Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö College of Dialectics is a shedra (monastic college) located in Chauntra, Himachal Pradesh, India. Monks from more than 300 monasteries representing all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism from across the Himalayan region attend the shedra, where they are taught by highly trained khenpos. DKCLI is considered one of the leaders in higher Buddhist education.
In 1982, during the restoration of the original Dzongsar Monastery, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche set up a small Dzongsar Institute on a misty ridge in Geyshing, Sikkim. It was his first independent initiative. In 1983, Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk arrived from Tibet to teach at the institute. Khenpo, a great scholar from the original Dzongsar Monastery, had been imprisoned under the Chinese regime for 23 years. As principal of the institute, he taught many of today’s great masters.
In 1985, the fledgling Dzongsar Institute moved from Sikkim to a more suitable site in the Tibetan settlement of Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India. Enrollment that year was about 40 students, housed in rundown buildings and simple tents, with a huge old water tank serving as an assembly hall. In 1986 a housing block for 50 students was completed. By 1990, after a vigorous building effort, the institute consisted of a temple, three halls, library, office, and accommodations. In the following years, work continued on the temple and halls, reorganizing existing buildings to increase housing capacity. Even as construction continued, with additional housing and facilities for more students, the institute was bursting at the seams, with a student body of about 450 monks, sometimes living 6 to a room. Rather than turn students away, the institute welcomed them, leading to the need for new facilities. Despite the tough conditions, academic excellence never wavered.
In 2000, the Dharma community responded to Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk’s call for support, and construction began on the Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö College of Dialectics (DKCLI) in Chauntra, about 10 minutes’ drive from Bir. DKCLI was inaugurated in November 2004.
Under the guidance and support of Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk, the new monastery comfortably accommodates up to a thousand monks. The compound is staggering in size, with an impressive three-story dormitory encircling a landscaped courtyard and fountain. There are 11 classrooms, a library, computer and reading rooms, a Tara hall, and a temple that can accommodate more than 4,000 people, all constructed and maintained with meticulous care. The institute now has a faculty of highly trained khenpos and hundreds of students enrolled. The old Dzongsar Institute in Bir was transformed into Deer Park Institute, a center for the study of classical Indian wisdom traditions, which was established in March 2006. Deer Park is a project under Siddhartha’s Intent Society and has also received financial support from Khyentse Foundation. Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk passed away in 2008. Khenpo Samdrup is currently the abbot of the shedra. The position is a three year post, with new khenpos rotating in.
DKCLI has an intensive 11-year study program. Students concentrate on traditional Buddhist philosophy for the first 7 years. Each year the students undertake the study of two major texts or commentaries, together with other subjects such as logic, grammar, monastic discipline, and poetry. In accordance with Rinpoche’s wishes, DKCLI maintains traditional academic excellence while expanding its curricula through innovation. Guest lecturers teach the monks about the global economy, western history, and philosophy, and the foundation also supports language programs, computer courses, and management and leadership programs, with the objective of producing computer-literate Buddhist teacher-scholars who are fluent in both English and Chinese, as well as Tibetan. Exchange programs with selected western universities help khenpos to become familiar with western culture. In addition, current bookkeeping practices in the institutes ensure that all KF funds are properly managed and accounted for.
Management
In March 2006, with Rinpoche’s guidance and encouragement, DKCLI formed a management committee that is responsible for the administration and development of the institute. Khenpo Choying, former abbot of DKCLI, has attended several of KF’s leadership training programs and now leads programs on his own. This is a significant step toward modern management of the institute.
During the inauguration of DKCLI in November 2004, Khyentse Rinpoche clearly articulated his wish for the institute “to produce foremost Buddhist scholars and teachers who will make a difference in the world.” The role of Khyentse Foundation is to assist the institute to reach its goal by expanding its curriculum to include languages, computers, and short courses on world economy, history, mathematics, and other important subjects.
