Dorje Drak Monastery’s full name is “Thubtan·Dorje Drak Ewam Chogar“. it belongs to Nyingma pa of Tibetan Buddhism.
It is located on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Gongga County.
“Dorje” means “vajra” and “Drak” means “rocky mountain“; the monastery’s name is derived from the natural formation of a “vajra” symbol on the mountain behind the monastery.
Established around the year 1650 AD by “Tashi Dorje”,
Dorje Drak Monastery, along with Katok Monastery, Dzogchen Monastery, Palyul Monastery, Shechen Monastery, and Mindrolling Monastery, are collectively known as the “Six Great Monasteries” or “Six Great Practice Centers” of the Nyingma Pa.
Brief History
In the late 16th century, the ruler of one of the original “thirteen Wan-hu(10,000 households),” “Tashi Dorje,” was defeated by “Shenshaba·Tshalden Dorje,” and his territory was taken over by the Shenshaba family.
“Tashi Dorje” then spread his teachings everywhere and established the Tibetan Buddhist group in Tsang region – the “Ewam Sect.” Later, “Tashi Dorje” founded Dorje Drak Monastery; it also became the main monastery of the reincarnations of the 2nd “Renze Chenpo,” and his successor
In 1718 AD, the Mongolian Dzungar tribe invaded Tibet, causing severe damage to this monastery.
It was rebuilt during the administration of Polhanas in Tibet (1728 AD – 1747 AD).
In the 1960s, during the Cultural Revolution, it suffered further destruction.
In 1981, new religious policies were implemented, initiating the restoration process of the monastery.
In 1984, the local government allocated special funds to assist the monks in restoring the monastery.
Currently, there are 23 monks in this monastery.
Wan-hu
During the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Kublai Khan established thirteen “Wan-hu(10,000 households)” in the U-Tsang. The local leaders who were previously scattered and ruling independently in Tibet became officials subordinate to the central feudal dynasty.
Each “Wan-hu(10,000 households)” was supposed to have 6,000 “lade” (subjects under the jurisdiction of monasteries) and 4,000 “mide” (subjects under the jurisdiction of secular feudal lords).
Characteristics of the Nyingma Pa
The term “Nyingma” in the Nyingma Pa carries ancient and traditional meanings; it is the earliest of the four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism, with its lineage dating back to the “early dissemination period” (8th century AD), later referred to as the “old school” to distinguish it from the “new schools” that emerged during the “later dissemination period.”
Nyingma Pa extensively inherits the teachings and rituals passed down during the Tubo kingdom period, integrating a significant amount of rituals from the indigenous Tibetan Bon religion.
Nyingma Pa believes that they have inherited the esoteric scriptures translated during the early dissemination period of Tibetan Buddhism before the suppression of Buddhism by Langdarma, focusing primarily on the “old esoteric mantras.”
The Transmission of Nyingma Pa
The transmission of the Nyingma Pa has mainly been preserved through two avenues: one being passed down through generations in the community by masters to their disciples or within families, and the other being the “hidden treasures” discovered through revelations.
However, other Tibetan Buddhist sects have always denied the authenticity of the Nyingma Pa’s “scriptures.”
Later, the Sakya sect’s Dharma King Gongkar Gyantsen discovered the original Sanskrit text of the Nyingma pa’s “Vajrakilaya,” transmitted by Padmasambhava, in a ancient temple in the Shangchu Valley of the “Sesheng” region. This led to the acknowledgment that the Nyingma pa’s “hidden treasures” scriptures are profound teachings passed down from the Buddha himself.
The Development of Nyingma Pa
Unlike other sects of Tibetan Buddhism such as the Sakya and Gelug, Kagyu, the Nyingma pa did not have a central monastery from the beginning and developed in a decentralized manner. It also did not have as close a relationship with local powers
During the Yuan Dynasty, the Nyingma pa established connections with the central government. However, due to its loose organization and single-line transmission, it never formed a stable monastic power.
It was not until the 16th century that relatively large Nyingma monasteries appeared in U region (now, Lhasa and its surrounding). Particularly in the 17th century, the Fifth Dalai Lama established the Ganden Phodrang regime, vigorously promoting and advocating the Nyingma teachings, leading to rapid development of the Nyingma school.
It was only then that the two vital monasteries of the Nyingma Pa in U region (now, Lhasa and its srrounding), the Mindrolling Monastery and Dorje Drak Monastery being built which signify the significant expansion of Nyingma pa. The Fifth Dalai Lama even specially built a monastery (Nyelam Pelgyeling Monastery) to propagate the teachings of Nyingma pa
Hidden Treasures(Sutra)
An important part of the Nyingma pa is the “hidden treasures,” which are Buddhist scriptures excavated from caves or underground.
Around the 12th century, individuals within the Nyingma tradition began uncovering these hidden treasures, and they were known as “Terton.”
Among them, “Nyangral Nyima Ozer” discovered the Upper Hidden Treasures, while “Guru Chokyi Cho” discovered the Lower Hidden Treasures.
In the 15th to 16th centuries, the Terton “Ratna Lingpa” compiled the Upper and Lower Hidden Treasures with his own discoveries, creating the “Southern Treasures.”
In the early 16th century, a noble descendant from the region of Riwo Dragsang in Angren County, named “Rinchen Dondrup Tencho Gyantsen,” unearthed numerous hidden treasures and compiled them for printing. These treasures, excavated in the northern region called “Qiang”, were then called the “Northern Treasures.”
The “Northern Treasures” contain many scriptures that were not present in the original Buddhist scriptures or the hidden treasures, such as the “Khendro Nyingthig.” These hidden treasures include teachings on the Nyingma tradition, medicine, and the history of the Tubo Tibetan Empire, with notable works like the “Five Treasures of Dharma” and the “Padmasambhava Treasure,” providing valuable insights for studying Tibetan history.
Dorje Drak Monastery Features
Dorje Drak Monastery emphasizes both the Exoteric and Esoteric teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, with a distinct lineage of the Nyingma tradition known as the “Far-reaching Buddha Word” teachings.
The monastery focuses on transmitting the “Northern Treasure” teachings within the “Revealed Treasure” tradition, along with some Buddhist scriptures from the “Three Sutras.”
It recognizes Renzen chenmo·Tungye Tenchu Gyantsen as the first living Buddha of the monastery.
The lineage of living Buddhas is passed down in a reincarnation form, with each living Buddha bearing the title “Renzen chenmo” before their system name.
They also study the revealed treasures of Bema Lezetsai, Jangda Tashi Dorj, collecting over fifty volumes; specializing in the “Pure Vision” teachings of the Fifth Dalai Lama and the Fifth Renzen chenmo in the “Pure Vision Tantra.”
The current abbot of the monastery is Renzen chenmo·Dorje Drak Living Buddha, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Political Consultative Conference and the Vice President of the Chinese Buddhist Association.
Statues Worshiped
The statues worshiped at Dorje Drak Monastery are mainly consist of the “Five Dhyani Buddhas,” essential for the practice of achieving enlightenment, including Manjusri Bodhisattva representing “body, speech, and mind,” and “Master Padmasambhava” representing merit and accomplishment. Additionally, there are the “Nectar” and “Vajra Peg” symbolizing worldly accomplishments, as well as the three worldly protectors known as “Non-Humans,” “Fierce Mantras,” and “Offering and Praise Worldly Deities.”
The “Non-Humans (Kinnara),” originally malevolent deities in Tibetan Bon religion, later adopted as protective deities by the Nyingma pa. Described as angry, semi-naked figures resembling humans but not entirely, they are depicted as black, with tangled hair, and armed with disease pouches, ghost-capturing banners, black lassos, and magic thread balls.
Among the most renowned protective goddesses is “Palden Lhamo,” the chief among the “Non-Humans（Kinnara）.”
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