Dzogchen Monastery
Encyclopedia
Dzogchen Monastery is one of the six great monasteries
of the Nyingma
tradition of Tibetan Buddhism
. It is located in Sichuan
province, China, and marks part of the Tibetan cultural region of Kham
. It was founded by Dzogchen Pema Rigdzin
(1625-1697) in 1675, 1684 or 1685. It became especially renowned for its Shri Singha Shedra established by Gyalsé Shenpen Thayé during the time of the Fourth Dzogchen Rinpoche Mingyur Namkhé Dorje, shortly after the monastery was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1842. Among the great masters to have lived and taught at Dzogchen are Khenpo Pema Vajra, Patrul Rinpoche
, Mipham Rinpoche and Khenpo Shenga
. It eventually grew into the largest Nyingma monastery of all time.
During the time of the Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche
(1872-1935), Dzogchen Monastery was at the peak of its activity, with up to five hundred monks residing, 13 retreat centres, and an estimated two hundred and eighty branches - a gathering of which would have seen tens of thousands of lamas, tulkus, khenpos, monks and nuns. Throughout the year, an extensive array of complex ritual ceremonies were accomplished. Dzogchen was also one of the most famous centres of sacred ritual dance, now commonly known as lama dancing.http://www.dzogchenmonastery.org/
Dzogchen monastery is also known as the principal repository of the Konchok Chidu cycle of the Jangter (Wylie: Byang gTer, Northern Treatures), a prominent terma cycle revealed by the terton Jatson Nyingpo.
Its main temple was destroyed by fire in the second month of the Fire Mouse year (1936). It was rebuilt and then the whole monastery was destroyed by the Chinese in 1959.
In January 1992, the Dalai Lama formally inaugurated the new Dzogchen Monastery and gave teachings and empowerments over 11 days. Several thousand attended from the local community and from other monasteries and settlements in South India. His Holiness gave much advice for the monastery and the community, and pointed out that the work of the outer monastery was complete - meaning the buildings and a gathering of monks - and that now the work of the inner monastery could begin.
Now firmly re-established at the Dhondenling Tibetan settlement in Kollegal, South India, Dzogchen Monastery is the official seat of the seventh mindstream
'emanation' (Sanskrit: nirmanakaya) of the Dzogchen Rinpoche
. In December 2000, His Holiness visited the monastery and settlement bestowing teachings and blessings for the lamas, monks, nuns, people of Dhondenling and others who had travelled from throughout all parts of India, Nepal, Australia, Europe, Singapore, the USA and Canada. At the busiest times during the visit up to 10,000 people gathered.
At Pema Tang, is a newly built retreat centre and temple complex situated deep in the Dzogchen valley. The centre is dedicated to the teaching and practice of the Dzogchen
tradition and is a natural haven for peaceful reflection and meditation.
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of the Nyingma
Nyingma
The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism . "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and is often referred to as Nga'gyur or the "old school" because it is founded on the first translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan, in the eighth century...
tradition of Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
. It is located in Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
province, China, and marks part of the Tibetan cultural region of Kham
Kham
Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...
. It was founded by Dzogchen Pema Rigdzin
Pema Rigdzin, 1st Dzogchen Rinpoche
Dzogchen Pema Rigdzin was the 1st Dzogchen Rinpoche of Tibet and a disciple of the Fifth Dalai Lama. Pema Rigdzin was a mindstream 'emanation of Vimalamitra, Padmasambhava and Saraha.-Nomenclature and etymology:...
(1625-1697) in 1675, 1684 or 1685. It became especially renowned for its Shri Singha Shedra established by Gyalsé Shenpen Thayé during the time of the Fourth Dzogchen Rinpoche Mingyur Namkhé Dorje, shortly after the monastery was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1842. Among the great masters to have lived and taught at Dzogchen are Khenpo Pema Vajra, Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul Rinpoche was a prominent teacher and author of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.-Biography:...
, Mipham Rinpoche and Khenpo Shenga
Khenpo Shenga
Khenpo Shenga Rinpoche was a prominent scholar in the Nyingma and Sakya traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.-Life:...
. It eventually grew into the largest Nyingma monastery of all time.
During the time of the Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche
Thubten Chökyi Dorje, 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche
Thubten Chökyi Dorje was the 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche of Tibet in the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism.There is evidence to suggest that Thubten Chökyi Dorje was held in high regard by his peers and was regarded as an authority in the recognizing reincarnated lamas from all the schools of Tibetan...
(1872-1935), Dzogchen Monastery was at the peak of its activity, with up to five hundred monks residing, 13 retreat centres, and an estimated two hundred and eighty branches - a gathering of which would have seen tens of thousands of lamas, tulkus, khenpos, monks and nuns. Throughout the year, an extensive array of complex ritual ceremonies were accomplished. Dzogchen was also one of the most famous centres of sacred ritual dance, now commonly known as lama dancing.http://www.dzogchenmonastery.org/
Dzogchen monastery is also known as the principal repository of the Konchok Chidu cycle of the Jangter (Wylie: Byang gTer, Northern Treatures), a prominent terma cycle revealed by the terton Jatson Nyingpo.
Its main temple was destroyed by fire in the second month of the Fire Mouse year (1936). It was rebuilt and then the whole monastery was destroyed by the Chinese in 1959.
Dzogchen Monastery in India
Following the destruction of the monastery in the late 1950s, during which the complex was burnt to the ground for a second time in its history, it was re-established in South India according to the directions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The site was chosen personally by His Holiness, on land close to his own Dhondenling residence. Work began in 1985, three hundred years after the completion of the original Dzogchen Monastery in eastern Tibet.In January 1992, the Dalai Lama formally inaugurated the new Dzogchen Monastery and gave teachings and empowerments over 11 days. Several thousand attended from the local community and from other monasteries and settlements in South India. His Holiness gave much advice for the monastery and the community, and pointed out that the work of the outer monastery was complete - meaning the buildings and a gathering of monks - and that now the work of the inner monastery could begin.
Now firmly re-established at the Dhondenling Tibetan settlement in Kollegal, South India, Dzogchen Monastery is the official seat of the seventh mindstream
Mindstream
Mindstream in Buddhist philosophy is the moment-to-moment "continuum" of awareness. There are a number of terms in the Buddhist literature that may well be rendered "mindstream"...
'emanation' (Sanskrit: nirmanakaya) of the Dzogchen Rinpoche
Dzogchen Rinpoche
Dzogchen Rinpoche is the head lama of Dzogchen Monastery, one of the largest monasteries in eastern Tibet which was destroyed in 1959 and rebuilt in the 1980s....
. In December 2000, His Holiness visited the monastery and settlement bestowing teachings and blessings for the lamas, monks, nuns, people of Dhondenling and others who had travelled from throughout all parts of India, Nepal, Australia, Europe, Singapore, the USA and Canada. At the busiest times during the visit up to 10,000 people gathered.
Dzogchen Monastery in Tibet
Since the early 1980s the monastery has been undergoing reconstruction and it is currently home to around two hundred and fifty monks.At Pema Tang, is a newly built retreat centre and temple complex situated deep in the Dzogchen valley. The centre is dedicated to the teaching and practice of the Dzogchen
Dzogchen
According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of the mind, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by...
tradition and is a natural haven for peaceful reflection and meditation.