| Dzogchen Monastery | |
|---|---|
 Dzogchen Monastery in 2015 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Tibetan Buddhism |
| Sect | Nyingma |
| Location | |
| Location | Dêgê County,Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,Sichuan, known asKham |
| Country | China |
 Interactive map of Dzogchen Monastery | |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Dzogchen Pema Rigdzin |
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Institutional roles |
History and overview |
Dzogchen Monastery (Tibetan:རྫོགས་ཆེན་དགོན།,Wylie:rdzogs chen dgon) is one of the"Six Mother Monasteries" of theNyingma tradition ofTibetan Buddhism. It is located inKham within modern dayDêgê County,Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,Sichuan,China.
Dzogchen Monastery was founded byPema Rigdzin, 1st Dzogchen Rinpoche (1625–1697) in 1684.[1] It became especially renowned for itsSri SinghaShedra, which was established by Gyelsé Zhenpen Tayé (Wylie:rgyal sras gzhan phan mtha' yas) during the time ofMingyur Namkhé Dorje, 4th Dzogchen Rinpoche shortly after the monastery was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1842.
Among the great masters to have lived and taught at Dzogchen are Khenpo Pema Vajra (Wylie:mkhan po pad ma badz ra),Patrul Rinpoche,Jamgon Ju Mipham Gyatso andKhenpo Shenga.[2] It eventually grew into the largest Nyingmamonastery of all time.[3]
During the time ofThubten Chökyi Dorje, 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche (1872–1935), Dzogchen Monastery was at the peak of its activity, with up to five hundredmonks residing, 13 retreat centres, and an estimated two hundred and eighty branches - a gathering of which would have seen tens of thousands oflamas,tulkus,khenpos, monks andnuns. Throughout the year, an extensive array of complex ritual ceremonies were accomplished. Dzogchen was also one of the most famous centres of sacred ritual dance, now commonly known as lama dancing.[4]
Dzogchen Monastery is also known as the principal repository of theKonchok Chidu cycle of the Jangter or "Northern Treasure" (Wylie:byang gter), a prominentterma cycle revealed bytertön Jatson Nyingpo.
The monastery's main temple was destroyed by fire in the second month of the Fire Mouse year (1936). It was rebuilt and then the whole monastery was destroyed by the Chinese in 1959.[5]
Following the destruction of the monastery in the late 1950s, during which the complex was burnt to the ground for a second time in its history, it was re-established in South India according to the directions of the14th Dalai Lama. The site was chosen personally by the Dalai Lama on land close to his own Dhondenling residence. Work began in 1985, three hundred years after the completion of the original Dzogchen Monastery in Kham.
In January 1992, the Dalai Lama formally inaugurated the new Dzogchen Monastery and gave teachings and empowerments over 11 days. Several thousand attended from the local community and from other monasteries and settlements in South India. He gave advice for the monastery and the community, and pointed out that the work of the outer monastery was complete - meaning the buildings and a gathering of monks - and that now the work of the inner monastery could begin.
Now firmly reestablished at the Dhondenling Tibetan settlement inKollegal,South India, Dzogchen Monastery is the official seat of the seventh tulku (Sanskrit:nirmanakaya) of theDzogchen Rinpoche.[6]
In December 2000, the Dzogchen Rinpoche visited the monastery and settlement bestowing teachings and blessings for the lamas, monks, nuns, people of Dhondenling and others who had travelled from throughout all parts of India, Nepal, Australia, Europe, Singapore, the US and Canada. At the busiest times during the visit up to 10,000 people gathered.
Since the early 1980s the monastery has been undergoing reconstruction. It has 300 legally registered monks in residence, a nunnery, and about 750 others staying there temporarily for varying periods. Besides the monastery itself, the complex includes a shedra and school that teaches traditional Tibetan medicine.
At Pema Tang there is a newly built retreat centre and temple complex situated deep in the Dzogchen valley. The centre is dedicated to the teaching and practice of theDzogchen tradition.
32°05′39″N98°51′46″E / 32.0941°N 98.8629°E /32.0941; 98.8629
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