Tantric Studies
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Studying tantric texts and rituals is part of the of the monastic studies of all monks. Although the monks at Kopan always had received some tantric instructions, In the beginning, these were mainly confined to the preparation of the ritual offerings (tormas), performing fire pujas and constructing sand mandala. To improve the quality of the ritual studies, some years ago, Khensur Lama Lhundrup invited a senior monk from Gyurme Tantric College in South India to teach a selected group of monks in tantric rituals and established the Kopan Tantric College as a study program.
Now the Tantric College has sixty students, usually selected by the abbot according to their suitability. Most of the tantric monks are also enrolled in the philosophy program and will graduate as geshes with an additional degree in tantric studies. The tantric college has its own building with gompa and living quarters, large memorizing rooms, and a fire puja house. On completion of the six year course, the graduates receive the title of Master of Ritual studies.
The senior tantric monks perform the three cycles of the main gelug deities in their entirety every year. They start with memorizing the texts of the three great tantric cycles of Heruka, Yamantaka and Guhyasamaja which is followed by instructions on how to visualize and meditate. The in-depth instructions on the complete ritual includes teachings on how to do the retreat, fire puja, self initiation and sand mandala.
 Making a torma |
The monks also receive instructions in rituals such butter sculpture, making tormas, lama dance, filling and consecrations of holy objects, retreat rituals and playing ritual instruments such as the different types of drums, gyaling (a reed trumpet), and the long horn used in tantric pujas. The young monks enjoy blowing the conch shell during pujas, testing their mettle among them themselves on who can produce the longest, the loudest and the purest sound.
 Offering tsog during puja |
Geshe Lama Konchok, a great yogi and tantric master, introduced the monks in the mid 90s to the art of Lama Dance (Cham). Due to Geshe la's kindness, Kopan has a wonderful store of costumes and masks that can be admired at the performance during the famous November course picnic on the last day of the one-month course.
The tantric college performs the prescribed monastic rituals throughout the year, such as the purifying rituals at the end of the Tibetan year. it also has the responsibility of performing the daily and monthly pujas for the monastery and the re-consecration of holy objects, a once a year special ritual. The senior monks assist Western students with practical advice and help in the preparation and conclusion of their retreats. The monks also perform tantric pujas for the lay community, made more powerful by the deep knowledge of the deity invoked.
Some Statistics:
· A number of Kopan Monks have graduated from Sera Monastery, and are now teaching in FPMT centers as resident or traveling geshes.
· Twenty-one Geshe Rabjam have graduated from Kopan so far, serving now monasteries, nunneries and centers in Nepal and many parts of the world.
· Fifteen translators were trained at Kopan, and are now living all over the world, some of whom are still translating and some of whom have retired.
· Several monks are serving as attendants to resident teachers or lamas, three of whom are attendant of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
