Ngagyur Tsungon Tsogyal Shedupling (rnying ma. Bylakuppe)
snga ’gyur btsun dgon mtsho rgyal bshad sgrub gling was founded by skyab srje grub dbang pad nor rin po che on 27 Nov 1993 at Bylakuppe, south India. The monastery was primarily meant for as a center of study and reflection, for the upholders of rnying ma school from different places like India, Tibet, Mongolia, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal, and who also wanted to become nun. His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrated the monastery and given the name mtsho rgyal bshad sgrub gling.
Like other rnying ma colleges, the nuns at this center study from class one to up to nine. As of now, there are 300 nuns at the nunnery. There are 250 nuns in the foundational classes and 23 were enthroned as instructress. Those who have graduated from the center are working as teachers in Bhutan, India and Nepal. The younger ones, apart from learning how to read and write from class one to eight, they study and take part in lots of other activities such as; rituals, blowing, beating and tooling of instruments and butter adornment of gtor mas. The elders in the nunnery, as per the norms of their predecessors, accumulate and purify preliminary practices, recite the three roots, practice yogic exercises and cutting through of primordial purity. For the long lives of great personalities of dharma holder, they perform Tara rituals and petition offerings. The 10th day of every month is always observed. Thus, the nuns spend most of their times in studying learning and completion and practicing renunciation of worldly. As of now, there are 805 nuns at the nunnery.
Ngagyur Zabsang Chokhor Ling (Nyingma, Bir Dege)
Nyidrak Monastery or Ngagyur Zabsang Chokhor Ling was established in 2009 by Gyaton Shartrul Damcho Gyatso in Bir Dege settlement in Himachal Pradesh, northern India. On April 28, 2014, His Holiness the Dalai Lama graciously performed the inauguration ceremony.
The three-story temple has a double-layered Chinese-style roof. Under the central dome are the treasure teachings of the great Vidyadhara Nyima Drakpa and the Lama Guhyasamaja mandala. The main shrine on the lower floor features a two-story high Medicine Buddha statue surrounded by the twelve deeds, with four-armed Avalokiteshvara surrounded by the eight close sons on the right, and Guru Nangsi Zilnon surrounded by the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche on the left. The monastery also houses many thangkas including those of the Seventeen Panditas and Siddhas, the great Nyingma master Kunkhyen Longchenpa, and the Chakri lineage masters. The third floor contains His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence. The monastery is beautifully adorned both inside and out. Currently, there are 77 monks and 1 nun.
Orgyen Kater Rabgye Ling (Nyingma, Kollegal)
Orgyen Kater Rabgye Ling was established in 2022 at Kollegal Dhondenling in South India after Kyabje Karma Kuchen granted land to Khenpo Pema Chophel with the suggestion to build a place for people to make offerings and prayers. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kyabje Drubwang Pednor Rinpoche, and Karma Kuchen visited, blessed the monastery, and performed consecration ceremonies with prayers for it to become a center for the flourishing of the dharma. The monastery houses a Buddha statue, the complete Kangyur and Tengyur collections, and stupas.
The monastery includes meditation facilities, a philosophical college, and a preliminary school. The nine-year study program covers Vinaya, Abhidharma, Prajnaparamita, Madhyamaka, Valid Cognition, the Three Vows, the Five Treatises of Maitreya, and both outer and inner tantras - primarily focusing on Mahayoga, Anuyoga, and Atiyoga texts. Students also study Tibetan grammar, poetry, history and religious history. In short, they study the unique textual traditions from Sutra through Mahayana to Dzogchen, along with their commentaries. The monastery observes Buddha's special days, tenth-day ceremonies, and fasting retreats. They also perform rituals as directed by the Department of Religion and Culture for His Holiness the Dalai Lama's long life and the general welfare of Tibet's religion and politics. Currently, there are 72 monks in residence.
Palyul Thubten Shedrub Chökhor Dargye Ling (Nyingma, Bodhgaya)
Palyul Thubten Shedrub Chökhor Dargye Ling was established at the sacred site of Bodhgaya following the instructions of the third head of the Nyingma tradition, Kyabje Drubwang Pednor Rinpoche. Under the responsibility of Chogtrul Gyangkhang Rinpoche, construction began in 2008 and was completed with all sacred objects in 2015. The sixth head of the Nyingma tradition, Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, performed the consecration ceremony and installed the golden pinnacle. Additionally, Kyabje Thubten Palzang Rinpoche, Kyabje Yangthang Rinpoche, and Chogtrul Gyangkhang Rinpoche performed inaugurations and consecrations.
In 2016, His Holiness the Dalai Lama graciously visited and performed a consecration ceremony. The monastery also received visits and consecrations from Gyalwang Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje, holder of the practice lineage, and in 2017 from the Sakya throne holder Kyabgon Sakya Gongma Dagchen Rinpoche, master of the vast ocean of Khon lineage teachings. Currently, the monastery has 9 monks and 1 nun.
Pema Sangngak Choekhorling (rnying ma. Bylakuppe)
Pad ma gsangsngagschos ’khor gling, consisted of three monasteries; lhasgangdgon, rnargadgon and lhabdundgon, was a vast religious institution. It was founded by kagyu lama zhangrin po che. Initially ordained monastic community prevailed, however, it later became a center for the rnying ma tantric practitioners and it remained till Tibet lost its independence.
In India, grub dbang pad ma nor burin po che, the eleventh of abbots of rgyalbadpalyul pa, one of the seats of six great rnying ma centers have facilitated the establishment of the foundation of monastery at second village of Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement. The over all construction was completed in 2007. Today, around 18 tantric practitioners are maintaining the rtogspa’ichos.
Phuntsok Ngawa Choekhorling phun (rnying ma. rdor ling)
Phun tshogs rnga yab chos ’khor ling was restored and its three supports were newly built at rdor rje ling by bya bral sngas rgyas rdo rje in 1959. The main support includes a gold and copper statue of Guru glorious subjugator of appearance and existence and other sacred relics of images, scriptures and mind. The monks at the center hear, learn and study the ocean of mantra and sutra treatises.
The monks after finishing the series of stages of meditation from the center, they take the role of meditation master for three years and then stay at the center as per the norm. Today, up to three batches have completed the meditation. Based on the ritual tradition of ka thog, the monks annually perform rites and rituals for religious and secular purposes, such as Elaborate Assemblage of Knowledge Holder, recitation of the translated works of Buddha and ten thousand Tara prayer. The monastery has 35 monks including the director of the institute snga ’gyur bstan pa’i gsal byed skyab srje bya bral sgnas rgyas rdo rje.
Phuntsok Pema Choekhorling (rnying ma. rdor ling)
Phun tshogs pad ma chos ’khor ling was collectively founded at rdor ling in 1961, by the crown jewel of the teachings of the early translation bdud ’joms rin po che and the rdor ling tshe bcu organization. The monastery is being run under the leadership of La ma zla ba rgyal mtshen, the representative of grub dbang pad nor rin po che. Currently there are 34 monks at the center.
Rigzin Namdrol Ling (rnying ma. Dhasa)
rig ’dzin rnam grol gling was founded at the waist of shel dkar sgrol ma mountain. It was known as Shri Manju monastery. shel dkar zhol pa lama ’gyur med rdorje started the guru religious service on the 10th day at Dharamsala in 1972. In 1979, near the old palace at Dharamsala, a new temple was established by the money donated by those who attended the religious service on the 10th day.
The clay statue of guru glorious subjugator of appearance and existence is the main relics of the temple with other relics including: Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and nirmanakaya, Avalokiteshvara with thousand arms and eyes, Vajrasattva, the credentials of Buddha, and the outer inner and secret of northern treasures and its yogic application. His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave the name rig ’dzin rnam grol gling to the center. Including the abbot cum lama shel dkar zhol pa lama ’gyur med rdorje, there are 12 monks and nuns at the center. Every year, religious service on the 10th day of every month, guru anniversary puja, and religious service requests from the masses are being performed.
Shechen Tennyi Dhargyeling (rnying ma. Boudhanath stupa)
The 5th Dalai Lama asked grub dbang rdzogs chen, rab ’byams pa bstan pa’I rgyal mtshen and rig ‘dzin nyi ma grags pa to establish a monastery by each. Thus, rab ’byams pa bstan pa’I rgyal mtshen founded zhe chen ao rgyan chos rdzong in 1698. The second reincarnation rig ’dzin dpal ’byor rgya mtsho relocated the center to a nearby place and named it zhe chen bstan gnyis dar rgyas gling, and there the number of great lineage holders increased.
After the Chinese occupation of Tibet, by the grace of the supreme luminary of the teachings of rnying ma school dil mgo’i mkhyen brtse rin po che, the 7thrab ’byams ’gyur med kun bzang bshad sgrub chos kyi seng ge theg mchog bstan pa’i rgyal mtshan newly founded the center and its relics in 1980. The center put effort on the study and teaching of the teachings of Buddha and its continuity and propagation. Today monks from Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and others places, numbering around 518, continue the teaching of Buddha in general and rnying ma school in particular undeclined.
Shukseb Drubde Nesum Dakini Yongdu Ling (Nyingma, Yanglesho, Nepal)
Shukseb Drubde Nesum Dakini Yongdu Ling was established in 1993 by Kyabje Jadrel Sangye Dorje Rinpoche in Yanglesho, Nepal, under the patronage of Bu Kalsang Chowang and other supporters.
This retreat center primarily focuses on the study and practice of the Longchen Nyingthik cycle of teachings, including empowerments, transmissions, and instructions. About 28 nuns have completed five sets of three-year retreats, and currently about 14 nuns continue to perform annual retreats.