What and where?
Dagpo Dratsang (of Dagpo Shedrup Ling) is a Tibetan buddhist monastic university founded in the 15th century.
The original Dagpo Monastery is located in the Dagpo region in the South East of Tibet. Since 2005, there is a new Dagpo Monastery in Himachalpradesh in Kais, in the Kullu valley in the north of India, where there are now about 180 monks living and studying.
The address is:
DAGPO SHEDRUP LING MONASTERY
VILL & P.O. KAIS – 175101
DISTT KULLU
HIMACHAL PRADESH
INDIA
History
Dagpo Shedrup Ling has been founded upon the request of the exceptional master Je Tsonkhapa (1357-1419) by Je Lodrö Tenpa (1402-1476) in the middle of the 15th century in South East Tibet.
Dagpo Shedrup Ling, also called Dagpo Dratsang, is a monastic university where the buddhist philosophy is studied.
Read more here about the history.
Particularities
The monastery Dagpo Shedrup Ling was and is famous amongst the Tibetans because of several remarkable traits. For example, the instructions of the Great Lamrim by Je Tsonkhapa form the core practice of this monastic community, and as a result the monastery is also known as Lamrim Dratsang. Moreover, the monastery is known for the way that knowledge is tested, the special chants and the beautify of the melodies, and its strict monastic discipline.
Read more about the particularities.
The need for the preservation
The desire to maintain the traditions of Dagpo Shedrup Ling does not arise from attachment to the past or nostalgia but from the awareness that they contribute to well-being and happiness, and from the wish that as many people as possible may benefit from them. All the activities that constitute the daily life of members of Dagpo Shedrup Ling are inspired by a unique aim – to ensure that all beings find stable happiness. Centuries of experience have shown again and again the effectiveness of the methods used to fulfil this goal as they have produced many spiritually accomplished masters. Today, by the force of circumstances, these traditions have become available to people of diverse nationalities. As Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike test them, it has become clear to many that they indeed increase their personal well-being and their concern for others’ welfare.
Such a way of life, in which people devote themselves systematically to developing attitudes of non-violence, love, and compassion towards others, is quite rare in the world today, and is all the more precious.
It is our hope to preserve this treasure for the benefit of future generations.
The school
The Thosam Ling School is a part of Dagpo Dratsang and takes care of the elementary education of the young monks between the ages of 5-14. In addition to Hindi and English, they also learn Tibetan. The Thosam Ling school is important for the preservation of the Tibetan language and culture.
Read more and view the video.
