The Official Start of the Summer Retreat at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery:

At the supreme holy site of Tagmo Lüjin Tragu Tashi Yangtse Monastery, as part of the complete training in the discipline of the sacred Dharma, which is one of the three foundations, there is a tradition of observing the later summer retreat. This year as well, after completing all the preparatory tasks such as cleaning the temple, arranging accommodations, and distributing counting sticks, today, on the 16th day of the 6th Tibetan month, in the Great Assembly Hall, under the leadership of the Summer Abbot Sherab Phuntsok, the assembly of teachers, students, and monks officially began the summer retreat by taking vows. We present a photograph of this event.

The benefits of observing the summer retreat, as stated in the Vinaya Agama, are:
“Avoiding mockery and harm to living beings,
Protecting body and life, mending torn robes,
Fewer obligations and time for study and contemplation,
These arise from the summer retreat and its conclusion.”