Monastery and Dratsang

The government of a Tibetan Monastery may be described as a pyramid organized into three levels. At the lowest level the general monk population is divided into groups called `khangchens'(or `michens'). Monks are organized into `khangchens' by their place of origin. Each `khangchen' consists of about 100 monks, with the one topmost in seniority serving as the `jigen' or leader. An executive committee within the `khangchen' handles the day-to-day affairs.
The level above the `khangchen' is the `dratsang' or school (it is more fashionable to call it `University'). Usually formed by several `khangchens', each `dratsang' is run more or less independently. Resembling a monastery within a monastery, each has its own prayer hall, library and monks, and possesses its own land, pastures and housing. However, `dratsangs' differ from each other in size and wealth. Some of them are so small that they have no `khangchen' under them. Some `dratsangs' are schools of exoteric Buddhism, and some of esoteric or tantric Buddhism. One of the smallest `dratsangs' is `Kala (time) Wheel' `dratsang' which offer courses in astronomy and the making of the calendar. It usually takes students from tulku/living Buddha and retired or acting `khenpos', and enjoys a much higher status than any other `dratsang'.

Each `dratsang' is headed by a `khenpo'. Appointed by the local Tibetan government or its `superior monastery' (see below), the `khenpo' must be an eminent monk scholar holding the degree of `geshi'. A `khenpo' serves three-year (or six year) term of office as the chief administrator and the religious and financial officer of a `dratsang'. Under `khenpo', the chief official is the `lhazang chanzod' who. with his assistants, manages the `dratsang's' assets, liaison, and the reception of alms-givers. A `gesko', commonly known as the iron-club lama, is responsible for maintaining the monastic discipline, meting out punishment to offenders and resolving disputes among monks. In Lhasa, the `geskos' from the three great monasteries will take over the city during the `Great Prayer's Festival (smom lam)'. These officers and the `budsad' who leads the chanting of sutras, and the `shunglapa' who is in charge of monastic study, debates, and degree-qualifying examinations form the hierarchy of the `dratsang'.

At the top of the pyramid a group called the `laji' oversees the entire monastery. This committee includes all `dratsang khenpos' and is presided over by the Abbot. Under the `laji' are several monk officials who manage the monastery's manors, property (for instance, Sera Monastery owns three counties nearby, and the huge land of Mongolian 39 tribes in the Northern Tibet which in 1914 after the collapse of Qing Dynasty are conquered by the Tibet government with two brigade soldiers) and financial affairs. At this level there are also several iron-club lamas in charge of discipline throughout the monastery and another `budsad' who leads sutra chanting at plenary assemblies.