LOCATION OF THE PROJECT
Happy Home is being proposed in Tashi Jong - in the Khampagar Monastery
an area behind Ven Khamtrul Rimpoche's mothers House. A beautiful
location with a natural Zen landscape which could be integrated within
the institute to make it an attractive, peaceful and love filled place.
The idea is to keep the Center close to the monastery to make it easy
for the disciples to do their Khora (taking spiritual circles around the temple)
Tashi Jong
Auspicious happy valley
Popularly known as Tashi Jong. It is a village located in the Kangra District
of Himachal Pradesh in India - 2 hours south of the famous tourist spot and
Dalai Lamas Home, Dharamshala. The existence of the Tibetan colony and
thus the Khampagar Monastery, gives the village the name of Tashi long.
This name was christened in 1970 by H.H. 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche
"Kalzang Dongyu Nyima". And he is the emanations of Guru Rinpoche
(Padmasambhava).
The Khampagar Monastery in Kham, Eastern Tibet is the seat of
H.H. Khamtrul Rinpoche. It was the head of over 200 branch monasteries,
nunneries and retreat centers in Kham of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage.
In 1965, 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. In India, they settled first in Kalipong in West Bengal,
where many lay people from Khampagar area in Kham came seeking refuge,
and affiliated themselves with the newly formed community. In 1969, the
community moved to Himachal Pradesh in North India. There they settled in
the peaceful Kangra valley on 34 acres of land which was named after Tashi Jong.
The 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche besides being a very highly qualified Buddhist Teacher was an excellent artist. He encouraged the community to become a settlement specializing in the preservation of Dharma, unique Tibetan culture and all kinds of traditional arts like hand woven carpets, wood carving, Thangka (sacred) painting etc.
Nowadays the community has a monastery of 160 monks and about 600 lay people in the settlement. The monastery is unique in many respects and it includes a special group of highly realized yogis called Togdens. In Tibet the Togdens lived in retreat centre or in caves. In Tashi Jong, there are retreat huts for the Togdens. Although they are fully ordained Bhikshu, the Togdens display the matted hair and white robes of the Milarepa traditional. At present, there are more then 15 Yogis from old and new retreat centre, who are undergoing this profound training which requires many years to complete. The other monks at Khampagar are studying Buddhist Dharma philosophy, and training in ritual activities and practicing different tantric sadhanas. They also do a ritual dance called Gharcham dance is a tantric meditative dance practice which may be viewed by the full public, where by the practitioners dance in full costume according to a particular sadhana (ritual text). Gharcham dances originated from the visions of Guru Padmasambhava and his eight emanations which appeared to Kunga Tendzin, the 3rd Khamtrul Rinpoche.
The new nunnery "Dongyu Gatsal Ling" has recently 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 of all aspects like study, meditation and ritual practices. When complete, the Dongyu Gatsal Ling will have 80 nuns.
Tashi Jong village is also one of the most beautiful places in this locality, still untouched by crowds. With the presence of a monastery and the Venerable Buddhist Teachers within it, this place would be the ideal place for sincere practitioners to do their practice and grow in the path of the Dharma.
Also the late Tokden Amtin mentioned that at the time of the initial consecration blessings of the land of Tashi Jong, both H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and H.H. the 8th. Khamtrul Rinpoche strongly felt this place is the pure land of Five Manjushri.
Your kind contribution would be very helpful for this special propose, so make your donation and accumulate merit.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely,
Popa Rabjam
President (Tashi Jong)
Chairman (Friends of Nub Gon Monastery)