Dharma Gyan Vidyalaya was founded by Kyabje Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in 2013. Since then, every year, beginning on the first day of the fifth Tibetan month and continuing for a period of four months, Rinpoche and the monastery’s khenpos and lopons have offered instruction in reading the Tibetan (Sambhota) script, in ritual practice, introductory Buddhist topics, and calm abiding (shamata) and deep insight (vipashyana) meditation to hundreds of devoted laywomen and men.

Courses Offered

Tibetan (Sambhota) Script

This training takes place in the classrooms of the shedra (monastic college) and is provided in three levels. The first level, known as the Beginner Level, teaches students how to pronounce and write the alphabet. Upon mastering this level, students progress to the second level, the Jorlok Level, where they learn to read complex words with their respective spellings. After mastering the Jorlok Level, students advance to the third level, known as the Chakdü Level, where they learn to read words directly without the need to spell them out, thus gaining fluency in reading. Each level typically comprises three to four classrooms of students, instructed by a group of senior monks.

Rituals & Chanting

This training takes place in the old shrine hall, where students gather to participate in prayers and rituals led by a monastic chant master (umze). Students learn the melodies for various liturgies and the ways to chant practices and prayers. The four months of training are divided into different segments. Each segment is dedicated to learning and performing specific prayers, such as The Praises to the Twenty-One Taras, Chöd, Tara Puja (Zabtik Drolchok), and more.

Friday Wisdom

This class takes place every Friday in the dining hall of the monastery throughout the four-month summer course. During these sessions, all students gather to listen to teachings from the monastery’s khenpos and lopons, and occasionally from Rinpoche himself. The teachings focus on various topics, such as meditation, The Treasury of Blessings (Mipham Rinpoche’s Shakyamuni Buddha sadhana), the ngöndro practices, and more.

Philosophical Studies

This class takes place in the monastery’s Manjushri Hall. Participants study a fundamental Buddhist treatise, such as Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend and Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation, under the guidance of a khenpo or lopon. This gives laymen and women the opportunity to engage in rigorous and detailed study of the Buddhist scriptures. Moreover, students have ample opportunity to ask questions and clarify their doubts about the teachings and their practice.