User:Gakyegu/sandbox

The Great Kyegu Monastery was first blessed by the great Dharma King Choegyal Phagpa (one of the five foremost founders of Sakya) in 1265, the year Choegyal Phagpa visited Kyegu town. Gyagarwa Sherab Gyaltsen (1436-1494) the 19th Throne holder of Sakya Hierarchy visited the Monastery, blessed it and named the Monastery "Dhondup Ling". Later Khenchen Paldhen Choekyong (1702-1769), the 34th Abbot of Ngor School (a sub-sect of the Sakya Order) visited Kyegu Monastery and turned the wheel of Dharma there. Most of the grand halls of the Monastery were completely constructed at that time, namely Samdrup Gyatso (the main shrine hall), Maitreya Hall, the Immortal Hall, the Lecturing Courtyard etc. The Monastery had approx 2000 monks before the Communist Chinese invasion in 1959. The Monastery had its own Shedra (college) where the studies of Buddhist philosophy were imparted to hundreds of students.Among the many who practised Buddhadharma and became learned scholars and great practitioners were: Lama Thinley Choephel, Lama Ngaga, Lama Riho, Tsejam and many others who were educated in the perfection and articulation of both rituals and tantric practices. It was and still is the leading Monastery of the Sakya Tradition in Ga (Gawa), the area in Kham Province in Eastern Tibet. Two other tulkus of the monastery are Megen Tulku and Gyanag Tulku. Many of Rinpoche's students from Australia have enjoyed their visits to the monastery on several occasions prior to the earthquake and some students have visited the area few times after the devastating earthquake that hit the Kyegu town and the monastery was destroyed.