A foreigner studying in the Tibetan monastic tradition

Factual Questions
1

Since the internet tends to be replete with BS in this area, I thought I’d throw it to the SD: as a typical, run of the mill white guy who speaks Tibetan and Sanskrit, how would I go about getting permission to study at a Geluk or Nyingma (ie, Tibetan buddhist) monastery in India? Is it similiar to requesting admission at a large university, in which I would just submit a formal application, reference letters, and sits for testing?

2

Like me, you’ve probably got a fair amount of books around on Tibetan/Buddhist thought and philosophy. Have you considered writing to one of the authors for some suggestions? Pema Chodron always seemed like a very accessible person to me - she’s at the Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia now. Perhaps she or others would be able to offer some guidance?

P.S. There’s no such thing as a “run of the mill” white guy that speaks Tibetan. Best of luck - khris!

  • OlPeculiar
3

Thanks for the idea! I’ve spoken with a few people in the Geluk school and basically established permission to work in Dharamsala, which makes for a handy backup. The problem is that the Nyingma school tends to be very poorly represented in the west, and since most scholars in India have no real reason to accept a meeting with random Americans, I thought that one polite, yet suitably attention-getting way to make my request would be to research precisely how the formal requirements are arranged and to apply in the exact same format as (and as such, in competition with) the Indian and Tibetan students. ^^

4

I suggest just heading up there. The hills are full of Americans looking for spiritual truths, and everyone is pretty used to dealing with them.

5

Well yea, but the problem is that that’s the precise reason why they have no real reason to want to see me. I’m really not concerned with spiritual truths so much as I am in studying a few very specific (Pramana, Gomgyal, and at least basic Abhidharma) academic fields that’re pretty much only available in the monastic setting.

6

Well, maybe in *your * part of the country that’s true…
hh

7

I agree with Phenom that metaphorically (or literally) knocking on the front door and asking to come in and study probably isn’t the best approach. From the little that I’ve read about how westerners got their start in Tibetan/Buddhism philosophy, it all seems to be in who you know (just like everything else, it seems). There is always a chance that a pilgrimage to the region could land you in contact with the right people, but sounds like a craps shoot.

Try getting in touch with western authors whose work you admire. Remember, someone gave them their start, so they might be willing to do the same for you.

Also, if you live near a major university with any eastern philosophy professors, you might get lucky - perhaps a professor there knows someone you could talk to.

In any case, let us know how it goes! These days, I could use some time in a monestary myself. Bkra bshis bde legs! (Is that right?)

  • OlPeculiar