The original Nyanang Shedrup Gaden Phelgyeling Monastery was located in Nyanang, Tibet close to the border with Nepal. Records indicate that Phelgyeling Monastery was originally established as a Kagyu monastery, with Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden installed as their Dharma Protector during the time of His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama.
The Dorje Shugden statue personally made by H.H. the 5th Dalai Lama
In fact, one of the most revered and treasured holy objects in Phelgyeling Monastery is a statue of Dorje Shugden which was personally made and offered to the monastery by the 5th Dalai Lama. In her book, Ursula Bernis describes the statue to be about 12 – 16 inches tall with only the face visible since, like many Buddhist statues, it is covered in brocade and kept in a glass-covered container high up on a shelf.
In 1665, when Phelgyeling Monastery converted from Kagyu to Gelug, the propitiation of Dorje Shugden continued in the monastery. In fact, in Nyanang there were Kagyu and Nyingma monasteries who practised Dorje Shugden as well. Phelgyeling Monastery was also famed for performing the ritual cham dance of Dorje Drolo, which is predominantly a Nyingma practice. This highlights the inter-lineage harmony that existed surrounding the practice of Dorje Shugden.
Following the 1959 Tibetan crisis, Phelgyeling Monastery was re-established in Kathmandu, Nepal with the help of Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche. It is located at the foot of the Swayambhu mount, one of the holiest places in the Himalayas and closely associated with Lord Manjushri. It is said that on one side of the Swayambhu stupa is the entrance to an underground lake where nagas live and from where Manjushri brought the Prajnaparamita Sutras.
A prayer session at Phelgyeling Monastery
Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche also established the monthly schedule of rituals and prayers for Phelgyeling Monastery and in 1966, advised the monastery to engage in Dorje Shugden’s monthly kangso, or fulfilment ritual. Prior to this, the monks had only engaged in a Dorje Shugden ritual to request activities.
Today, Phelgyeling Monastery still uses the four exhortation verses (‘phrin bskul) to Dorje Shugden composed by the 5th Dalai Lama and the rituals composed by His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.
Phelgyeling Monastery is also home to several other very precious religious artefacts. Due to the close proximity of the original monastery’s location, Nyanang, with the border, these rare and holy objects were successfully brought to Nepal and are preserved to this day. The items enshrined in Phelgyeling Monastery today include:
- A Tara image which is famous throughout the Himalayan region due to its ability to speak to those with pure minds. Many have come to Phelgyeling Monastery to behold this treasure and ask Arya Tara for her blessings.
- A slab capturing the footprints of His Holiness the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso (1682 – 1706).
- A rare statue of Jetsun Milarepa (1052— 1135 CE) made during his lifetime by his heart-disciple Rechungpa.
- A statue of Buddha Shakyamuni that dates back to the time of King Langdharma of Tibet, who reigned from 838 to 841 CE. King Langdharma is well known for his suppression of Buddhism. It is said that he ordered all statues to be destroyed unless the statue could prove its worthiness by actually speaking. This particular statue is believed to be one of the statues that spoke directly to King Langdharma, and thus was spared from destruction.
The interior of Phelgyeling Monastery’s prayer hall
The famous Tara statue that speaks to those with pure minds
The footprints of H.H. the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso.
A statue of Jetsun Milarepa made during his lifetime by his heart disciple Rechungpa.
A statue of Buddha Shakyamuni that spoke to King Langdharma of Tibet.
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Susan Francois
Posted on June 27, 2016 #1 AuthorIn year 2011 and 2014 I had the great fortune to visit Phelgyeling Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Asthetically it may not win any awards, but for many other reason, it was a very special Monastery. Here are some of the reasons.
1) The Dorje Shugden statue which was personally made by the 5th Dalai Lama was very painstakingly carried over from Tibet to Kathmandu during the China-Tibet invasion in 1959. The monks that carried this statue and many other precious statues and items had to travel long distances hiding and risking from the Chinese army. I had the great fortune to see this statue during my first visit to this Moanastery .
2) Several old monks that lived in this Monastery were from Tibet. They journeyed through the war to come to Kathmandu. They kept their practice intact despite all the obstacles that they had to face when the Ban on Dorje Shugden started in the 1990s. Because of their steadfastness in holding their vows, people of today is still able to benefit from the blessings of Dorje Shugden.
3) It was and still is very difficult to establish and run a Monastery that practices Dorje Shugden, when majority of the community treat this practice as an evil one. It is difficult to raise funds, difficult to sustain, it is heartbreaking when others throw derogatory remarks and actions on a practice that you know is good.
It’s even harder when you are sick and the local doctors refuse to see you and that you have to travel far away to see another doctor or to visit the hospital.
There is just so much obstacles and challenges to live normally because others don’t accept you and make life difficult for you; all because you believe in a Buddha which they don’t.
Sofi
Posted on July 8, 2016 #2 AuthorPhelgyeling Monastery is such a beautiful place full of vibrant energy of the holy items. How fortunate of Susan Francois to be able to visit twice to receive such blessings. Isn’t it amazing that Phelgyeling Monastery was able to reestablished at such a holy site, so near to where Buddha Manjushri brought out the Prajnaparamita Sutras from the underground lake where nagas lived. I absolutely admire the perseverance of the Shugden Lamas in continuing with their faith in Dorje Shugden practise even when the ban was effected. It is terrible that they face so much hardships from their own people for practising the enlightened Protector practise that had been given to them by their Gurus. May the ban be swiftly lifted and freedom be restored to all practitioners of Dorje Shugden, who is one with Manjushri.
Fong
Posted on August 23, 2016 #3 AuthorThis is such a holy place with the holy statue of Dorje Shugden that was personally made by H.H. the 5th Dalai Lama. And, The footprints of H.H. the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso; The famous Tara statue that speaks to those with pure minds; statue of Jetsun Milarepa made during his lifetime by his heart disciple Rechungpa; statue of Buddha Shakyamuni that spoke to King Langdharma of Tibet. Such a rich history behind the holy items in the monatery.
Phelgyeling Monastery was re-established in Kathmandu, Nepal with the help of Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche, and may it flourish to bring the pure teachiings of Lama Tsongkhapa to more people.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful monastery with such a rich history behind it.
Stella Cheang
Posted on September 24, 2016 #4 AuthorPhelgyeling Monastery is rich with history and beautiful statues and relics. It was originally established as a Kagyu monastery, with Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden installed as their Dharma Protector during the time of His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama. What stood out is that in 1665, Phelgyeling Monastery converted from Kagyu to Gelug, the propitiation of Dorje Shugden continued in the monastery. Phelgyeling Monastery was also famed for performing the ritual cham dance of Dorje Drolo, which is predominantly a Nyingma practice. This shows the inter-lineage harmony that existed surrounding the practice of Dorje Shugden. Thank you for this article.
Alice Tay
Posted on August 21, 2017 #5 AuthorThe propitiation of Dorje Shugden is still continued although Phelgyeling Monastery converted from Kagyu to Gelug in 1665. This is very clear that Dorje Shugden does not help only Gelugpas but everyone who is sincere in practice.
Phelgyeling Monastery engaged in Dorje Shugden’s monthly kangso since 1966 as advised by Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche. Today, the monastery still uses the four exhortation verses (‘phrin bskul) to Dorje Shugden composed by the 5th Dalai Lama and the rituals composed by HH Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.
yin ping
Posted on November 1, 2017 #6 AuthorThe Phelgyeling Monastery was originally established as a Kagyu monastery. His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama installed his personally made Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden in this monastery.
It was during the 1959 crisis with China, Phelgyeling Monastery re-establied in Kathmundu. It located at the foot of the Swayambhu mount which is the holiest places in the Himalayas and closely associated with Manjushri. Until today, the monastery still uses the four exhortation verses to Dorje Shugden composed by the 5th Dalai Lama, and ritual composed by His Holliness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.