“Chubzang” means “good water”, and “Ritro” means “small mountain temple” in Tibetan. The reason for its name is that the temple’s water source comes from a clear mountain spring.
It is located in a valley in the northern suburbs of Sera Ütse of Lhasa, about 2 kilometers from Sera Monastery. It is a Gelug sect nunnery of Tibetan Buddhism.
Founded in AD 1696, the monastery’s two main halls include one for large gatherings and the study of Buddhist scriptures, and another that enshrines a natural stone Buddha statue revealed by the Fifth Dalai Lama as a terma. This statue has been the temple’s treasured artifact since its establishment. Many images of Tsongkhapa are painted on the large rocks beside the temple.
Introduction
Chubzang Ritro is located on the northwest side of Sera Monastery. From the monastery, it takes about an hour’s walk along the foothills to reach it.
Initially, Chubzang Ritro was established as a monastery for monks. Due to the frequent teachings by high lamas, it attracted some nuns who came to study.
At that time, there were no schools in Lhasa for women to receive an education, so many families sent their daughters to study here. Tibetan monastery courses also included subjects such as architecture, art, and medicine.
Over time, more and more nuns from Lhasa and nearby areas came to study at the monastery, gradually making it a nunnery.
There were conflicts between the monks and nuns, but after mediation by the high lamas, the monks and nuns were assigned separate areas for their activities. The nuns were allowed to study and practice in the surrounding area.
In the 20th century, the monastery became a famous site in Lhasa for public teachings. Being invited to teach there was considered a great honor for high lamas.
Prominent lamas such as Pabongka Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Gyalrong Sharpa Rinpoche from Sera Monastery, and Demo Rinpoche from Tengye Ling Monastery have all given teachings there.
In 1921, Pabongka Rinpoche delivered the teachings on “The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Teachings) ” at Chubzang Ritro, attracting over ten thousand monks, nuns, and ordinary people from across Lhasa. The lecture notes were later compiled into “The Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand,” which has since been translated into multiple languages and remains a key text for Gelug Pa followers in English-speaking countries and China.
In the early 1980s, with the implementation of new religious policies, Chubzang Ritro received support from the local government to begin reconstruction.
By 1984, after the reconstruction, Chubzang Ritro had gradually transformed into a fully nunnery.
By the year 2000, the monastery had about 100 resident nuns.
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