SERA JEY COMMUNITY MESS KITCHEN

SERA JEY COMMUNITY MESS KITCHEN   

Sera Jey Kitchen Mess started right from the time of its re-establishment here at Bylakuppe, in South India, when the 197 indigenous monks of Sera Jey from Tibet, was resettled to Bylakuppe from the special refuge camp at Baxa in the state of West Bengal.

The Kitchen Mess was started with the first 197 native monks of Sera Jey Monastery from Tibet, during which the expense was met by the small income generated from land -cultivation. The State & Union Government of India granted these lands.

And with the initiation of new & novice monks to the Monastery, the limited revenue from the land cultivation was inadequate to meet the mess expenses and for the maintenance of the Monastery.

So all new & novice monks were charged for the food at mess, on monthly basis. The monthly mess charge was very little, as the food served was poor & frugal. No doubt many of the monks suffer from malnourished related illness and tuberculosis.

But then the year 1997 brought about a turning point in the gruelling & frugal Kitchen Mess of Sera Jey, following the grace & good will of Venerable Lama Zopa Rinpoche's commitment to fund the Food Program of Sera Jey Monastery by his esteemed FPMT (Foundation For Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) organization.

The New Sera Jey Kitchen Mess first commenced from 7 August 1997.

The new Kitchen Mess caters to the entire monks of Sera Jey Monastery, Morning Tea & Bread, Mid Day Meal & Evening Meal. And for the total pupil strength of over 3500, no doubt the kitchen mess is really big and adequately equipped to meet the requirements.

The FPMT organization sponsors the Morning Tea & Bread, Mid Day & Evening Meal throughout the year.

By the grace and benefaction of Venerable Lama Zopa Rinoche and his esteemed FPMT Organization, the Monastery's Morning Tea & Bread will be supported for the entire year from January 2006, which is one big development from its earlier program of 90 day of a year's support. This has brought about one of the important change in the short history of its re-establishment. Which has made possible for the Monastery, to serve all the meals of the day to its monks free of cost. FPMT website www.fpmt.org And besides the reputed & commendable FPMT, another devoted Organization has also been an ardent supporter of this Monastery. It is - Sera Jey Support Committee (SJSC) in USA, founded by a dedicated & kind American couple - Mrs. Devon Holmes & Mr. Andrew Holmes of USA.

Due to unavoidable cirucmstance, the program activities of SJSC Morning Tea & Bread have been totally discontinued, following the resolution passed by the Monastery resulting from financial difficulties. The Monastery & the acting President of SJSC - Mis. Lauren Cottrell have mutally agreed to this resolution with effect from 19 March 2006.