Geshe

Geshe (Tib. ''dge bshes'', short for ''dge-ba'i bshes-gnyen'', "virtuous friend"; translation of Skt. ''kalyāņamitra'') or geshema is a Tibetan Buddhist academic degree for monks and nuns. The degree is emphasized primarily by the Gelug lineage, but is also awarded in the Sakya and Bön traditions.Quotation: The ''geshe'' degree in the Gelug school is comparable to a western doctorate in Buddhist philosophy. The difference is that it usually takes more than twenty years to complete. The equivalent ''geshema'' degree is awarded to women.

History

The title ''Geshe'' was first applied to esteemed Kadampa masters such as Geshe Chekawa Yeshe Dorje (1102-1176), who composed an important text called ''Seven Points of Mind Training'' and Geshe Langri Tangpa (, 1054–1123).

The ''geshe'' curriculum represents an adaptation of subjects studied at Indian Buddhist monastic universities such as Nālandā. These centers were destroyed by Islamic invaders of India, leaving Tibet to continue the tradition. It first developed within the Sakya monastic lineage, where it was known as ''ka-shi'' ("four subjects") or ''ka-chu'' ("ten subjects"). The Sakyas also granted degrees at the conclusion of these studies, on the basis of proficiency in dialectical ritualized debate. In Tsongkhapa's time the Sakya degree was awarded at Sangphu, Kyormolung and Dewachen (later Ratö) monasteries.

The ''geshe'' degree flowered under the Gelug monastic lineage. Under Gelug domination, monks from various monastic lineages would receive training as ''geshes'' through the great Gelug monasteries. Gelugpa ''geshes'' often went on to study at one of Lhasa's tantric colleges, Gyütö or Gyüme. (The tantric colleges also grant a "geshe" title for scholarship in the tantras.)

Under Sakya and Gelug influence, the Kagyu and Nyingma monastic lineages developed their own systems of scholarly education. Their schools grant the degree of ''ka-rabjampa'' ("one with unobstructed knowledge of scriptures") as well as the title '' Khenpo'', which the Gelug tradition reserves for Abbot (Buddhism). The course of study which prevails in Kagyu and Nyingma circles emphasizes commentary over debate, and focuses on a somewhat wider selection of classics (with accordingly less detail). It ideally lasts for nine years, concluding with a three-year, three-month meditation retreat.

In April 2011, the Institute for Buddhist Dialectical Studies (IBD) in Dharamsala, India, conferred the degree of ''geshe'' on Venerable Kelsang Wangmo, a German nun, thus making her the world's first female geshe.

In 2013, Tibetan women were able to take the ''geshe'' exams for the first time.

In 2016, twenty Tibetan Buddhist nuns became the first Tibetan women to earn ''geshema'' degrees. The ''geshema'' degree is the same as a ''geshe'' degree, but is called a ''geshema'' degree because it is awarded to women.

Curriculum

The Geshe curriculum consists of the "Collected Topics" () which were preliminary to the syllabus proper, as well as the five major topics, which form the syllabus proper.

The exoteric study of Buddhism is generally organized into "five topics", listed as follows with the primary Indian source texts for each:

# Abhidharma (Higher Knowledge, Wylie Tib.: ''mdzod'')
#* Compendium of Higher Knowledge (''Abhidharma Samuccaya'') by Asanga
#* Treasury of Higher Knowledge (''Abhidharma Kośa'') by Vasubandhu
# Prajñā Pāramitā (Perfection of Wisdom, Wylie Tib.: ''phar-phyin'')
#* Ornament of Clear Realization (''Abhisamayālaṃkāra'') by Maitreya as related to Asaṅga
#* The Way of the Bodhisattva (''Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra'', Wylie Tib.: ''sPyod-‘jug'') by Śāntideva
# Madhyamaka (Middle Way, Wylie Tib.: ''dbu-ma'')
#* Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way (''Mūlamadhyamakakārikā,'' Wylie Tib.: ''rTsa dbu-ma)' by Nāgārjuna
#* Four Hundred Verses on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas (''Catuḥśataka'') by Āryadeva
#* Introduction to the Middle Way (''Madhyamakāvatāra'', Wylie Tib.: ‘’dBu-ma-la ‘Jug-pa)'' by Candrakīrti
#* Ornament of the Middle Way (''Madhyamakālaṃkāra'') by Śāntarakṣita
#* The Way of the Bodhisattva (''Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra'', Wylie Tib.: ''sPyod-‘jug'') by Śāntideva
# Logic (''pramāṇa'' Wylie Tib.: ''tshad-ma'')
#* Treatise on Valid Cognition (''Pramāṇavarttika'') by Dharmakīrti
#* Compendium on Valid Cognition (''Pramāṇasamuccaya'') by Dignāga
# Vowed Morality (''vinaya'', Wylie Tib.: '''dul-ba'')
#* The Root of the Vinaya (''Vinaya-mūla-sūtra'', ''Dülwa Do Tsawa'', Wylie Tib.: dul-ba mdo rtsa-ba'') by the Pandita Gunaprabha

Conferral of the Degree

In the Gelug school, the degree may not be earned by laypeople (though some recipients later give up their robes), or until recently by women (including nuns). The first geshema degree was conferred to a German nun, Kelsang Wangmo, in 2011. Translated and compiled by Alexander Berzin, September 2003.Quotation: The monastic education system in the Gelug monasteries covers five major topics, based on five great Indian scriptural texts studied through the medium of logic and debate – "tsennyi" (''mtshan-nyid'', definitions) in Tibetan.In December 2005 Dalai Lama said that talks was going on with the Department of religion to start honoring Buddhist nuns with the title Geshema �
Buddhism is All We Have - Dalai Lama
/ref> The Gelug curriculum, which lasts between 12 and 40 years, centers around textual memorization and ritualized debate, and is invariably taught through the medium of the Tibetan language.

Each year an examination is held for those who have completed their studies. In it their performance is evaluated by the abbot of the particular college. The topics for their dialectical examination are drawn from the whole course of study and the topic to be debated is selected by the abbot on the spot, so that students have no chance to do specific preparation. Thus, it is a real test of a student's abilities and the depth of their study. At the conclusion the abbot assigns each candidate to a category of ''geshe'' according to their ability. There are four such categories, ''Dorampa'', ''Lingtse'', ''Tsorampa'' and ''Lharampa'', ''Lharampa'' being the highest. After this, in order to qualify, the candidates are not allowed to miss even one of the three daily debate sessions during the subsequent eight months.

Sources

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* The Government of Tibet in Exile
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References

See also

*Dialectics
* Gelongma

{{Buddhism topics

Tibetan Buddhist titles