Nepal Buddhist Gelugpa Association is an association of all the Gelug monasteries in Nepal which have no connection at all in the propitiation of DholrGyal. This association was formally established in the year 2009 to improve, sustain and systematize the study of Buddhist Philosophical sciences, particularly the Five Major Buddhist Sciences more than before. This association was not established to compete with other associations, nor with a political goal. This is an association which is not bonded by the eight worldly concerns. The establishment of this association was thought of during the last many years. The establishment of this association is in accordance with the purpose of, restoring and preserving the teachings of Buddha in general, and the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa and his spiritual-sons, the unstained tradition of Nalanda University well reorganized and validated through the three-fold analytical criteria. Specially this association is established in accordance with the wishes and frequent advices of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the apostil of world peace and our supreme guru, that all the followers of Lord Buddha, whether Sangha or laity member, all should study Buddhism through logical debate and steady attention.
This academic association of all the ten Gelugpa Monasteries in Nepal which does not propitiate the Dhol-rGyal at all, was established unanimously by all the Khenpos, teachers and sangha of the ten affiliated monasteries after frequent and deliberate discussions, to reinvigorate and deepen the study of Buddhism.
As discussed and decided through the meetings, the Chairperson of the association venerable Geshe Ngawang Kalsang and the advisor H.E. Kuntse Rinpoche of Chuwar Drophen Ling Monastery embarked on a visit to Dharamsala on 15th June 2009. In an audience of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in His Chamber ( Tib. gZim-Chung), the chairperson and the advisor got the precious opportunity to seek the permission to establish Nepal Buddhist Gelugpa Association and advices on the future mission. His Holiness the Dalai Lama with much joy and consideration issued a letter of permission to establish the Nepal Buddhist Gelugpa Association, also gave advices, blessing and resources for the Association. It was attuned with auspiciousness.
And also during the winter of year 2009, in Bodh Gaya, during the teaching on The Guide to the Boddhisattva’s Way of Life by H.H the Dalai Lama, and during the great Monlam Prayer festival, a meeting was held in the conference hall of Kirti Hotel, Bodh Gaya. For the meeting the invitees were: the head of the Gelug School H.E. Vajradhara Gadhen Tri-Rinpoche, H.E. Jangtse Choeje Rinpoche and H.E. Shertse Tse Rinpoche, six venerable Khenpos from the three Monastic Universities of Sera, Drapung and Gadhen, the chairperson and secretary of the International Gelugpa Association etc. and in the meeting the activities and future plans of Nepal Buddhist Gelugpa Association was presented and sought the recommended permission to establish this association from them.
The above mentioned responsible heads of Gelugpa School in that meeting had unanimously approved the establishment of this association and imparted their useful advices. The establishment of this association was registered in the District Administration Office (CDO) of Government of Nepal; this Association was also registered to the Social Welfare Council which issued a letter of permission and granted Social welfare Organization status to this association.
Currently there are over one thousand five hundred monks and nuns in the ten different monasteries who are the members of this association. These monks and nuns are from the Himalayan region of Solukhumbu upper and lower, Yolmo, Manang, Tamang, Gurung, Mugu, Nubri, Tsum, Dolpo, Mustang and from various other regions and places of Nepal. Also there are monks and nuns from the three provinces of Tibet, from Ladhak and Tawang region of India and from Bhutan. In a nut shell, this is the biggest Gelugpa Association in Nepal which has no connection and affinity with the propitiation of Dhol-rGyal. The main focus of this association’s responsibility is the education of monks and nuns in the monasteries which are affiliated to the association. At the same time; this association does other social activities as by other organizations.
Basically the Gelugpa Monasteries in Nepal internalize well both the Sutrayana and Tantrayana in their format of study. From the Sutrayana side the monasteries study the five major Buddhist Sciences, and from the Tantrayana side there is the textual instruction on the Base, the Path and the Fruition of Four Tantras, painting and geometric studies, construction of the rite and ritual aspects
and full-fl edged puja and practice of Guyasamaja, Yamantaka and Chakrasamvara deities. In some monasteries they practice and perform puja on Vishvarakul (Tib. kun-Rig), Akshobhaya Buddha, and Vajra yogini. Beside these they also study modern subjects like English, Nepali, Tibetan grammar and poetry, science and social studies.