting teachers (including many well-known scholars in the field of Buddhist Studies
Buddhist Studies
Buddhist studies, also known as Buddhology , is the academic study of Buddhism. The term applies especially to the modern academic field, which is a subset of Religious Studies, and is distinct from Buddhist philosophy or Buddhist theology...
). There are part-time as well as full-time students, and many activities are ones which could be found at almost any dharma center, such as puja
Puja (Buddhism)
In Buddhism, puja are expressions of "honour, worship and devotional attention." Acts of puja include bowing, making offerings and chanting...
s, dharma talk
Dharma talk
A Dharma talk or Dhamma talk or Dharma sermon is a public discourse on Buddhism by a Buddhist teacher....
s, workshops, retreats, and short courses.
The Institute is presently housed in a Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
house on Aurora Street, but is in the process of constructing a Tibetan-style temple complex, to be called Dü Khor Choe Ling (dus 'khor chos gling, "Kalachakra
Kalachakra
Kalachakra is a Sanskrit term used in Tantric Buddhism that literally means "time-wheel" or "time-cycles".The spelling Kalacakra is also correct....
Center").
A number of books from Snow Lion Publications bear the label "A Namgyal Institute Textbook."