Madal Gonpa

Madal Gonpa was found around 1600 AD with a history spanning over 700 years. Inside its main hall, a thousand gilded Vajrasattva statues from Nepal are enshrined, radiating an aura of spiritual grandeur.

The monastery was originally founded by the Dege chieftain family, which has safeguarded and upheld its traditions for generations. For centuries, Madal Gonpa has remained unwavering in its dedication to the Sakya teachings of Tibetan Buddhism in the Dege region.

As a branch monastery of Gonchen Monastery, the ancestral seat of the Sakya school (also known as the “Flower Sect”) in the Kham region, all of Madal Gonpa’s structures are adorned with the school’s distinctive tricolored scheme: white, red, and black. These colors symbolize reliance on Avalokiteshvara (white), Manjushri (red), and Vajrapani (black), reinforcing the monastery’s identity within the Flower Sect tradition.

Location

Madal Gonpa is nestled within the high-mountain valleys at the foot of Que’er Mountain (Mt Trola) in Dege, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Traveling from Xinluhai (Yilhun Lhatso) toward Dege for about 30 kilometers, the entrance to the monastery is located at a leftward-turning small path near a long downhill curve in Karang Village, approximately 40 kilometers from Dege County. The entrance is easy to miss without careful attention.

After turning onto the small road and proceeding 500 meters, a row of neatly arranged white stupas comes into view, standing beside the rugged mountain path. Nearby, the dwellings of the monastery’s practitioners are scattered harmoniously across the landscape. Following the concrete road along the left side of the valley leads to the monastery’s main courtyard.

The surrounding scenery is breathtaking—towering forests, snow-capped peaks, and a meandering silver river flowing through the valley. Over a hundred black yaks graze leisurely across the grasslands, basking in the sun, adding to the tranquil beauty of the setting.

Madal Gonpa’s natural environment changes with the seasons. From May to June, the landscape bursts into life with lush green meadows and blooming wildflowers, making the monastery seem like a great ship sailing through a sea of blossoms. In February, however, the plateau is vast and desolate, its golden-brown hues conveying a sense of solemn majesty.

Yet, what draws the most intrigue lies on the monastery’s nearby grassland—a sacred site where the Soul Stone, Soul Tree, and Soul Lake stand as symbols of the monastery’s protective deities. A particularly striking feature is a large rock bearing a naturally formed Tibetan letter “A”, an auspicious and mystical manifestation that continues to inspire awe among visitors and devotees alike.

Lineage

The religious lineage of Madal Gonpa is particularly noteworthy. The monastery’s recognized tulku, Pakyong Dangchö Özer Rinpoche, is believed to be the reincarnation of Nyingchin Pakyong, one of the twenty-five main disciples of Padmasambhava. This recognition was affirmed by Chokyi Lodro Rinpoche in the last century.

This esteemed lineage has added a sacred aura to Madal Gonpa, granting it a special status within the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Built along the mountainside, the monastery’s scattered retreat dwellings and white stupas create a serene yet solemn landscape.

As a branch monastery of Gonchen Monastery (Gonchen Monastery in Dege), Madal Gonpa follows its mother monastery’s doctrinal system while developing its own unique character due to its distinct geographical and historical background.

Current Abbot

The current abbot of Madal Gonpa is Chido Khenpo, a highly realized Vajra Master of the Sakya lineage. He comes from an ancient chieftain family, the same lineage that originally founded the monastery.

Chido Khenpo ordained at the age of 13 and, by the age of 14, had already become a disciple of Nangwen Chupei Songpo Rinpoche, one of the most important contemporary Sakya masters.

His Buddhist education is extensive:

• He later studied under H.H. Khenpo Ngawang Palzang Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Patrul Rinpoche, author of The Words of My Perfect Teacher.
• He traveled to Dzongsar Monastery, where he studied under Dzongsar Khenpo Pema Tshewang Rinpoche, who is now a teacher at China’s Advanced Institute of Tibetan Buddhism in Beijing.
• He personally sought teachings from H.H. Sakya Dungsay Rinpoche and the Third Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche when they returned to Tibet.

Furthermore, Chido Khenpo has studied under many great masters, including:

• H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy for a year.
• H.H. Pema Gatsal Rinpoche at Dzogchen Monastery for four years.
• H.H. Pema Tshewang Rinpoche at Aruzhak Buddhist Academy, where he received numerous teachings.
• H.H. Beiwa Rinpoche of Dege, among other highly accomplished masters.

In addition to his vast studies, he completed a three-year retreat, attaining profound realization through rigorous practice.

Notably, Chido Khenpo has traveled to Han Chinese regions and learned Mandarin, allowing him to communicate fluently in the language.