​Help us build a Temple in Bhutan

In response to the prophecy and prediction from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdrel Yeshi dorji, Lama Rinpoche Kuenzang Namdrol, also known as Sangye Wangdue, migrated to a rural place in the country known as Phagchu in Eastern Bhutan. Buddhism was not flourishing in this area at the time. Seeing it as an opportunity to help these sentient beings wake up from the deep sleep of ignorance and clear away all their misconceptions, Lama Rinpoche with a few devoted households started to build a monastery in the year 1973. This endevour proved to be beneficial for all beings and, particularly, for the people in the Phagchu community.

 

In the beginning, there were around 15 lay monks receiving teachings from Lama Rinpoche. All the necessary provisions like food, clothing and shelter were provided by Lama Rinpoche himself. After numerous difficulties and hardships, Lama Rinpoche with a few supporters was successful in completing the construction of the monastery in Phagchu which came to be known as Phagchok Samdrup Chollling Gonpa.

 

Gradually, the number of lay monks increased as did the number of people practicing Buddhism and its traditions.

 

Dynamic Buddhist concepts like surrendering one’s own precious life for the sake of practicing Buddhism, and putting others´ well being before one’s own, were highly regarded by Lama Rinpoche, who gave instructions that the concepts be followed accordingly. Lama Rinpoche went from door to door, personally, to beg alms to keep the lay monks and the monastery running. This tradition has been upheld by his four sons since the day after his nirvana in 2007.

 

The lay monks of the Monastery are taught the traditions of Pelling and Dudjom Terser. Some of these unique traditions include masked dances, paintings, sculptures, rituals and ceremonies. They are also given the initiations, empowerments and teachings of the Ngondro, Tsasum Nyenpa and Dzogchen traditions. Thus, in this way, both the relative and the ultimate wishes of the monks are fulfilled as are the ordinary teachings and secret teachings taken care of respectively.

 

The tradition of Pelling, which was introduced in the past but not practiced effectively in the villages, was reinstated by Lama Rinpoche and because of this, the Phagchok Monastery came to be known as the Mother Source of Pelling Tradition. The Dudjom Terser tradition was reintroduced in the monastery without any imperfections thereby the monastery became the upholder of two secret traditions, also.

 

Meanwhile, Lama Rinpoche Kuenzang Dorji, the eldest son of Lama Rinpoche, matured enough to take part, with his father, developing the monastery. Lama Rinpoche Kuenzang Dorji took sole responsibility of introducing the DudjomTerser tradition to the Monastery after returning from Jangsa Gonpa in Kalimpong, West India. Slowly, the number of monks joining the monastery increased and presently there are about 200 lay monks studying, meditating and performing rituals and ceremonies for the welfare of all sentient beings.