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YONGDEN MONASTERY IN YADDING (SICHUAN PROVINCE), CHINA |
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Overall view of Yongden Monastery. In the sparse, harsh landscape,
Yongden stands out among all the other buildings in Yadding.
Yongden Monastery is approximately 500 years old. It is famous for being the monastery of His Holiness the 101st Gaden Trisur Lungrik Namgyal Rinpoche, who was born in Yading.
His Holiness is the Gaden Tripa who, after ending his term in office, left Gaden to join Shar Gaden. His Holiness is just one of the many high lamas who uphold the practice Dorje Shugden
Yongden Monastery currently has over 200 monks registered with them.
Images of the previous 10th Panchen Lama (top) and current 11th Panchen Lama (middle) in the chapel. At the bottom is a letter written by the Panglung Oracle to the Monastery. In 1956, it was the Panglung Oracle who took trance of Dorje Shugden, and issued instructions for a group of Khampa warriors known as the Chushi Gangdruk to be formed. Later, in 1959, it was the same Chushi Gangdruk who escorted His Holiness the Dalai Lama to safety in India.
Statues of Dorje Shugden and his four cardinal emanations, festooned with khata offerings. From left to right, they are Gyenze, Shize, Dulzin Dorje Shugden, Wangze and Trakze (out of the picture).
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| Exterior of Yongden’s main prayer hall (gompa) |
The current abbot of Yongden, Ken Rinpoche Gelek Lodrup |
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| His Holiness the 101st Gaden Trisur Lungrik Namgyal Rinpoche’s throne is in front of the main altar, taking centre place in Yongden’s gompa |
As the Gaden Tripa, His Holiness was the head of the Gelug lineage. He is considered to be Tsongkhapa on earth and His Holiness is extremely respected, especially in Yongden, his birth monastery. Images of him can be found throughout Yongden, including this beautiful wall painting. |
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| A wall painting of Dorje Shugden surrounded by his four cardinal emanations in the traditional style. Riding on the elephant is Shize, on the horse Gyenze, on the dragon Wangze and on the garuda Trakze. |
For approximately 500 years, pujas have been done in Yongden according to the scriptures. Given the Gelug strict emphasis on purity of tradition and lineage, one can be assured that the rituals done in Yongden are authentic and have remained unchanged for centuries. |
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| Many pujas are held in the richly-carved prayer gompa on a daily basis. The cold weather is such that the monks have to wear their thick winter robes. |
Behind the thrones and on the main altar of Yongden sits a large Lama Tsongkhapa as the main image in their gompa. |
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| Buddha Shakyamuni (left) and Gyaltsab Je, one of Je Tsongkhapa’s two heart disciples. As is evident in the walls behind them, monasteries will fill every inch of available space with Buddha images so that they plant countless seeds of enlightenment in the mindstreams of those who see them. |
Being the main Protector of this monastery, Dorje Shugden has his own Protector chapel where many monks and lay devotees will gather daily to recite prayers and make offerings to seek his blessings. |
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| Dorje Shugden’s body is the manifested teachings of the Lamrim as expounded by Je Tsongkhapa. Thus it is only appropriate that the main image in the Dorje Shugden chapel is that of Lama Tsongkhapa. |
The main Dorje Shugden statue in the Chapel, approximately 12ft in height. |
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| 12ft Gyenze, with a copper pot by his feet (bottom right). Copper pots such as these are used to make serkyem (golden drink) offerings. |
A 12ft statue of Shize, who is particularly efficacious for healing. |
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| A 12ft Wangze with wrathful red torma offerings by his feet. |
Wrathful Trakze, also 12ft in height. |
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