About

  1. Historical Background

In the beginning of the thirteenth century, King Morup of Ladakh made it mandatory for all Ladakhi young monks / novices to go to Tibet for higher studies. Since then, the monks/ novices/ scholars  from Ladakh used to go to Tibet in pursuit of higher monastic  Buddhist studies. They used to study and do research  for years in the famous Mahaviharas of Deprung, Sera, Gadan, Tashi Lhunpo, Sakya, Sagnag Chosling, Degre, Dregung etc. The tradition of going to Tibet for higher studies came to an abrupt stop in 1959 due to political instability there. So the saint Venerable Kushok Bakula Rinpoche (1917- 2003) took up the leadership to upkeep the glory of Buddhism in Ladakh by undertaking many measures, especially bringing the Buddhist education in Ladakh. Under his leadership, the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies came into existence meant for traditional Buddhist studies. Leh was chosen the centre for the dissemination of the Buddhist Culture and Philosophy in view of its geophysical suitability and traditional matrix.

Accordingly, 10 major monasteries of Ladakh joined hands and on 23rd October 1959 was founded the School of Buddhist Philosophy (SBP) with financial support from them.  Ven Ling Rinpoche, the senior tutor of HH Dalailama XIV, performed the holy rituals. Initially SBP commissioned with two teachers and ten students drawn one each from the ten major monasteries of Ladakh. Two eminent Tibetan scholars in Buddhist Philosophy Geshe Eshe Thupstan and Geshe Eshes Thabkhas were appointed to teach Buddhist Philosophy and Tibetan Literature. SBP ran its classes at Leh for first three years. It was shifted to Spituk village in 1962. As per the request of Padma Bibhushana Ven Kushok Bakula Rinpoche  in 1962, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru directed the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India to take up this institute under Govt patronage with full accreditation and financial support.  SBP was registered as an educational institution in the year 1964, under the J&K Societies Registration Act VI of 1998 (1941).  Sankrit, Pali, Hindi and English languages were introduced in addition to Buddhist Philosophy and Tibetan Literature. In 1973, its name was changed into the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) and it was again shifted to a new set up at Choglamsar, 8 kms South-East of Leh. In the same year it was affiliated with Sampurnanada Sanskrit University and it started offering regular formal degrees. Other subjects such as History, Political Science, Economics, Mathematics and Science were also taught together with the previous subjects. Now it runs classes from Standard One to PhD at different levels. On the recommendation of the University Grants Commission, Ministry of Human Resource Development (Department of Higher Education), Government of India, conferred the status of ‘Deemed to be University’ to CIBS, Choglamsar, Leh,  Ladakh vide Notification NO.F 9-5/2001 – US (A) dated 15 January 2016   u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956.

The primary focus of the curriculum designed for CIBS is on Buddhist Studies that highlights the Panchmahavidya: (Five Major Buddhist Sciences) such as i) Shabdhavidya, (language and literature), ii) Shilpavidya (arts and architects), iii) Hetu-vidya (logic), iv) Chikitsavidya (medicines), and v) Adyatmikavidya (metaphysics). They broadly cover the areas such as Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy, Sanskrit Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist History and Culture, Himalayan Buddhist Art and Craft, Sowa Rigpa Medicines and Surgery, Bhot Astrology and Bhoti Literature. While Bhoti Language is the medium of instruction for all these courses, Buddhist Philosophy is the mandatory learning for all students.

Started with 10 students in 1959, today CIBS, Leh has more than two thousand students in its roll. It runs fifty Feeder Schools at fifty Gonpas/Nunneries, three high schools and university classes. The primary classes from One to Five run in different monasteries and nunneries to provide the basic monastic education such as chanting of mantras, learning of rituals etc. The institute provides teachers, other accessories to these Feeder Schools and stipend to each student of these schools. Monasteries and nunneries cooperate with these schools by providing building for classrooms, and warm hostels for the students. CIBS runs three high schools: Senior Secondary School is at Choglamsar, Duzin Photong School is in Zanskar and Bauddha  Darshan Sanskriti Vidyalaya at Mundugulu, HP.  Classes from Standard VI to Standard XII are held in these schools. At university level, CIBS runs Shastri (UG), Acharya (PG) and Vidyavaridhi (PhD).

In addition to this, CIBS provides Bachelor in Fine Arts in Himalayan Wood Carving, Thangkha Painting and Himalayan Sculpture that are deeply associated with Buddhist Art and Craft. These subjects were introduced in CIBS in 1989. They not only cater to the need of preserving, and reviving the Buddhist Art and Craft, but also they create earning opportunities for many. In the year 1989, the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh opened the department of Sowa Rigpa, and more than 70 students have graduated till date and are working for the welfare of Ladakhi society. In the year 2010, Indian Parliament moved a bill on Sowa Rigpa and recognized it as a traditional medicine of India under AYUSH.