Dorje Drak Monastery

Dorje Drak Monastery was found in central Tibet near Lhasa in the 16^th century. The monastery was destroyed first in 1718 AD by the Mongols and again during the Cultural Revolution in the middle of the 20^th century.

Brief

Reconstruction began since 1984. It was one of the Six Great Nyingma Monasteries in Tibet, the other 4 are in Kham, currently Garze Tibetan Prefecture of Sichuan Province. Together with Mindrolling Monastery, it is one of the two most important Nyingma monasteries in the central Tibet

Halls and Murals

The assembly hall has a large Thangkar image of Padmasambhava, replacing an original made by Rigdzin IV Pema Trinle, as well as painted scrolls depicting the Hundred Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, and Murals depicting the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava. There is a collection of relics that are retrieved from images destroyed in the 1960s’, and a small library which contains the Kan-zhu-er, and the Nyingma Gyudbum in the inner praying room.

Hall forbidden for women

The oldest Chapel had been renowned for its enormous column and skull painted gates before the destruction in 1717 AD, it is now still forbidden for all female visitors and pilgrims, which contains some old Thangkar and a copy of the Edition printed by “Derge Printed House” of the Nyingma Gyudbum

There is one monastery located at the hilltop of the mountain on the south side of Kangding in the east Tibet of Kham is called Jin Gang monastery, here, “Jin Gang” means Dorje; the Jin Gang monastery is also called Dorje monastery, which is regarded to be one branch of Dorje Drak monastery. This monastery was severely damaged in 1959 of 20^th century, however, the large statue of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), and Jokhang in the assembly were magically preserved as a whole;

How to get to there

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Dorje Drak Monastery is located on the north bank of Yarlun Tsangpo river, the closest airport is Lhasa Gongga airport, the road to this site is paved.

Departure from Lhasa

–By public transportation: take the bus to Tsetang from Lhasa, the bus pass through Dorje Drak Monastery,

–By chartered vehicle : it usually costs 300 – 500 RMB one way

The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism

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