Sakya College

STUDENTS

For the first seven years the College functioned in a small rented house in Mussoorie, and the first batch of students consisted of seven monks only. During the following years, the enrolment increased, and at present the College holds the maximum strength of 108 students and 128 members in total.

The number of students will remain the same for the next few years unless the College facilities are expanded to accommodate more students. The students are from different Sakya monasteries and Tibetan settlements in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. They are selected on the basis of their intelligence, educational background, character and their promise as future teachers and monastic leaders. Their average age at admission is about 16 years, and most of them are expected to complete from seven to thirteen years of study before leaving the college.

Most notable among the students were the two sons of H. H. Sakya Trizin, viz. Dungsay Ratna Vajra Rinpoche and Gyana Vajra Rinpoche.  Other important students include Luding Shabdrung Rinpoche, Thartse, Shabdrung Rinpoche, Serdog Tulku, Tulku Dorje Dhenpa, Aenpo Kyabgon, Zamthok Tulku and Sangpo Tulku and many other young incarnate Lamas.

The majority of the students are Tibetan boys from Tibet and exile, but the college also has 11 students of Nepalese nationality from Mustang, 4 Bhutanese students, 2 Mongolian students and several students from Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti.

DEGREES AND ACHIEVEMENT

The students who have completed the full course of studies are in high demand as teachers in other monasteries in India and Nepal. So far, five convocations have been held during which 55 students have already obtained Kachupa (equivalent to BA) and 27 students have obtained Loppon (equivalent to MA degree). The last convocation was held when the College celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding.

Many of these graduates have now returned to their own monasteries and are making valuable contributions there or have taken up responsibilities and positions in these institutions. Some former students have also visited and become resident teachers at Buddhist centers in foreign countries.