SAKYA COLLEGE

Introduction:
As envisioned by the late Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, Environment Committee was founded by Khenchen Sonam Gyatso during his tenure as the 4th abbot of the college. The main objective for forming this committee was to maintain the cleanliness of the college campus and surrounding areas, for which protecting it became very necessary. 

 

Committee Member:
Initially, when the committee was first founded, there were five members: president, vice-president, and three working members, who were elected through voting by the monk assembly. However, after much consideration, this system was changed later on. Hence, the committee came to consist of only three members: one appointed Khenpo, and two elected monks as president and vice-president. Their term is only once, for a one-year duration, after the end of which new members for the following-year committee are elected at the end of the academic year.

 

Responsibility of the Committee:
The committee is responsible for the overall taking care of the college campus. It is responsible for watering the plants, flowers, trees, lawn constantly, and ensure that the heat and so on will not dry it all. The committee members are required to keep check of and cut away unwanted branches of the plants and trees, and prune away unwanted weeds. The committee is being helped by all the monks of the college. Whenever there are dry fallen leaves, etc. and needed whole or partial sweeping of the campus, few monks are called in to have it swept clean. During the dry season, monks are called in, turn-wise and class-wise, to water the plants and lawns around the campus. Occasionally, when there are many unwanted grasses and weeds growing in, monks spend pruning these away, cancelling even the self-study time and afternoon debate session. Every Tuesday is a cleaning day at the college during which monks are required to clean their living quarters, as well as their assigned areas in the college campus.