EDUCATION IN SIKKIM PREMERGER EDUCATION IN SIKKIM Education

EDUCATION IN SIKKIM

PRE-MERGER EDUCATION IN SIKKIM �Education in Sikkim has held its root in the middle of 17 th century when Guru Padmasambhava had blessed this land predicted that Buddhism would be preserved here. �The local people of Sikkim has accepted the religion Buddhism with full enthusiasm, though some of them still continue to preserve the traditional primitive culture. �

Ever since Monastic education (Lamaism) has become a powerful hierarchical institution in Sikkim and is widely and intensively prevalent even till this day. OBJECTIVES OF MONASTIC EDUCATION �To assist the learner in reading and writing the Tibetan language. �To assist the learner to acquire good knowledge of Buddhist religion and build a strong will to live.

CURRICULUM �Recitation of religious book for pujas. �Subject like Painting, Sculpture, Astrology, Mathematics, Medicine, Philosophy, Literature, Tantra etc.

Preliminary Examination �The boy candidate is usually brought to the monasteries as noviciate between the age of eight and ten years. �He is taught by his tutor the alphabet and afterwards to read and recite by heart small booklets of about six or seven leaves each. He also practice to learn magic circle. �In this ceremony the boy was totally examined whether the boy is physically fit or not. If he is found to be stammers or cripple or defects in his limbs he is rejected.

PROBATION �As a probationer he is like a ordinary boy, he has to recite by heart small booklets of about six or seven leaves each, like prayer book of Guru Rimpoche, Prayers for general welfare, confession of sins to cleanse from sin etc. �Here he is fully observed found to be fully fit he is accepted otherwise he is dismissed.

THE NOVIIATE �The boy for the first time brought under monastic rule. He is ceremoniously shaved, takes the vows, assumes the dress of monk and receives a religious name.

EXAMINATION �Within the year of his admission to the order he should attempt to pass the first professional examination, and in the following year or two the second examination for the promotion. �Until he passes these examination he must perform the menial office of serving tea and beer to the elder monks in the great assembly hall.

Cont… �The examination are conducted in the presence of the assembled monk who observe the candidate, he has to recite by heart all the prescribed book. �The first examination last for three days, nine intervals are allowed daily during the examination, these intervals are utilized by the candidates in revising the next exercise in company with their elder monk.

�The second examination is conducted like the first one and last for two days, but at the examination ‘the iron letter’ i. e. , inflexible rule is solemly read out before the examination. The books to be recited by heart at the second examination are (i) The worship of ‘the Lake – born Vajra, that is Padma Sambhava and the Guru Sage. (ii) The three roots of sagedows. (iii The deeds of Dorjee Phangmo (iv) The sacrificial Ceremony.

�When the young monks recites by heart all these books satisfactorily, so passes the examination, he is not subjected to any further ordeal of the examination, this being the final one. �MONKHOOD: On passing these examination the successful candidates become junior monk. He is presented with a scarf of honour by the minks and is considered as member of order even though he be under 20 years of age.

�PREPARED BY MS. SUSHMA ADHIKARI ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GOVERNMENT COLLEGE RHENOCK