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Significance of Buddhist monastery

A Buddhist monastery, according to Tibetan Buddhism, serves as a spiritual community for monastic living and practice. It is recognized as a vihara, providing living quarters for monks and facilitating education and spiritual development. The monasteries held significant importance in both Tibetan and Indian traditions, functioning as centers for learning and meditation. Notably, the Samye monastery is considered the first formally established Buddhist monastery in Tibet. They also supported the social fabric by providing tax-free religious institutions and promoting asceticism and healing practices.1
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Synonyms: Buddhist temple, Vihara, Monastery, Meditation center, Wat, Pagoda

In Dutch: Boeddhistisch klooster; In Finnish: Buddhalainen luostari; In Spanish: Monasterio budista; In German: Buddhistisches Kloster; In Malay: Biara Buddha; In Swedish: Buddhistiska kloster

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Buddhist concept of 'Buddhist monastery'

Buddhism Books

A Buddhist monastery is a residential and spiritual hub for monks, central to the teachings of figures like Nagarjuna, fostering monastic community living, with Samye being the first formally established monastery in Tibet.

Significance in Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism):
Mahayana Books

From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

(1) A place of residence and spiritual practice for Buddhist monks, which plays a significant role in narrating the life and works of Nagarjuna.[1]

From: Bodhisattvacharyavatara

(1) The monastery of Samye, recognized as the first formally established Buddhist monastery in Tibet.[2]

Mahayana is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sutras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajnaparamita sutras.

Significance in Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism):
Tibetan Buddhism Books

From: Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po)

(1) A spiritual community for monastic living and practice, founded by a later disciple, Dharmasvamin 'bab rom pa dar ma dbang phyug.[3]

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayana) are collected indepently.

The concept of Buddhist monastery in local and regional sources

History Books

A Buddhist monastery serves as a crucial educational and spiritual institution in ancient Indian life, providing monks and students with a space for learning, personal development, meditation, and communal living while supporting ascetic practices and healing.

Significance in India history and geography:

From: History of Science in South Asia

(1) This refers to a place where Buddhist monks live and practice their religion. The phrase specifically discusses the use of medicine in this context.[4] (2) This is a location where the intersection of asceticism and healing practices within ancient India is explored.[5] (3) This refers to a location where asceticism and healing were practiced in ancient India.[6]

From: Triveni Journal

(1) A religious community where Buddhist monks and followers live, practice, and study their faith.[7] (2) The religious site at Nagarjunakonda where Santisri's story unfolds.[8]