GADEN JAM GHON LING

Thus Princess Bhrikuti became Songsten Gampo’s Queen and therefore Queen of Tibet. King Songtsen Gampo was believed to be the true manifestation of Avaloketeshwara, the Buddha of mercy.  Under these circumstances, understandably, the people of the two sovereign nations had free travel and trade relations. No passport was required to go into each other’s territory.

At the advent of the 20th century, many religious people and Bikchhus from Nepal entered Tibet to receive initiations and Mahayana Buddhist teachings from numerous Tibetan scholars and high Lamas of the three main Mahayana Universities of Tibet: Sera, Drepung and Gaden. 

In 1949, the first 6 Nepalese Bikchhus including Ven. Bikshu Gyana Mahashila completed their formal studies in Tibet and returned to Nepal.  On their arrival in Nepal, the country was facing a period of not having a good rainfall, and thus affecting the livelihood of the people.  Therefore, both the government and people approached the 6 renowned Buddhist Bikshus who had just returned from Tibet.  The Bikchhus had performed intensive Pujas and made elaborate offerings to the deities.  Thereafter, the country always had a timely rainfall.  As a result, the devotion and followers for the Sangha increased.  A staunch Buddhist Nepalese merchant Moti-Ratna sponsored the building of a center of worship for 8 Bikchhus in the initial stage and Ven. Birsha Gyana Mahashila became its first abbot.  Thus, the place of worship was named Gaden Jam Ghon Ling or the Maitri Vihar, the first Mahayana Buddhist Monastery in Nepal.

In 1959, when the communist Chinese forcibly invaded Tibet, the large exodus of Tibetan refugees began their entry into the neighboring countries of India, Nepal and Bhutan.  Among the refugees arriving in Nepal, there were many monks from the Sera, Drepung and Gaden monasteries of Tibet, including one of the most learned Ven. Serkong Dorjee Chang.  They were staying in a transit camp near Swayambhunath.  At this point, Ven. Birsha Gyana Mahashila saw the problems of those monks from Tibet when he himself was facing difficulties in finding good teachers and guidance in his monastery as the number of monks had increased.  Therefore, Ven. Birsha Gyana Mahashilla requested Ven. Serkong Dorjee Chang to be the head of the monastery and invited all other monks to join the monastery. 

As a result of this thoughtful decision of Ven. Birsha Gyana Mahashilla, the overall functioning of the monastery was put under the care of Ven. Serkong Rinpoche and the other learned monks in 1964 Thereafter many high Lamas including the most venerable and prominent two tutors of His Holiness the Dalai Lama had not only paid their precious visit but also gave extensive and important teachings which enabled the Sangha members to help preserve and promote the Dharma world wide.

In 1978, after the demise of Ven. Serkong Dorjee Chang, Ven. Luboom Rinpoche was requested to be the head of the monastery and he kindly agreed in 1979.  By that time the number of senior monks reached over sixty and by 1980 the number of younger monks entering the monastery had also increased.  Rinpoche then started a monastic school system, providing courses in English, Tibetan and other religious studies.  However, it had become difficult to accommodate all the monks in the small and dilapidated houses and the prayer hall.  Therefore, an urgent appeal to raise fund was made in 1983 towards the sponsors, affluent families and foreigners to help donate funds for the building of a new monastery and quarters for the monks. 

The response was successful and in 1986, the present monastery was built and other infrastructures were laid down.  The reincarnation of Ven. Serkong Dorjee Chang is at present studying at Gaden Monastery in Mundgod, Karnataka State, and South India.

This monastery, Gaden Jam GhonLing, is situated towards the west of the sacred Swayambhu Statue and east of the throne of Manjushri between the two holy mountains, very near to the Stupa containing the relics of Pundit Vasubandhu, with its own majesty and grandeur.

The out standing sources of worship in the monastery are:

Maitreya Buddha, Past, present and future Buddha, i.e. Lord Amitabha, Lord Buddha and Maitreya Buddha

Je-Tsongkhapa and his two main disciples-Gyaltsab-Je and Khedrub-Je, 108 volumes of Kagyur, 225 volumes of Tengyur, Important teachings and life stories of Je-Tsongkhapa and his 2 main disciples, Important writings of scholars of Tibet, Stupa containing the relics of late abbot Gyana Mahashila.

The regular activities of the monastery are:

1.  Daily prayers and offerings are made between 5:00 - 7:00 AM

2.  Special Pujas and offerings made on every 10th and 25th of Tibetan months

3.  On Saga Dawa 4th month of Tibetan calendar, colored sand Mandala of Yamantaka in different forms is made based on the lower Tantric College of Tibet.

4.  On 29th of 12th Tibetan month fire Puja is performed with special significance.

5.  When special Pujas are to be performed for a specific sponsor it is done between 9:00        AM  - 12:00 PM and between 2:00 - 4:00 PM

6.  When there is no special Pujas to be offered, senior monks practice meditation after 7:00 AM in their rooms.

More senior monks are invited to do Pujas in individual families where they have to attend.  The younger monks have a timetable to study different subjects including memorization of prayers.

GADEN JAM GHON LING

Maitri Vihar

Swyambhunath Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: 278119

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