Tharpaling Monastery
THARPALING · 解脫洲
Bumthang, Bhutan · The Dzogchen Holy Site of the Omniscient Longchenpa
Bumthang, Bhutan · Tharpaling Monastery
Tharpaling (Tibetan for "Island of Liberation") is a Dzogchen holy site founded in the fourteenth century by the great omniscient master Longchenpa, and is one of the oldest Nyingma seats in Bhutan. After Khenpo Nima Rinpoche assumed the abbacy, he vowed to restore it, and its consecration was completed in 2016.
The Holy Site of Longchenpa
The Chumey valley region of Bumthang in Bhutan has been a holy site of the Dzogchen teachings since the fourteenth century. The great omniscient master Longchenpa (1308–1364), the Second Buddha, resided here for many years, widely transmitting the profound meaning of Dzogchen and guiding countless disciples. The monastery he himself founded — Tharpaling, Tibetan for "Island of Liberation" — has been passed down from generation to generation for several centuries.
Reconstruction and Consecration
After Khenpo Nima Rinpoche became the sixth abbot of Tharpaling Monastery, he vowed to restore the ancient temple. The reconstruction took more than a decade, and by 2016 the work was completed inside and out. A grand consecration ceremony was held on the Tibetan calendar's day of the Buddha Shakyamuni's Descent from Heaven. The halls regained their majesty, able to house three hundred monks for residence, study, and practice.
The Majesty of the Halls
After reconstruction, the principal halls of Tharpaling Monastery include the great memorial hall of the omniscient Longchenpa; the hall of the Three Founders (Guru Padmasambhava, Shantarakshita, and King Trisong Detsen); as well as the hall of Buddha Shakyamuni with the Sixteen Arhats, the hall of the Twenty-One Taras, and others. The monastery also preserves the relics of the sacred sites where Longchenpa practiced in his day.
The Continuity of the Lineage
Tharpaling carries the Dzogchen lineage descending from Longchenpa, which shares one continuous stream with the Longchen Nyingtik propagated by the Longchen Buddhist Centre (Hong Kong). It is at this ancient temple that Khenpo Nima Rinpoche serves as abbot and teaches the Dharma, carrying the pure transmission afar to the shores of Hong Kong.