Sera monastery is one of the largest and oldest monasteries in Lhasa. It is one of the three great Gelug monasteries in Lhasa, along with Drepung and Ganden.
Before cultural revolution more than 5,000 monks lived in Sera monastery. Even though only a few hundred monks live there now, it remains one of the most important monastic centers.
History
Sera Monastery was founded by Tsongkhapa’s disciple Jamchen Coje in 1419. There are three colleges in monastery complex: Sera Me, Sera Je and Sera Ngagpa.
The monastery withstood cultural revolution, but the colleges were damaged.
Visiting Sera Monastery
Every day, except Sundays you can see the famous monk’s debates in the courtyard. They usually begin in the afternoon, so the best time to visit Sera is after 2pm.
The debates are important part of studying Buddhism. Monks of the Gelug order believe, that along with studying the texts, it is important to practice what they’ve learned. They gather in the courtyard to ask each other questions about religious topics to ensure that they understand it well.
For visitors it is an interesting performance. Monks accompany their discussions with specific gestures. They change partners, gather for discussions, joke and enjoy the process.
Things to do nearby
Walk around the monastery.
Many Tibetans walk around the monastery and you can join them not only to experience the local culture but also to see some interesting views. The small kora around the monastery will take approximately 30 minutes.
Visit local tea shop
The tea shop inside the monastery is run by monks and many locals gather there to get a cup of delicious sweet tea or to have lunch.
Suggested Tours
6 Days Tibetan Cultural Heritage Private Tour
15 Days Lhasa to Mt. Kailash Group Tour
7 Days Tibet and Nepal Overland Group Tour
4 Days Tour in Lhasa City Private Tour
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