himachalweb.com a free information website

	Home

	Himachal Pradesh

	Kangra

	Dharamshala

	McLeod Ganj

	Palampur

	Chamba

	Mandi

	Kullu

	Manali

	Lahaul

	Spiti

	Kinnaur

	Shimla

	Pong Dam

Tashi Jong

locaton:

Tashi Jong
In 1958, having foreseen the imminent coming of the communist Chinese, the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Kalzang Dongyu Nyima, left for India with a group of 16 monks and reincarnate lamas. In Eastern Tibet he had been the head of Khampagar Monastery, which had over 200 branch monasteries, nunneries and retreat centers. It was considered one of the foremost monasteries of the Drukpa Kagyü lineage. In India, they settled first in Kalimpong in West Bengal, where many lay people from the Khampagar area in Kham came seeking refuge, and affiliated themselves with the newly formed community. In 1969, they moved to Himachal Pradesh in North India. There they settled in the peaceful Kangra valley on 37 acres of land, which was named Tashi Jong, Tibetan for Auspicious Valley. The late Tokden Amtin mentioned that at the time of the initial consecration of the land of Tashi Jong, both H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and H.E. the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche clearly felt this place to be the pure land of the Five Manjushris.
Nowadays Tashi Jong includes:

A monastery of around 140 monks.
A lay community of about 400 people.
A group of highly realized yogis called Tokdens. In Tibet the Tokdens lived in retreat centers or in caves. In Tashi Jong there is a retreat center with all the facilities needed for extended periods of seclusion. Although they are fully ordained monks, the Tokdens display the matted hair and white robes of Milarepa’s traditional attire. At present, there are around thirteen retreatants, who have been practicing for many years, and who have not set a definite conclusion date as yet.
Other monks at Khampagar are studying Buddhist philosophy, and training in ritual activities and practicing different tantric rituals. Annually they perform ritual dances called Cham, generally known as ‘lama dances’. Cham is a tantric meditative practice adopting the form of very special dances, where the practitioners perform in full costume according to each particular ritual. Cham dances originated from visions of Guru Padma-sambhava and his eight emanations by Kunga Tendzin, the 3rd Khamtrul Rinpoche. They may be viewed by the general public.
Dongyu Gatsal Ling, a nunnery for young women from Tibet and other Himalayan regions, has been established near Tashi Jong by a western nun, Ven. Ani Tenzin Palmo, a disciple of the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, to fulfill her Guru's wish. Dongyu Gastsal Ling offers a strong program of Dharma education comprising all aspects of Dharma study, meditation and ritual practices. When completed, it will support 80 nuns.
The 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, besides being a highly qualified Buddhist teacher, was an excellent artist. He encouraged the community to become a settlement specializing in the preservation of the Buddhist teachings, the Dharma, through their unique Tibetan culture. All facets of the traditional arts were encouraged. Hand woven carpets, woodcarving, and thangka (sacred) painting were carried on under the guidance of master craftsmen.
The community includes many monastic and lay artisans. They produce carpets, woodcarvings, prints, thangkas and other ritual and household ob-jects. Besides their production, a selection of handicrafts from artisans of the Himalayan region we have known for years is available. The profits from these activities help support the welfare services of the community: dispensary, facilities for the aged and needy, vocational centers and the like.

SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR VISIT A schematic map of Tashi Jong is given in the next page. A more detailed one can be seen on the North side of the parking lot. The arrows indicate a suggested walk through the main points of interest. During your visit do not hesitate to ask the local people for guidance or information on the different spots. They will certainly be glad to assist. During or after your stay you can get tea, refreshments or food from the several restaurants operating in our place. Also, if you decide to stay overnight, guest houses are available.

And last but not least, before your departure you can visit the showroom of our community. There you will find a large selection of Tibetan handicrafts for sale. All the proceeds go to charitable purposes within the community.

1	Offices, showroom of Tibetan handicrafts and carpet factory	11	Monastery kitchen, dining hall and guest house
2	Parking lot	12	Monk's quarters
3	Shops, restaurant and guest house	13	Tokden Amtin Kudun and Ven. Popa Rabjam residence
4	Dispensary, guest house and restaurant	14	Yamantaka temple
5	Prayer wheels	15	Library
6	Khampagar Institute	16	Ven. Tsabdrul Rinpoche residence
7	Prayer wheels temple	17	H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche residence
8	Kunga Raua temple	18	H.E. Dorzong Rinpoche and V. Ven. Choegyal Rinpoche residence
9	H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche stupa	19	Retreat center
10	Main temple	20	Young monks school

1 - Visit the carpet factory. At the end of your walk, the showroom offers you a large selection of Tibetan handicrafts

5 - Great merit accrues from circumambulating the wheels in a clockwise direction. You can also do it.

6 - Khampagar Institute. Monks pursue studies on Buddhist philosophy. See in-charge for possibility of visiting.

7 - Great merit accrues from circumambulating and turning the wheels in a clockwise direction. You can also do it.

8 - Kunga Raua temple. Daily ceremonies are held here. You can watch from the windows or the gate.

9 - The stupa of the previous Khamtrul Rinpoche. Behind, monks quarters and library, where sacred texts are kept.

10 - Main temple. Can be visited by contacting the in-charge. Enter through the door at the left of the main gate.

11 - A view of the monastery kitchens, dining hall and young monks school.

13 - Tokden Amtin was one of our greatest meditation masters. His shrine can be visited.

17 - H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche residence. You can meet him by previous appoint-ment. Contact the in-charge

18 - H.E. Dorzong Rinpoche and V. Ven. Choegyal Rinpoche residence. Meeting possible by appointment.

14 - Yamantaka temple. Presently is a retreat center, non visitable. Spectacular panorama of Kangra valley.

The main shrine in the temple is the center of devotion for both the monastic and lay communities of Tashi Jong. It was designed by the previous Khamtrul Rinpoche himself.
The entire building of this shrine, including woodcarving, gilding, painting, setting up, etc. was carried out by his disciples. He placed precious relics and mantras inside each one of the statues. Then he, together with his disciples and sangha, blessed and consecrated them.
Rinpoche chose to place the last Buddha that appeared on this planet, Buddha Shakyamuni (number 7 in the figure on the left) at the top center, and greater in size than the other manifestations in the shrine. He was preceded by six other Buddhas. Nine hundred and ninety three are yet to manifest during this cycle of the universe, for a grand total of 1000 fully enlightened beings.
Referring to the numbers in the figure, these six enlightened beings are:

1 - Buddha Vipasha
2 - Buddha Shihini
3 - Buddha Vishubhuze
4 - Buddha Krakutatsente
5 - Buddha Kanakamunaye
6 - Buddha Kashyapa.
According to ancient Indian Buddhist texts such as the Lotus Sutra and the Kalpabhadra (the Sutra of Good Fortune) during the initial evolutionary stages of our planet, gods and goddesses living in pure realms (Tib. Tsongrikyilha) had a vision of one thousand lotuses springing from the seas, in formation. They understood that to be a sign of the future manifestation of one thousand fully enlightened human beings. Upon seeing such a vision, they exclaimed "Good fortune!", and that is the reason why our planet is known by that name (Tib: Kalzangshing)
On the lower row are:
8 - Tsangpa Gyare (1161-1211) the founder of the Drukpa Kagyü lineage.
9 - Buddha Akshobhya. He lives in the pure realm known as "Sublime Joy" His blessings are effective for the purification of accumulated negative karma, especially anger. Therefore the meditations and practices of this buddha are emphasized in the lineage of this monastery, in order to bring peace and happiness to all beings. He is also a very powerful protector against dangers and obstacles.
10 - Guru Rinpoche. Indian Buddhist Mahayana Tantric master from the Swat valley. Highly learned and accomplished, he helped to firmly establish the teachings in Tibet during the VIII century.
11 - Green Tara. Female buddha, very effective for protection against both internal and external obstacles. She is also known as "Glorious Swift".

Stupa Silver and gold gilt stupa, sponsored by the Queen mother of Bhutan to enshrine the main part of the relics of the cremation of the Eighth Khamtrul Rinpoche.

Mandala of Chakrasamvara Chakrasamvara is a Buddhist Tantric deity. It is also one of the main meditational practices for the realization of the subtle channels, winds and energies (nadi, prana, bindu)

This stupa is outside of the temple, number 9 on the map on page 3.
The stupa in Buddhism has many meanings. Here is a symbol for the enlightened mind. This particular stupa was built on the place of the cre-mation of the previous Khamtrul Rinpoche, and contains a part of his rel-ics After some time of its completion, a Bodhi tree, symbol of enlightened compassion, spontaneously started to grow straight up above the Buddhas head. You can see its roots and leaves growing out of the front part.

The main view of Tashi Jong image by Suraj photo studio Tashi Jong