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| Nyingma (Pa) |
| Around 760, in answer to the invitation of King Trisong Detsen, Padmasambhava came into Tibet, together with Shantarakshita organizing 108 translators spending years to translate large scriptural of Dharma teachings into Tibet. The translations of this period formed the base of the development of Buddhism in Tibetan plateau. During the same period, Padmasambhava created Nyingma tradition, which is the oldest of the four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism. "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and is often referred to as the "school of the ancient translations", because it was founded on the first translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan in the 8th century. There are six monasteries known as "mother monasteries" of the Nyingma lineage, which are: Katok Monastery, Dorje Drak Monastery, Mindroling Monastery, Palyul Monastery, Dzogchen Monastery, Shechen Monastery. Among of those, 4 of Katok monastery, Palyul Monastery, Shechen Monastery, Dzogchen Monastery, are all located in Derge county of the eastern tibet of Kham, which has made Kham being the center of this lineage |
| Dorje Drak Monastery was founded in central Tibet near Lhasa in the 16th century. The monastery was destroyed first in 1718 by the Mongols and then again during the Cultural Revolution in the middle of 20th century. Reconstruction has been made since 1984. The monastery specialized in the Northern Treasures tradition of Rigdzin Gödem. |
| Mindroling Monastery, located in Dranang county in central, was established in 1676, which was surrounded by hills. The monastery was built facing east, and to present compilation of the Tibetan calendar and Tibetan books, thefeore its special emphasis, which was placed on the monks, is to learn astronomy, Tibetan lunar calendar, as well as Buddhist scriptures, calligraphy, rhetoric, and Traditional Tibetan medicine. Mindroling Monastery was damaged in 1718 by Mongols, was rebuilt during the reign of the 18th century under the reign of the 7th Dalai Lama. Again it was damaged in the middle of 20th century, is now still being reconstructed; |
| Dzogchen Monastery, was established in 1675, Is thought to be the largest Nyingma monastery. Located in eastern Tibet of Kham, about 50km west from Manigango, a wild small town in the northwest of Kham. It became especially renowned for its Shri Singha Shedra established by Gyalsé Shenpen Thayé, and is also known as the principle repository of the Konchok Chidu cycle of the Jangt.It was one of the most famous centres of sacred ritual dance, now commonly known as "lama dancing". |
| Katok Monastery, was founded during the 12th century, and expanded in 1656. The original gompa fell into disrepair and was rebuilt on the same site in 1956. The monastery had a reputation for fine scholarship and produced some of the greatest scholars in Tibetan history. In 1999 disciples of Kenpo Munsel and Kenpo Jamyang at Katok Monastery compiled a Katok edition of the 'Kama' in 120 volumes, which contains many rare Nyingma treatises on Mahayoga, Anuyoga, and Atiyoga that heretofore had never been seen outside of Tibet. Its mystery festival is held on 10th of June in Tibetan Calendar almost each year. |
| Palyul monastery Palyul in Tibetan means "auspicious land". was built in 1665 by Lhachen Jampa Phuntsog, the first Dharma King of Dege, Payul monastery is located the north side of Palyul county on a small hill with altitude of 3100m surrounded by mountains and forests.It has 108 big monasteries and over 2,000 small monasteries and researching institutes all over the world. |
| Shechen Monastery was founded in 1695 by Shechen Rabjam Tenpé Gyaltsen who was sent to Kham with this purpose by the Fifth Dalai Lama. It is renowned for the authenticity of the teachings at its shedra and for the quality of its sacred arts. Its loccation is at the valley, which is 10km to the road junction between Nangdo and Dzogchen. Shechen Monastery now has 160 satellite monasteries spread out in the Himalayan region. |
