Administrative Structure
The highest official of the monastery is the Abbot (Khenpo). He holds his office for a term of six years. The monastery submits a list of nominees to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Each of these candidates has completed the highest monastic exam conducted by the Gelugpa Board and has obtained the Geshe Lharampa degree. His Holiness could choose an abbot from this list of candidates or he could appoint someone else.
Under the abbot are three officials: the disciplinary head or Gego; the prayer head or chant master, Umdze; Lama Shunglenba, the person in charge of the monks' studies.
Another very important group of officials consists of the manager and the treasurer, known as Chanzoe. These officials are in charge of administrating the monastery and its economics on a day-to-day basis. They are elected every three years.
| Directors:
Geshe Tsultrim Nyima Geshe Jamyang Nima Geshe Kunchok Sopa Ven. Tenpa Dawa |
Director of Gomang House, Delhi: Geshe Jangchup Accountant: Geshe Lobsang Yonten Tibetan Secretary: Ven. Tenzin Norzang English Secretary: Mr. Migmar Tsering |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Mr. Migmar Tsering has been the Secretary (English section) since June 2, 1996.
Decision-Making Bodies
Monastic Assemblies can range in size from only a few of the top officials to virtually all of the monks. Monastic Assemblies are convened by the Abbot. The main decision-making figures are the current Abbot, the ex-Abbots, the three officials (Gego, Umdze, and Lama Shunglenba), the Treasurer (Chamzoes) and special representatives, usually a khangsten Gegan (monk in charge) sent by a khangtsen. On major issues, it is common for each khangsten to discuss the issue before sending its delegates or khangtsen Gegan to the assembly.
(Khangtsen: A khangtsen is a residential subunit consisting of the apartments of the monks as well as its administration. When a monk enters Drepung Gomang Monastery he had to enroll in a specific khangtsen. This is determined by the khangtsen's officials who look after the welfare of the monks and the economics of the khangsten. A khangtsen sometimes may contain dormitory subunits known as mitsen which are even more specific with regards to the geographic origin of the monk.)
