Dorjee Drak Monastery
Fast Fact:
School of Buddhism: Nyingmapa
Founded: By 1st Rigdzin Godemchen Ngodrup Gyaltsen
Location: On the northern bank of Brahmaputra in Gonga county
Attitude: 3520
The main attraction: The Statue of Guru Rinpochen
Dorjee Drak Monastery is one of the significant Nyingmapa monasteries, along with Mindroling Monastery in the Tsang region. These two, among the 6 great Nyingmapa monasteries in Tibet, with the others situated in the Kham region.
The abbot of the monastery holds the title of Rigzin, named after the 1st Rigdzin Godemchen who was regarded as the reincarnation of Guru Rinpoche. They follow a hereditary lineage of Lamas.
In 1632, the ruler of Tsang forcibly relocated the monastery to its current site near the Brahmaputra River on the northern bank at the foot of a mountain in the shape of a Thunderbolt (Dorje Drak), after which the monastery was named.
During the time of the 4th Rigdzin Pema Trinley in the 18th century, although he expanded the monastery, he was later assassinated by Dzungar Mongols.
Currently, the 10th Rigzin of the monastery resides in Lhasa. In 2000, with the assistance of local people, the monastery underwent renovation.
The main attraction of the monastery is the great assembly hall that houses the statues of Guru Rinpoche and the 4th Rigdzin Pema Trinley. There are also many small chapels on the second floor, where one can see the statue of the Buddha of Compassion and protector deities like Mahakala.
Another important feature is the monastery library, where one can find the scriptures of Kangyur and Tengyur.
Although the monastery may seem relatively small and not highly developed in some aspects, it is still a place worthy of a visit. Especially when taking a circumambulation (kora) after visiting the monastery, one can enjoy a magnificent natural view of the Brahmaputra River and the surrounding mountains.
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