A GRAND OVERNIGHT DEBATE (TSENPHUI DHAMCHA) AT DREPUNG LOSEL LING MONASTERY AS A FITTING FINALE TO 2017 JANG GUNCHOE, WINTER INTER-MONASTIC DEBATE ON PRAMANA (LOGIC).

Jang Gunchoe, the winter debate session was held at Drepung monastery on the field of Valid Cognition (Pramana). It started on 22nd Jan 2017 and lasted for 22 days. The event was presided over by the three great monastic colleges, Drepung, Sera and Gaden, with lots of monasteries from different directions participating, including Tashi
Lhunpo Monastery, Rato Monastery, Namgyal Monastery, Institute of 
Buddhist Dialectics, Higher Tantric University, Zongkar Choedhey Monastery, Lower Tantric University, Dhakpo Shedupling Monastery. Sedgyud Monastery from Salugara, Kopan Monastery from Nepal and Dupthop Monastery.

The great Indian Nalanda Scholar Acharya Dignaga originally had the intention of holding a winter debate session and this event became very popular. This wonderful winter debate session was held every year at a place called Jang, located near Rato monastery in Lhasa.

In India, the winter debate session was initiated in 1980 after political status changes in Tibet, and is now in its 27th session. The reason for gathering varieties of monasteries for the winter debate session is to advance deeper knowledge of the field of Buddhism and gain the skill of debate through encountering different monks from different monasteries. 


Simultaneously, in accordance with the wishes of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, around five hundred monks participated in a special discussion on Madhyamika (Middle Way) and Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) at Gaden Monastery.  On the initial day of the winter debate session here at Drepung, rules and regulations of the debate session were told to participants by the respective abbots of both monasteries and disciplines.  Last year Jang Gunchoe winter debate session was held at Gaden and next year it will be held at Sera Monastery. The 28th winter debate session will continue discussion on (Madyamika )Middle Way and (Prajnparamita) Perfection of Wisdom.

On 5th February, overnight debate on Pramana was held at Gomang monastery. Three Geshe Lharampas from Gaden Shartse, Sera Mey and Loseling responded against their opponent debaters from Jangtse Monastery, Gomang Monastery and Sera Jhe.  On 12th February next Sunday they have switched as they have done before. This is brief an account of Jang Gunchoe Winter debate session which has been been successfully concluded.

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