There are four main schools - the Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu and Gelugpa. The Dalai Lama is the head of the Gelugpa School as well as the Tibet's political and spiritual leader. The Karmapa is the head of The Kagyu School which is also a very important one. Tibetan Buddhism is also popular among Westerners. The temple is a very important place for Buddhists because it is a social, cultural and spiritual centre.
Some lonely students go there to meet others, or to volunteer to do various jobs for the monks.
They may attended chanting sessions, meditation classes, discourses, stay for a weekend retreat and perhaps be ordained as monks, novices and nuns for a fixed period, such as during summer holidays. Students can take some food to offer to monks and share with others as part of the practice of supporting the spiritual communities. The monks and nuns are spiritual teachers who can also fill the roles of psychotherapists or even the Samaritans. In Buddhist countries every holy day is fixed according to the lunar calendar. There are official holidays for most of these occasions.