Biography
The Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery is currently located in Dharamsala, India, although the monastery was originally situated in Tibet, a few kilometers south of Lhasa. It was built in the 18th century by the Most Venerable Yongzin Yeshi Gyaltsen, tutor of His Holiness the 8th Dalai Lama. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Dip-Tse-Chok-Ling was ravaged and demolished to near ruins.
In 1992 the people of Dip began work on the reconstruction of Dip-Tse-Chok-Ling Monastery. Local volunteers, including the remaining monks, under the direction of Ven Tenzin Gelek Rinpoche, the 6th reincarnation of YYG and the late Lama Tashi Gyaltsen, made a request for assistance from Dip-Tse-Chok-Ling Monastery-in-exile in Dharamsala. The present director of the monastery-in-exile, Thupten Nyendak (Pema Lama) went to Tibet bringing with him five life-size statues from India, as well as donations for the reconstruction of the original monastery. In September of 1992 the monastery was twenty-five percent complete and was reopened. Funds are being raised for the completion of the monastery.
Presently the monastery has twenty five monks, including five monks from the original Dip-Tse-Chok-Ling Monastery who now serve as teachers to the other young monks.
The founder of the present monastery, the late Lama Tashi Gyaltsen, was ordained and educated at Samten Ling and later became an active member there. He also spent several years at Dip-Tse-Chok-Ling and became dedicated to both monasteries. Having narrowly escaped the Chinese Invasion, Lama Tashi Gyaltsen settled in Boudhnath (Nepal) from 1959 to 1975 with Samten Ling monks who were taking care of the Managing Director of their new monastery.
In 1976 he came, along with his first student-in-exile, Thupten Nyandak (Pema Lama) to McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, with the wish to refound Dip-Tse-Chok-Ling Monastery.
The project started with a nucleus of three novice monks, later joined by a few more, in a rented ramshackle wooden hut. However, due to frequent rental problems and complications with the landowner, Late Tashi Gyaltsen cherished the idea of buying a piece of land and establishing an independent monastery.
A very beautiful and quiet site among the trees, 300 metres below Mcloed Ganj, was bought in 1984 and hence the present monastery was born. Construction was started in 1984 and it was completed in 1986, thanks to the generous assistance of the Association of Dip-Tse-Chok-Ling, Switzerland and the Association of Freiburg, Germany, along with many other individual donors from Europe and the West. We built a two storey temple. On the ground floor is the main temple. On the second floor is the Arya Tara Temple, the procector temple room and a private room for His Holiness. Late Lama Tashi Gyaltsen requested H.H. the Dalai Lama to inaugurate the temple. On 7th March 1987 the ceremony took place.
Daily Timetable of the Class
The monks begin their day at 6.00 a.m. with chanting prayers and Puja. Tibetan language, Buddhist Philosophy, debate and English Language School hours are from 6.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Prayers, recitation of religious texts, and debate sessions continue until evening 10.00 p.m. The monks also receive annual teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and occasional teachings from other eminent Lamas.
Since 1980 we have been actively involved in seeking sponsors for many Tibetan children, especially for orphans and the children of families who need financial assistance. We also raise funds to assist our monks and other monks and nuns in their education and to pay for health care and other basic needs. We are involved in helping Tibetan children by providing clothing and school supplies, as well as providing assistance for the poor and elderly.
Contribution can be sent by bank transfer, bank draft or international postal money order. Payments can be made to:
Dip-Tse-Chok-Ling Tibetan Monastery
Bank Account:
State Bank of India
Account No. : E.C.M. 871
Dharamsala Branch
(HP) INDIA
We always welcome visitors. For guests who wish to spend some time here, there is limited accommodation and retreat hours available in this beautiful and peaceful settting. For inquiries or further information, please write to us.
We offer prayers for the benefit of all sentient beings towards an enlightened mind.
Director Thupten Nyandek (Pema Lama) and all the monks thank you.
Dip-Tse-Chok-Ling Monastery School
Camel Track Road, PO McLeod Ganj-176219, Dharamsala, H.P., India
Tel. 91-01892-22726, Telefax : 91-01892-23304
Discography
ASIA MUSIC (2CD) - VARIOUS ARTISTS
ANTHOLOGY OF CHANT - VARIOUS ARTISTS
SOUL ALONE: THE ART OF THE SOLO - VARIOUS ARTISTS
SACRED CEREMONIES, VOLUME THREE: RITUAL MUSIC OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM
SACRED CEREMONIES: RITUAL MUSIC OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM
SACRED CEREMONIES 2
SACRED CEREMONIES: RITUAL MUSIC OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM (3 CD BOXED SET) - MONKS OF THE DIP TSE CHOK LING MONASTERY
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