Palyul Namgyal Jangchub Choling is one of the six mother monasteries of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in 1665 by Rigzin Kunzang Sherab (1636–1698) in Dege, or what is now Baiyü County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China’s Sichuan province. Rigzin Kunzang Sherab was also the first throneholder of the Palyul lineage; currently Karma Kuchen Rinpoche is the 12th throneholder. Palyul Monastery has four main branch monasteries inside Tibet which were built by the four great disciples of Rigzin Kunzang Sherab:
- Tser Lhatse Monastery
Tser Lhatse monastery was established by the tantric practitioner Tserpa Yeshe Senge, who was one of the four foremost disciples of Rigzin Kunzang Sherab. He was born in 1639, 11th Rabjung cycle, Earth-Female Rabbit year, at Dokham Tserta in Tibet, to father Namtse Tob and mother Norzin Dolma. At the age of fourteen, his father brought Tsewang Lhamo to be his wife but he refused to marry. As advised by his mother, he secretly consulted one of the lamas who lived at Shelphu. There he learned common and uncommon fields of knowledge and the three inner classes of tantra from that lama.
He had a dream of Guru Rinpoche and his disciples where they entrusted him with the ocean-like tantras of the ancient school of Tibetan Buddhism. During that time, Guru Rinpoche prophesied that he should ask about the secret and difficult points from Rigzin Kunzang Sherab, who was indivisible from him. When he woke up from the dream, he remembered the name Kunzang Sherab; when he did so, goose bumps appeared on his body out of faith. According to the prophecy of Guru Padmasambhava and the Shelphu lama, he went to Kathog Dorjeden. There he met with Kunzang Sherab, after which his faith and yearning for enlightenment grew stronger.
He received the instructions of unsurpassable tantra of the three yogas. When Kunzang Sherab was at Palyul monastery, from him he received empowerments and oral instructions of the Union of the Sugatas through eight teachings, the gathering of the mind of the buddhas, Vajrakilaya (collectively known as ka-gong-phur sum), the Namchö Dzogchen and others. After receiving them, he practised them at Lhari Wosal Gang where he recognized the awareness of essential purity and then reported his realizations of the inner tantras to his master. His master made many prophecies about him and advised him to go back to his motherland and establish a monastery.
Tsewang Lhamo, who his father had brought him as a consort earlier, offered him gold, silver and thousand khals (a Tibetan volume measure equal to 25–30lbs) of wheat as a basis for establishing the monastery. In 1668, he laid the foundation of Tser Lhatse Sanga Rabtenling Monastery. He established a meditation centre along with the rules and regulations according to the vinaya practices. During his lifetime, he gathered more than nine hundred monks, and there are now thirteen main monasteries and one hundred and twenty branch monasteries
2. Jangang Monastery
Jangang Monastery was established by the tantric practitioner Jangang Aphen or Jinpa Gyatso, who was one of the four closest disciples of Kunzang Sherab and was foremost in pacifying activities. His master gave him a prophecy that he would establish a monastery. According to this, when he arrived at Jangyul, he thought that it was auspicious to build a monastery there as many good signs appeared. When he was about to lay the foundation, a naga who lived in that place appeared and said, “Both of us cannot be accommodated there. Can you build a bit above? I will provide you with water and other necessities there.” According to this promise, when Jinpa Gyatso went there, water sprang forth in that place and other auspicious signs appeared. There is a saying that Jangang Monastery was established at Jang Tashi Lhari. The name might have been given because it was built above Jangang village. Besides this monastery, Jinpa Gyatso also built more than ten small monasteries in Shekhog village. Later, the number of branch monasteries increased after building Tsangra Hor, Gochen, Domang and other monasteries. Till now, more than ten lineage holders of that monastery have spread the Dharma like the rising sun.
3. Shugang Monastery
Shugang Monastery was built by the tantric practitioner Rongten Lhundrub Gaytso, who was foremost in subjugating activities and was one of the four great disciples of Kunzang Sherab. He was born in 1645, 11th Rabjung Cycle. Later, he visited Palyul Monastery and met Kunzang Sherab. He relied upon Kunzang Sherab for twenty-five years and meditated with great effort. Kunzang Sherab prophesied that he would also build a monastery like the other disciples. He was advised to establish a monastery on the summit of a mountain at his village. In 1670, 11th Rabjung Cycle, Iron Male Dog year, he established a monastery in Shukgay Rilangpo which had all qualities for the establishment of a monastery and he named it Shugang Wodsel Lhundrubling. Under this monastery, there are now twenty-five branch monasteries. Among them, some were built by lineage holders and some offered by followers. Since then, twelve lineage holders of that monastery have spread the teachings.
4. Tsangdha Monastery
Tsangdha Monastery was established by the tantric practitioner Drubwang Dorje Thelgang, who was foremost in magnetizing activities and was one of the four main disciples of Kunzang Sherab. Drubwang Dorje became a monk at an early age. He relied upon many masters like Karma Dechen and received empowerments, oral instructions and pith instructions. At the age of fifteen, he was admitted to Palyul Monastery. There, he relied upon Kunzang Sherab as his root master. He received empowerments, oral instructions, and pith instructions and put them into practice. In 1666, according to the instruction of his root master, he went to Trehor Drago. Before his arrival, there was a small monastery of the Kagyu tradition, built by the grandfather and father of Gola (a Kagyupa master). Later, he brought it under his control and established Namdrol Dechenling temple. He also renovated other temples and preserved the Dzogchen and Chagchen teachings. Since then, ten lineage holders of that monastery have administrated and spread the teachings up to the present day.
By Kunzang Dorji
7th Year, NNI
