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The solitary Kyidrong Tashi Samtenling Monastery was one of the Gelugpa Monasteries in Tibet. It was founded by Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen who was a great tutor of H.H. the VIII Dalai Lama Jamphel Gyatso. Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen was born in 1713 at Tsang Tanag, which is in the central part of Tibet. At the age of seven he was ordained as a monk and went to Tsang Tashi Lhunpo monastery. He became a very learned/scholar after completing his studies in all the Buddhist texts such as Abhi Dharmakaya, Madhyamika and so on. He received his teachings from many high Lamas, and Geshes. After that he mainly practiced and meditated at Jetsun Mila Ralpa‘s caves such as Gaden Phukpoche, Dakar Thekchenling, Choeden Trimdeling, Jamdring Gegyeling, Kyangphel Namkha Dzong etc. He remained in these places for a number of years doing a lot of meditation for the benefit of all the sentient beings.
In 1757 he has founded or started to make a monastery, which was called a solitary Tashi Samtenling built at holy place Mani-Lhakhang. In the monastery monks were practicing and following mainly on the three basis of Vinaya‘s disciplinary, and on Guyasamaja, Heruka and Yamantaka. We are still having these practices without any declination.
In 1775, he became a tutor of the 8th Dalai Lama Jamphel Gyatso. While in Lhasa he again founded one monastery known as Drib Tsechokling. At present his reincarnation 6th successor Tenzin Gelek Rinpoche is a Government employer at Gangtok Sikkim. So this is a short life history of Karchen Yeshi Gyaltsen, who was the great founder of monasteries.
In 1959, around 40 monks from Kyidrong Samtenling monastery arrived here in Nepal. At present monastery, the new monastery which we can see now is on the same place where these is old monastery which called is Gaden Choeling, founded and consuetude by Sogpo Rinpoche (Guru Deva).
It was constituted in 1951 and it was the first ever monastery in whole over the Nepal. After some years Ven. Sogpo Rinpoche (Guru Deva) presented or handed over the monastery with great faith to H.H. Dalai Lama. And later H.H. has kindly given approval to monastery monks for administrating and the overall right in the monastery, since this monastery has been called Samtenling.
In 1994 the prayer hall and others were renovated and enhanced a lot as compared to the old one. Samtenling monastery belongs to the Tibetan Government. Therefore, the abbot (Khenpo) of this monastery is directly appointed and installed by H.H. the Dalai Lama from three monasteries Sera, Gaden &Drepung alternately. And all the Dharma activities and programs, which are connected with Tibetan governments, are organized and performed by this monastery.
The main statues in the prayer hall of the monastery are as follows: -
Buddha Shakya Muni, Je Rinpoche, (Tsongkhapa) with two disciples, Future Buddha Maitrya, Guru Rinpoche, (Padmasambhava,) Jowo Rinpoche,
Kachen Yeshi,Gyaltsen and H.H. the Dalai Lama. The heads and hands Tsongkhapa and his two disciples statues were also brought from Tibet.
In the monastery there are 3 sets of Kagyur, which has 108 volumes of Kagyur, whole, set of Tengyur (Commentary text) and scripture text by Yabse-sum (Tsongkhapa and his two disciples). On addition to this, there are many different texts with us. And also they have Tara prayer hall, bedroom of H.H. the Dalai Lama and protector Mahakala prayer hall. From the monastery, there are two hundred & twenty eight different sizes of statues, which are made by Li (bronze), gold and copper, all brought from Tibet. 211 different Thangkas, different scripture texts, which are written in golden ink and different Stupa are sent to Delhi Tibet house through the representative office of Nepal. At present they have some other statues like Tara statues and others. There are approximately eighty-seven monks in the monastery. And they mainly follow and practice Vinaya’s disciplinary which has three basis (Shesum) and practicing Guyasamaja, Heruka and Dorjee Jigjey. In the monastery there is facility for the younger monks to learn Tibetan Grammar, poetry, English and Nepali.
Following are the yearly Dharma activities in the monastery for various events. On the 3rd day of Losar (Tibetan new year) at 9 a .m all the Tibetan people, monks & lay mens gather for incense offering Puja, and portrait of H.H the Dalai Lama is enthroned along with the lama procession. From the 10th to 15th there is great prayer session called “Monlam.” On 10th marches, all Tibetan will gather to observe he national Uprising Day. On 10th of the 3rd month of Tibetan calendar is the death anniversary of great mediator Lobsang Wangyal. Three days of fire Puja on the Mandala of Heruka Luhipa is performed, on 15th of 4th month is Saka Dawa which is Buddhas’ enlightenment day. So in the monastery, monks are engaged in 8 Mahayana precepts. On the 15th of 5th month of Tibetan calendar, three days of continuous Metriya prayer to commemorate the special Puja to Jetsun Lobsang Palden Yeshi and also from the 30th day fire Puja along with the Mandala and prayer of 13 different deities of Dorjee Jigjhe on the special day of the great tutor Kachen Yeshi Gyaltsen. In 16th day of 6th month of Tibetan calendar, summers retreat for one and half month. On 14th day, there is protector Puja, on 30th of seven months, four days picnic to monk the finishing day of summer retreat. 2nd day of seven month for three days there is fire Puja, always with the Mandala and prayer of Guyasamaya to commemorate the special Puja of Jetsun Lobsang Yeshi and Jetsun Ngawang Jampa. On 21st of 9th month of Tibetan calendar, there are three days fire Puja with great concentrated Puja towards Buddha’s body, special and mind and preparing Mandala for 13 different deities of Dorjee Jigje. On 21st of 10th month of Tibetan calendar, protector Puja to all the protectors and fire Puja with the Mandala Puja of 13 different deities in order commemorate the death anniversary of passing away of Tsongkhapa. On 23rd of 12 month Tibetan calendar, protector Puja with timing and playing instrument for four Mandalas. Namsey, Choegyal and black and white protectors. Prior to this preparing top offering to protector and Lama. On 29th of 12th month of Tibetan calendar, Drugchu Ma Torma offers on Gutor. On 30th of 12th month self of Jigjey from 11 o’ clock mid-night, long life Torma and protector Puja to Lhamo and on 1st day and 1st month in early morning, offering tea, milk, fruit, Chang and curd etc. To Palden Lhamo.
The above account Dharmic activities in one day can be divided as morning from 5-30 a.m. To 8-10 a.m.- to 12- 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. To 10 p.m. In the morning from 6 am to 8 am all the monks are present in the prayer hall, if there is special sponsor, then there are three times gathering in prayer hall. From the three monasteries, sending one Khenpo for five years. In the monastery office one over all anchorage, cum secretary is appointed for one whole year. Our monastery-anchorage is in the monastery when there is no Puja in the hall. Door is open for everybody on all days. Monastery office is open from 7 a.m. till 5p.m. The present Khenpo, who is here for 5 years in Ven. Jampa Tseten.
Kyidrong Tashi Samtenling Monastery
Boudhanath P.O. Box: 6552 Kathmandu, Nepal.
Tel: 471186
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