The prophetic text of Treasury Revealer Ratna Lingpa
One hundred fathoms to the north of Vajrasana (present-day Bodh Gaya) in the Land of Snow-the realm of protection by Chenrezig, Buddha of Compassion-there lie the adamantine mountain ranges of Rulag Latoy, in the shape of the Exalted Mother Tara.
Accordingly, these days the area around Dingri is called Latoe Adamantine Mountains, and the exact country where Shelkar Choedhey Monastery is located is widely known as Shelkar Immutable Adamantine Fort.
(Description of the Surrounds) The surroundings of Shelkar Choedhey Monastery has the following ten major special characteristics, corresponding to the perfect observance of the ten virtuous actions:
1. The rear mountain stands like a victory banner hoisted.
2. The front mountain is in the manner of gem plough.
3. The mountains to the right and the left are in the manner of listening to Dharma teachings.
4. In the interior are the two mountains in the shape of Zambhala (The Deity of Wealth)
5. To the right and the left of the exterior door are the mountains with the marks of white conch shell being blown from in outward.
6. In the surroundings are seven mountains of the seven varieties of royal possessions.
7. Nearby are the four great pilgrimage sites, symbolic of the celestial abodes:
– Sakya in the east
– The great pilgrimage site Nechen in the south
– Svi Mountain in the west
– Tashi Tengdo, the site where Gyalwa Goytsangpa attained siddhi accomplishments, in the north.
8. The four snowy mountains, symbolic of high mountain ranges and clean grounds:
– Logoy Snowy Mountain in the east
– Jomo Langma (Mt. Everest) in the south
– Takyong Snowy Mountain in the south
– Bulhai Snowy Mountain in the north
9. Around the four great towns for quick achievement of facilities and needs:
– Lalo in the east
– Bumshoy in the south
– Sakyong Gyatso in the west
– Gyannor in the north
10. There are four rivers bringing ceaseless riches:
- Lalo Tsangpo in the east
- Bhumchu in the south
- Shichu in the west
- Gyannor in the north
The History of Shelkar Choedhey Monastery
By seeing the excellent characteristics of the area, and with the thought to benefit the migrating being & the teachings, 2145 years since the Buddha’s nirvana (demise), in the Tibetan Wood-Ox year, Sakya Panchen Drogon Choygyal Phagpa repeatedly advised Dhoyo Pasang - the great administrative minister of Sakya, and the chief of the southern locality - pointing that it would be good to establish there a monastery of Pang Lotsawa Chenpo, the main teacher to Dhonyo Pasang.
Dhonyo Pasang was unable to establish a monastery during his lifetime. Nevertheless, Lhodhag Situ Rinchen (1234-1284), the son of Dhonyo Pasang, established Shelkar Choedhey Gadhan Legshyling in the year of Wood-Ox furing the fourth rabjung-sixty year cycle (1264 A.D.) Lhodhag Situ Rinchen was forty-four years of age at that time. The monastery, therefore, has a long continuous history of over 728 years.
In the beginning, three major traditions were studied and followed in Shelkar Choedhey monastery: Sakyapa, Bulugpa (Buton tradition) and Gelug. The monastery itself comprised of 21 colleges: seven colleges of Sakya, seven of Bulug, and seven of Gelug. Later on, during the time of His Holiness the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngagwang Losang Gyatso, due to the benevolent force of His Holinesse’s altrulsm and of prayers, many monasteries - particularly in the central region of Tibet - emerged to follow the Gelug tradition: many new monasteries, of Gelug tradition, were established. Similarly, in Wood-Bird year of the eleventh rabjung cycle (1645 A.D.), Shelkar Choedhey Monastery became a monastery fully following the Gelug tradition, and there were about 300 resident monks.
Extending to 15,000 square feet of premises, the monastery’s main artifact objects of reverence were a four-meter high Buddha statue made of gold and copper, about half a foot size Buddha statue made of white diamond, and fifteen sets of Kagyur (108 volumes of Buddha’s teachings) and three sets of Tangyur (223 volumes of commentarial classical writings from Indian Buddhist teachers). But, since the complete annexation of Tibet by China in 1959, the original Shelkar Choedhey Monastery, with all its precious religious artifacts and others, were destroyed.
Those monks did not lose heart so as to maintain the faith; initially they settled in the monastery of Solukhumbhu Tibetan Settlement. Gradually most people of the settlement moved to Kathmandu. Consequently our Monastery faced the problem of carrying on our livelihood and we could not recruit new monks. So we with a consent from H.H. the Dalai Lama, the monks moved to Kathmandu.
In 1985, when we arrived Kathmandu, we had to live in a tin-roof accommodation near Boudhanath stupa for few years. Bearing all the discomforts and due to the selfless efforts of our senior monks and by the generous contributions from the devotees. We were able to build a prayer-hall and rooms for the monks.
Right now, we have an imminent problem of educating the novices and other new young monks. Most of our monks are new-arrivals from Tibet. They have not received any education in Tibet and to make a living they have to visit the houses of the devotees for offering prayers.
Shelkar Monastery
G.P.O. Box No. 8975
EPC-5470, Tusal, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel. No. 472750
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