Dorje Drak Monastery is located in Changguo Township, Gonggar County, Shannan, Tibet, at the foothills of Zongyong Mountain and on the bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River (aka. Brahmaputra). "Dorje" means "Vajra", and "Drak" means "stone mountain". The name of the monastery is derived from the naturally formed vajra pattern on the back mountain, which is sometimes translated as "Dorje Monastery." It is said that its back mountain was once a place of practice for Guru Padmasambhava.
Dorje Drak Monastery is one of the six mother monasteries of Nyingmapa school, along with Mindroling Monastery, which is the main monastery of the "Southern Treasures" (Lhoter) lineage in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Dorje Drak Monastery was founded by the 1st Rigdzin (Godemchen) in Tsang at the end of the 16th century. Godemchen discovered a set of texts (Terma), which became the foundation of Buddhist teachings at Dorje Drak. As the Terma was discovered in Tsang, which is located in the northern region, it's also called "Northern Treasures" (Jangter). The "Northern Treasures" contain many scriptures that were not found in the original canonical texts or other Terma sources, such as the Khandro Nyingtik. These later became extremely important teachings within the Nyingma tradition.
After the establishment of Dorje Drak Monastery, it became dedicated to the transmission of the "Northern Treasures" tantric scriptures. Rigdzin Godemchen was recognized as the first reincarnate lama (Living Buddha) of Dorje Drak Monastery, and he transmitted the lineage of scriptures along with other terma teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism. The monastery's lineage of Living Buddha has continued through generations, with each Living Buddha bearing the title "Rigdzin Chenmo" before their name.
Inside the assembly hall, there are sacred statues and scriptures of the three Terma masters as well as relics such as the vajra dagger and Buddha’s tooth used by Guru Padmasambhava’s disciple, Nanam Dorje Dudjom, and King Trisong Detsen for their practice. Other precious artifacts include Milarepa’s staff, a painting of Kan-krodha, the treasured thangka of the Fifth Dalai Lama, the "bleeding thangka," and various exquisite thangkas and silk-woven Buddha images.
Having withstood centuries of trials and changes, Dorje Drak Monastery remains standing strong, serving as an invaluable heritage of Tibetan Buddhist culture and a spiritual sanctuary. If you ever have the chance to visit this mysterious and serene monastery, you will surely be deeply moved by its tranquility and power, experiencing a profound cleansing and nourishment of the soul.
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