Details

Category: Social Service

Published: 11 July 2016

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The monastery’s programs and activities besides its principal mission in the preservation & promotion of the Buddha Dharma, are social service in nature. Besides, the spiritual services to devotees / public are practically services to the society. Some of the other social services programs instituted are, Kadrin Jedren awards as part of our monastery’s commitment to repaying gratitude to His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama for the excellent leadership guidance, kindness and blessing.

Kadrin Jedren Higher Education Scholarship to needy students:
Sera Jey Monastery has instituted the Kadrin Jedren Higher Education Scholarship to needy Tibetan students since 2015. Poor & needy Tibetan students from the two settlements of Bylakuppe, who have completed their Senior Secondary School, are provided an annual scholarship of INR 30,000 & INR 60,000, for pursuing higher education. During the last academic year 2023-34, 33 needy Tibetan students have been awarded a scholarship of INR 30,000.

Kadren Jedren Financial Assistance to Poor & Needy Old-aged People:
The monastery has instituted the Kadren Jedren Financial Assistance to Poor & Needy Old-aged People since 2015. Each year a financial grant of INR 10,000 are awarded to three poor & needy old-aged individuals. During the 9th Kadren Jedren award in 2023, three elderly individuals received the financial grant of INR 10,000 each.

Summer & Winter Camps for school children:
The monastery has been organizing Summer & Winter Camps for school children of the two settlements in Bylakuppe and others, for a period of 3 to 4 weeks during school summer & winter vacations. In the two camps, workshop classes on Tibetan grammar, English language, Introduction to Buddhism, Buddhist values, Mathematics & other activities are conducted. A day trip is also included in the itinerary before the conclusion of each camp. The two camps are provided free of cost to each & every school child.

Online International School:
As part of our monastery’s effort towards preservation of Tibetan language, religion & culture, following in line with His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama’s vision, the monastery has initiated “Sera Jey International Online School” through which Tibetan language, Grammar and Buddhist culture can be taught online. This online school is specifically organized for children of Tibetan Diaspora, who have no access to living & learning their ethnic language & culture in the foreign land.

The school was formally established on 10th December 2020 commemorating the auspicious day of the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The school is head quartered at Sera Jey Tashi Choeling Centre in Sera Jey Monastery.

Today the school has about 1500 students from 16 different countries, enrolled in various courses, with about 38 teachers.

The service is granted free of cost without any charges to each & every children of the Tibetan diaspora.

Active Participation during Natural Calamities:
The monastery has actively engaged during natural calamities, as during the unprecedented flooding in Kodagu District in Karnataka and in the state of Kerala during which we visited particular affected areas and distributed essential items to several hundred families.
Similarly, relief assistance in cash donation was extended during the flooding Odisha state.Active Participation during Natural Calamities:
The monastery has actively engaged during natural calamities, as during the unprecedented flooding in Kodagu District in Karnataka and in the state of Kerala during which we visited particular affected areas and distributed essential items to several hundred families.
Similarly, relief assistance in cash donation was extended during the flooding Odisha state.

Covid-19 Response / Medical Support:
During the outbreak of the global Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing nationwide lockdown since
March 2020, the monastic institute has taken unprecedented initiative in response to Government of India’s appeal for NGO’s mass support.

Monetary contribution of ₹ 6,00,000.00 (Six Lakhs) was made to PM Care’s Fund and ₹ 5,00,000.00
(Five Lakhs) to CM Relief Fund – Covid 19 during the financial year 2020-21. Besides, a massive Covid-19 Response cum Medical Support drive, totalling ₹ 88,86,192.00 (Eighty-eight Lakhs, eighty-six thousand, one hundred & ninety-two) was undertaken by the monastic institute in 2020-21.

These involved series of Covid-19 relief for poor and needy local & surrounding villages, migrant
workers, school & college students, etc … Ranging from free distribution of Food

Rations (Rice, Flour, Dal, Cooking Oil) to Sanitary (Bathing Soap, Washing Soap), Face Masks & Hand Sanitizers to local community, Financial Relief Aid to stranded college students, sponsored Covid-19 Inoculation to needy and vulnerable members in the community. Donated Face Mask, Hand Sanitizers, PPE Equipment’s and Oxygen Concentrator to hospitals.

The institute arranged special Quarantine facilities and Isolation facilities, with adequate equipment & service facilities, providing free of charge all three meals of a day to inmates and staffs. During peak infection periods the isolation and quarantine facilities were housing over more than 100 persons.