All that remains of the famous main Dzogchen retreat center are a few walls (picture by Sangye Trinley)

After growing into one of the greatest monastic centers in Tibet, the institution known as Dzogchen Monastery continued to expand and develop through the first half of the twentieth century, until the disturbances which occurred throughout Tibet and China beginning in the late 1950s.  During the next few decades, the buildings and other sacred objects of Dzogchen Monastery, including the library, were completely destroyed. In the early 1980s, a long process of rebuilding the Dzogchen Monastery started, and is still continuing.

Lhasar Shrineroom at Dzogchen Monastery in Tibet

At present, the smaller temple called Lhasar has been rebuilt and there are about 300 monks who are receiving training in tantric ritual arts, studies and practices of the Dzogchen lineage. The main temple and shrine has not yet been restored. Currently there are about five older Rinpoches who are leading the monastery and training the younger generation of teachers and disciples. Among them Tulku Kasang has, with extraordinary dedication, taken overall responsibility for rebuilding and guiding the Shri Singha shedra. Tulku Drukpa Kuchung and the late Kunsang Tulku have taken responsibility for rebuilding and guiding the main monastery, and completely dedicated themselves to its well-being.

Tulku Kalsang, an exceptionally learned and skilled master, Tulku Drukpa Kuchung, the oldest and most knowledgeable tulku in the Vajrayana lineage and the ritual arts of the Dzogchen tradition, and Kunzang Tulku, an individual of incomparable compassionate heart and great accomplishment in meditation practice, have together worked as an exceptional team in rebuilding the Dzogchen monastic institution in the Twentieth Century. Throughout the rebuilding of Dzogchen Monastery they have continuously consulted with the reincarnations of the Abbots who now live in India.

Tokden Tulku, Chokley Tulku, Tulku Tenphel, Tulku Pegyal and other teachers have given irreplacable support to Dzogchen, and untiringly contributed their efforts in rebuilding this great institution.

An overview of the six seats