Tashi Jong

The Khampagar Monastery in Kham, Eastern Tibet is the seat of H.H. Khamtrul Rinpoche. It was the head of over 200 branch monasteries, nunneries and retreat centers in Kham of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage.

In 1965, having foreseen the imminent coming of the communist Chinese, The 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Kalzang Dongyu Nyima, left for India with a group of 16 monks. In India, they settled first in Kalipong in West Bengal, where many lay people from Khampagar area in Kham came seeking refuge, and affiliated themselves with the newly formed community. In 1969, the community moved to Himachal Pradesh in North India. There they settled in the peaceful Kangra valley on 34 acres of land which was named Tashi Jong. .The 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche besides being a very highly qualified Buddhist Teacher was an excellent artist. He encouraged the community to become a settlement specializing in the preservation of Dharma, unique Tibetan culture and all kinds of traditional arts like hand woven carpets, wood carving, Thangka (sacred) painting etc.

Nowadays the community has a monastery of 160 monks and about 500 lay people in the settlement. The monastery is unique in many respects and it includes a special group of highly realized yogis called Togdens. In Tibet the Togdens lived in retreat centre or in caves. In Tashi Jong, there are retreat huts for the community of Togdens. Although they are fully ordained Bhikshu, the Togdens display the matted hair and white robes of the Milarepa traditional. At present, there are more then 15 Yogis from old and new retreat centre, who are undergoing this profound training which requires many years to complete.
The other monks at Khampagar are studying Buddhist Dharma philosophy, and training in ritual activities and practicing different tantric sadhanas. They also do a ritual dance called Cham. Cham dance is a tantric meditative dance practice which may be viewed by the full public, where by the practitioners dance in full costume according to a particular sadhana (ritual text). Cham dances originated from the visions of Guru Padmasambhava and his eight emanations which appeared to Kunga Tendzin, the 3rd Khamtrul Rinpoche.

Dongyu Gatsal Ling, a nunnery for young women from Tibet other Himalayan regions, has recently been established near Tashi Jong by a western nun Ven. Ani Tenzin Palmo, a disciple of the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, to fulfill her Guru's wish. Dongyu Gastsal Ling offers a strong program of Dharma education comprising of all aspects like study, meditation and ritual practices. When complete, the Dongyu Gatsal Ling will have 80 nuns.The late Tokden Amtin mentioned that at the time of the initial consecration blessings of the land of Tashi Jong, both H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and H.H. the 8^th. Khamtrul Rinpoche strongly felt this place to be the pure land of Five Manjushri.

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