Who was Allowed to Study Tantra in Tibet

[Пламен]

Prior to the diaspora of 1959, only the lharampa geshe graduates, the highest ranked geshe candidates distinguished by debating not only the masters of their own monastery but those of all three monasteries (Sera, Ganden and Drepung), were allowed to formally attend the tantric colleges Gyume and Gyuto. After the diaspora, this was changed to accomodate all geshe candidates, in order to facilitate the preservation of the tradition.

However, even prior to the diaspora, it was common place for young monks to study tantra and receive initiations from the tulkus of their dratsangs prior to completing their sutra studies. The major tulku seats all had their own personal private "chapels", where empowerments and pujas were offered. This is clear reading the biographies of Gelug masters traditionally trained in Tibet. Very major lineage holders would often given major lineage empowerments and transmissions to hundreds of monks at a time. This is clear reading the biographies of the Dalai Lamas and other major Gelug lineage holders.

In general, Gyume and Gyuto are not even the only places for the formal study of tantra. Segyu was actually the first tantric college, but was destroyed by the Chinese. Both dratsangs of Ganden, Shartse and Jangtsey, both have combined study of sutra and tantra. At Drepung, Loseling and Gomang have only sutrayana studies, while Ngagpa dratsang only has tantra studies and Deyang dratsang has both. At Sera, Je and Me dratsangs have only sutrayana studies, while the Ngagpa dratsang has tantra studies. After the diaspora of 1959, the Sera and Drepung Ngagpa dratsangs have added sutrayana studies.

Traditionally, it was the level of scholastic sutrayana studies that determined where a monk would or could study tantra. Tsokrampa geshes-- examined at the general assembly of their mother monastery-- and lharampa geshes-- examined at the general assembly of Sera, Ganden and Drepung, including by the Dalai Lama and Tri Rinpoche-- would have access to Gyuto and Gyume. Those geshes passing only their oral exams by memorization, the kyerimpa geshes, would be allowed to study tantra at the tantric colleges of their own monasteries. And of course, those with no degree, one could study with a bona fide guru, informally.

A good example of a high Gelug tantrica what was not a geshe, is Lama Thubten Yeshe. Reading his biography, it is clear that he received many tantric teachings, empowerments, and commentaries from Trijang Rinpoche, Song Rinpoche and Ling Rinpoche before the age of 25 or so, when he was forced to leave Sera due to the Chinese invasion.

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As found on the Net