For eight days the monks of Jey-Tsang Khangtsen set aside all outside work and turn entirely to study and prayer. Every meal of those eight days is provided by sponsors.
By the generosity of donors, the food offering for all 158 monks of Sera Jey Tsangpa Khangtsen through their 10–18 September 2026 summer retreat has been completely met. The offering has now closed. To every sponsor — your names are carried in the khangtsen’s prayers and dedications. Rejoice! 随喜功德！
To make an offering to another monastic community, please visit The Alms Bowl’s other projects.
One sponsor carries every meal for all 158 monks for a full retreat day — breakfast, lunch, dinner and both tea offerings. Eight days, eight sponsors.
Every amount below is the khangtsen’s own 2026 figure for feeding all 158 monks that one sitting.
All amounts are taken directly from the khangtsen’s 2026 offering schedule in Indian Rupees. US$ is shown for reference; checkout is processed in SGD (or your local currency).
A khangtsen is a residential house within a great monastery — the community that feeds, houses and raises a monk through the twenty-odd years of the Geshe curriculum. Sera Jey Tsangpa Khangtsen sits inside Sera Mahayana Buddhist University at Bylakuppe, in Karnataka, South India.
In the Tibetan Dharma world it is known as “a main source of highly-learned scholars.” Since 1832 the khangtsen has produced five Gaden Tripas — the highest throne holder of the Gelug lineage — and twelve Abbots of Sera Jey Monastery. Today it has ten qualified Geshes, holders of the doctorate in Buddhist philosophy, four of whom live permanently in the West.
The rains retreat — yarne — has been kept since the Buddha’s own lifetime. For its duration the monks remain within the monastery boundary, suspend travel and outside work, and give the whole day to study, debate and prayer. Because nobody leaves, nobody earns; the community depends entirely on offerings for its food.
Offering food to an assembly in retreat is held to be among the most meritorious of gifts — it does not feed one person, it makes eight days of practice possible for 158. Sponsors are named in the khangtsen’s prayers and dedications.
Photographs from this year’s summer retreat — the whole assembly served, one meal at a time.
These photographs were sent from the khangtsen during the 10–18 September 2026 retreat.
Eight days of meals for all 158 monks have been offered in full. If this project moved you, please share it so others can support the khangtsen’s next retreat.
Wish to include dedication names for the khangtsen’s prayers, or record an offering you have already made? Use the form below — you’ll receive an e-receipt right away. Card, PayNow and PayPal donors can use the offering buttons above.
Offerings made through this page are gathered by The Alms Bowl and forwarded to the khangtsen office in full.