About 4 km north of Lhasa, the Sera monastery was built in 1419 by Sakya Yeshe, a disciple of Tsongkhapa. It is named after the wild rose flowers grown on the slope of mountains nearby. About 600 monks are now in residence, well down from an original population of 5000. Debating takes place from 3 pm in a garden next to the central assembly hall (jepa Duchen) in the center of the monastery.