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History of Nalendra

From Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia
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 Nalendra Monastery was established in the Penpo District of Central Tibet in 1425 by the great Sakya master Rongton Sheja-kunrig (1367-1459) and his Disciple Kunkyen Tashi-namgyel. The placement of the Monastery on the land was fully in accordance with the rules of Tibetan Geomancy. This science had developed from the Chinese geomantic system brought to Tibet by the Chinese queen of King Songtsen-gampo (629-710).

Originally, Nalendra had four colleges: Tongmon, Dukor, Tsegyay and Tsezhi Colleges, 45 divisions, and approximately 1500 Monks. The course of study was based on two lineages, that of the Three White and Two Red Masters of Sakya and that of Ngog Lotsawa Loden-sherab (1059-1109). The Three White Masters, who were all laymen, were Sachen Kunga-nyingpo (1092-1158), Sonam-tsemo (1142-1182), and Dragpa-gyeltsen (1147-1216). The Two Red Masters, who were both Monks, were Sakya Pandita Kunga-gyeltsen (1182-1251) and Chogyel Pagpa (1235-1280).

During the tenure of the first five abbots, Nalendra flourished. The Monk population grew to more than 2000. Subsequently, great obstacles occurred to the Monastery during the Time of the sixth and seventh abbots, and the number of Monks declined sharply. Dagchen Lodro-gyeltsen (1444-1495) at Sakya was requested to perform ceremonies to eliminate the hindrances. After fulfilling the request, Dagchen appointed Kuzhang Kyenrab-chojey as the eighth abbot of Nalendra. From that Time onward, there were never less than 400 Monks at the Monastery, and sometimes as many as 700.

The two main lines of Incarnate Lamas who have cared for the Spiritual needs of Nalendra have been the Chobgey Trichen Rinpoches and the Zimog Rinpoches. The present Chobgyey Trichen (b. 1920) is the head of the Tsar Tradition of the Sakyas. This tradition is traced from Tsarchen Losel-gyatso (1502-1566) of Dar Drangmochen Monastery in the Central Tibetan province of Tsang. The Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang-lozang-gyatso (1617-1682), had received the Sakya "lamdray" "Path and its results" teachings from Gonpo Sonam-chogden , whose Teacher, Kyabdag Wangchug-rabten, had been a Disciple of Tsarchen. The Lamdray teachings have two levels, the "tsogshay" "explanation for assemblies" and "lobshay" "explanation for private disciples." The Fifth Dalai Lama received primarily the latter, and was instrumental in preserving and transmitting it further.

In its later period, Nalendra Monastery had only two colleges, the original TongmonCollege for Sutra debate studies and the SangchenCollege for Tantra. The latter had been founded by Rinchen-kyentsey-wangpo. The Sutra training concentrated on thirteen great scriptural texts. Tantra study and practice focused on thirteen tantric systems. Kalachakra, Hevajra, the lobshay level of the Lamdray Path and Its Stages, and the Thirteen Golden Teachings of the Sakyas were the principal among them. Monks also studied Medicine, Astrology, grammar, and Ritual Art and Music.

In 1959, Nalendra Monastery was mostly destroyed by the Chinese. What remained was burned to the ground during the Cultural Revolution. Its reconstruction was begun in 1980. At present, there are approx 70 Monks.

Alexander Berzin, 1991, expanded September 2003
Original version published in
"Sakya Monasteries." Chö-Yang, Year of Tibet Edition (Dharamsala, India), (1991).

Source

www.sakya.com.au