KA-NYING SHEDRUB LING MONASTERY

In the seventh lunar month of 1951, Chokyi Nyima Rincpoche was born  in Tsangsar family as the first-born son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche whose family has, for many generations, held the now rare Barmo Kagyu lineage.

At 18 months of age, Chokyi Nyima-Sun of the Dharma-was recognized as the seventh incranation of the Drikung Kagyu Lama, Gar Drubchen, a Tibetan siddha and spiritual emanation of Nagarjuna, the second-century Indian Buddhist philosopher. Soon after, he was enthroned at his predecessors’ monastery, Drong Gon THUPTEN Dargye Ling Monastery in Nakchukha, Central Tibet where he resumed his role as Dharma Master to 500 monks.

Shortly before the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, Chokyi Nyima migrated with his parents and younger brother, Chokling Rinpoche, to Gangtok, Sikkim. During his younger years, he was enrolled at the Young Lamas’ School in Dalhousie, India. At the age of 13, he entered Rumtek, seat of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism, and spent the next eleven years studying the Karma Kagyu, Drikung Kagyu, and Nyingma traditions under the guidance of such eminent masters as H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. His studies included such philosophical treatises as Vasyubhyandu’s Abhidharma Kosha, the Five Texts of Maitreya, Dharmakirti’s Pramanavartika, Shantideva’s Bodhicarya Avatara, and Chandrakirti’s Madhyamaka Avatara. At a very early age, Tulku Chokyi Nyima achieved the degree of Khenpo.

In 1974, Tulku Chokyi Nyima left Rumtek, where he had been personal aide to the Karmapa, and joined his father and younger brother, Chokling Rinpoche, in Boudhanath, Nepal where, at the command of the 16th Karmapa, they established Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery close to the Great Stupa Jarung Khashor. After its completion in 1976, he was instructed by the Karmapa to become its 25-year-old abbot. His Holiness also advised Tulku Chokyi Nyima to turn his efforts towards instructing Western practitioners. To fulfill this directive, Rinpoche honed his English language skills and began to offer weekend teachings to the Western travelers.

In 1980, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and his father, Tulku Urgyen, embarked on a tour of Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia where they gave Dzogchen and mahamudra teachings and empowerments to numerous people.

In 1981, Tulku Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche founded the Rangjung Yeshe Institute for Buddhist Studies, and later established the Rangjung Yeshe Publications who have produced many transcripts of his teachings and commentaries.

Rinpoche has a good command of the English language, and has been instructing a growing number of Western students in meditation practice since 1997. When his busy schedule allows. Rinpoche opens his doors and gives the well-known “Saturday morning talk” to interested foreign visiters. And each fall conducts and English-translated Dharma Seminar. The Annual Fall Seminar begins on November 11th. A formal Buddhist studies program is available from November to the end of April every year.

Rangjung Yeshe’s latest books, published under Rinpoche’s guidance and direction, are Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen, Song of Karmapa, Bardo Guidebook, and Indisputable Truth.

KA-NYING SHEDRUB LING MONASTERY

Some four decades ago, shortly before the Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpey Dorje, issued a command to one of his own gurus, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, saying. “You must go to Nepal and established the Dharma. If you remain in that land, the Doctrine and sentient beings everywhere will be greatly benefited.”

In accordance with Karmapa’s request, Tulku Urgyen left his homeland and monastery in eastern Tibet and crossed the border into neighboring Nepal. Arriving in the northern regions of this new country, he settled in Kathmandu Valley where the Karmapa entrusted him with Nagi Gompa, a nunnery situated on the northern slope of the Valley, overlooking the legendary Jarung Khashor Stupa in Boudhanath. Nagi Gompa is now the hermitage where Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche has spent many years in retreat.

In order to establish preserve and advance the vast treasury of Buddhist teachings, His Holiness Karmpa issued a further directive urging Tulku Urgyen and his two older sons to found a monastery in Kathmandu Valley. In 1975, construction was begun just north of the Great Stupa is Boudhanath. Upon the completion of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, His Majesty King Birendra performed the official inauguration while His Holiness Karmapa performed the consecration ceremonies. At present, the abbot is Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and the Vajracharya (Master of Ceremonies) is Chokling Rinpoche.

One of the largest Tibetan monasteries in Nepal, Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling comprises a traditional monastic setting where a community of approximately 200 monks dedicate themselves to a variety of daily activities. The following schedule of events describes the community’s on-going curriculum:

CEREMONIES

Annually, the 9-day Tsekar Drubchen is performed at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery to ensure prosperity and good health in the coming year.

On the 10th of each lunar month, the Ngag-So Puja is performed for the mending of transgressions and enriching one’s connection with the Dharma.

On the 15th of each lunar month, the Tsekar Puja is performed to increase wisdom and long life.

On the 25th of each lunar month, the Pema Khandro (Dakini) Puja is performed.

On the 30th of each lunar month, the Avalokiteshavara puja is performed.

In accordance with both the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions, each morning a 2-hour Tukdrub and Tara puja is performed; every afternoon a 1 1/2 hour Dharmapala puja is performed. Sometimes ceremonies are sponsored for the benefit of the dead as well as for the living.

During the 6th lunar month, the Chokhor Duchen Puja is performed to celebrate the First Turning of the Whell of Dharma by Lord Shakyamuni. In the days following, long life pujas as well as a recitation of the very lengthy Kangyur are performed.

A 45-day Rainy Season Retreat is observed according to the Vinaya teachings. Special vows are taken and participants do not go beyond the monastery’s boundaries.

During the 11th lunar month, the Lhabab Duchen puja is performed to celebrate Loard Buddha’s return from Tushita Heaven.

During the 12th lunar month, a 5-day Raksha Totreng puja is performed to dispel obstacles. In addition, a 9-day Gutor Vajra Kilaya Puja with elaborate Lama dancing is performed to dispel obstacles.

All ceremonies, both at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery and Nagi Gompa, are often sponsored by benefactors for the benefit of the living or the dead.

Special events at Nagi Gompa:

Yearly, the following ceremonies are performed at Nagi Gompa, the holy site where Lord Buddha Khorwazig, the first in the line of 1000 Buddhas, performed the hair-cutting ceremony on 500 arhats while giving teachings.

During the fourth lunar month, from the 1st to the 15th day, the Nyung-Nye practice is performed by more then 200 people.

During the 12th lunar month, from the 7th day, the Ngag-So Drubchen puja is performed 24 hours a day for nine days.

At the request of a patron, a recitation of 100,000 Tara praises and mantras will be uttered over a period of 20 days.

RETREAT CENTERS

Apart from Nagi Gompa, Tulku Urgyen has also established a retreat center at the Asura Cave, near Pharping, where Padmasambhava manifested the vidyadhara level of Mahamudra. Presently, 12 monks are in three-year recitation retreat.

 SEMINARS

Since 1980, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and Tulku Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche have conducted annual two-week November Seminars in English explaining the Buddhist philosophy and practice in order to spread the Dharma world -wide.

MONASTIC EDUCATION

To perpetuate the Doctrine of Lord Buddha, a strong emphasis is placed on scholasticism. Apart from their daily rituals and meditation sessions in the Kagyu/Nyingma tradition, the monks spend several hours a day engaging in a thorough study of classic Buddhist treatises such as The Jewel Ornament of Liberation, The Domsum Three Levels of Precepts, The Bodhicharya Avatara, Abhidharma, and Madhyamika. Rigorous classes in debate sharpen the skills of the older monks while the younger ones are taught grammar, reading, writing, and memorization of the sutras.

Add: P.O. Box: 1200. Buddha Nath. Kathmandu Nepal. Tel: 470993 Fax: 478611 E-mail: CNR@shenpen.wlink.come.np

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