Tsechen means “compassion and service”. It was initiated by a group of young, energetic, highly motivated monks from Matho village,  Ladakh, who were educated in different  Buddhist schools and universities in various parts of India and Nepal, who have returned to serve the people of Matho.

Tsechen began in 1970 at Matho monastery,  with the realization of the necessity for a school to provide basic education for the young monks. Lacking the basic infrastructure and funds, the desired objective could not be met at that time.

On July 15, 1983, the Central Buddhist Studies opened a primary school in Matho Monastery. Bhoti (Ladakhi/Tibetan Language), English, Hindi, Mathematics and handwriting were the subjects taught in the school, prescribed by their curriculum.

For about fifteen years, the school received sufficient numbers of young monks taking these studies, from the Matho village itself. But gradually, the attendance reduced to only two or three students, due to the poor quality of both the education and the facilities, since Matho parents preferred to send their children to better schools. Because conditions at the Tsechen School neither changed nor improved, due to lack of funds, Matho parents stopped sending their children to this school.

When the monastery brought in about thirty new students from Nepal, it was a considerable success. For five years they were taught Bhoti, Hindi, English and Mathematics as well as monastic rituals, recitations and prayers. They were also taught how to perform the Chams (“Mask dance”).

The first group of these students completed the course and joined higher institutes, like Sakya College and Dzongsar Shedra. They have earned praise for their good character and their diligent interest in Buddhist philosophy.

For the second group, about twenty-five more students were brought from poor Nepali families and today Tsechen has twenty-five students. Tsechen has been struggling since then, due to the lack of proper housing, nutritious food, proper classrooms and having no library.

Thus, the local people still do not want to send their children to Tsechen School.

Seasons Greetings:

Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 Joyeux Noël et une Bonne Année!

मेरी क्रिसमस और नया साल मुबारक हो!

Buon Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo!

Tige Kerstdagen en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!