I VISITED GADEN for the first time WITH AN OXYGEN TANK
I am facing holy Gaden Monastery making my prayers before I enter its holy grounds.
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
I made a trip to Tibet in end of December 2008 and early January 2009. It was my first time there and I went with a tiny group as it was a last-minute decision to go.
I visited quite a few places in Tibet.
When we left the hotel and took an hour drive to Gaden, the weather and skies were clear. By the time we got there, it was snowing and the place was white! From the bottom of the mountain, due to the snow, it took us 45 mins of slow driving up to the top. The buses that came couldn’t go up due to the snow, so they stayed at the bottom and the people actually walked up…wow…such devotion.
January 1st, 2009 is when I laid my eyes on holy Gaden Monastery in Tibet the first time!!
We visited the main mausoleum of Tsongkhapa that houses the remains of his holy body and clothes. We made tremendous prayers there and even though we arrived just before it was closing, the monks did not rush us out. We also visited the Setrap Chapel. Then we walked along a narrow 8-inch wide path that led to the cave that Tsongkhapa meditated in and achieved great realizations. They had built a chapel over the cave, and we went to visit and make prayers.
The altitude was very high, so I needed additional oxygen which I carried in a tank. After we arrived in Tibet, it took me around two days to acclimatize to the altitude. I was actually very sick for those first two days but I had great people helping me and good doctors who came to check on me.
I am facing the holy stupa that contains Lama Tsongkhapa's body/clothes/relics!!!
Behind me is the Golden Stupa that encases the holy remains of Lama Tsongkhapa’s blessed body/clothes/relics!! Tens of thousands of pilgrims, visitors and tourists from China, Nepal, Mongolia, Russia, India and Japan, as well as Tibetan themselves have visited this incredible holy of holies for the last 600 years.
Great decisions are made after making prayers here and great lamas have been recognized after doing prayers here. Everyone in Tibet for the past 600 years would make it a point to visit this holy stupa. And here I am, having the great fortune to visit. I thank my Gurus, Tara and Setrap for this opportunity.
Inside the Setrap Chapel of Gaden in Tibet!!
Walking around to visit the various sacred chapels and places of interest
I have been told that my previous lives are from Gaden. So one of the students with me asked, “Can you remember anything here??” I was like, “Noooooo, I don’t” …too bad for me…but I did feel very comfortable and it was very exciting to be there. When I first entered Gaden, I just couldn’t stop crying and crying. I was overwhelmed by the energy and vibrations of the place. I realized how much benefit this place created in the last 600 years for the preservation of the pure Buddha Dharma. Gaden’s existence has contributed to the Dharma spreading to the world now!!! And it is all because of Lord Tsongkhapa…I prostrate to this supreme Buddha Tsongkhapa for all time.
I am standing in front of the cave that Lama Tsongkhapa meditated in for six years with close students!!! He completed ten million prostrations, one million mandala offerings, ten million recitations to the 35 Confessional Buddhas, etc. He had his visions of Manjushri here along with a few disciples who had also developed clairvoyance, and from henceforth he had direct communications with Manjushri as and when it was necessary. It was like he got his spiritual cellphone here and could call Manjushri anytime. Unfortunately when I showed up to get a cell, they were out of stock!!!!!!
They had built a chapel over the cave and painted it maroon and yellow to show its sanctity. It was thrilling and moving to be here.
This holy image is inside the cave of Tsongkhapa
The Drive Up to Gaden in Tibet
This is a video of our drive away from Gaden and I was narrating. I took this on my handphone.
Gaden in Karnataka, South India
This is Gaden Monastery, reestablished in Karnataka, South India by the monks who left Tibet in 1959. In this video which was filmed in 2006, I was taking 63 Malaysians on a pilgrimage to the monastery I am from. We had the great privilege and honour to make offerings of robes and Manjushri statues to all 3000 monks.
I loved Gaden in Tibet and of course in India too. I advise you strongly to visit and make the causes to visit by dedicating yourselves to your master and Tsongkhapa.
Tsem Rinpoche
For more interesting information:
- The Tsongkhapa category on my blog
- What you must know about China
- Nepal Pilgrimage Full Videos
- Who is Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen?
- Russian leadership supports Buddhism
- The cowshed that was my home in Gaden
- Daibutsu – The Great Buddha of Kamakura
- My Precious Teachers
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Going on a pilgrimage visiting Gaden Mosnastery in Tibet, was indeed once a life experience. Well…. Going there with an oxygen tank will be tough when one experienced difficulties in breathing due to high attitude. Nor matter what happen our Lama Rinpoche made it there back in December 2008 and early January 2009 during winter. I am lucky visiting Gaden Monastery with friends back in May 2019 without any hitch with our lama blessing then. It’s a beautiful monastery and its so holy one could feel the powerful energies there.
For Rinpoche its home coming after so long. Seeing the pictures of Rinpoche standing in front of the Golden Stupa where the holy remains of Lama Tsongkhapa’s blessed body/clothes/relics were remind me of the great moment there. If given the opportunity again , I wish to visit the monastery again in the near future.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
I have a strong respect for all the religions, religious places and the mode of prayers they follow. I believe it is more important to have a strong faith, and this faith will lead us on the correct path.
Thank you for the precious sharing and bring us to the beautiful snow-covered peaks view of Gaden Monastery. I am bless to see the photo of Golden Stupa that encases the holy remains of Lama Tsongkapa’s blessed body/clothes/relics. I sure you must had enjoyed the wonderful experiences of the journey.
This is such an amazing journey. I can imagine the beautiful sight of Gaden for the first time. It would be so interesting to visit Gaden .The place where Lama Tsongkhapa went into intensive retreats with his close students. Thank you very much Rinpoche and blog team for sharing these amazing videos and beautiful pictures from your journey to Gaden ????
For Rinpoche going on an amazing journey to Gaden Monastery for the first time even though with oxygen tank. I could imagined its so cold during that time snowing moreover and the excitement of seeing where the holy remains of Lama Tsongkhapa’s blessed body, clothes and relics were. Even though it’s a old post yet I do enjoyed looking at those beautiful pictures. Wow…. this monastery which has be created for more than the last 600 years for the preservation of the pure Buddha Dharma, in fact benefited many practitioners as well as tourist. Its existence has contributed to the Dharma spreading to the world till today.
Visiting Gaden Monastery, Tibet is in my bucket list which I do wish. to visit at least once in my life time. It’s a blessing and a dream for my friends and myself, going on pilgrimage to Gaden Monastery in the near furture. It will be great privilege for us to make offerings at Gaden Monastery,Tibet.
Thank you Rinpoche for the Sharing.
It would be so amazing to visit Gaden , the place where Lama Tsongkhapa went into intensive retreats with his close students. the Setrap chapel and the stupa that contains Je Tsongkhapa’s relics.
Thank you Rinpoche for the Sharing. Wish we can have enough merit to visit and make pilgrimages at Gaden monasteries.
Thank you Rinpoche, all Buddhas and Gurus for spreading the Dharma to us and to all sentient beings. We are so fortune to have opportunities to learn Dharma from Rinpoche.
真希望能親身到此殊勝的佛门勝地，甘丹寺给殊勝宗喀巴大師舍利塔頂礼及献上哈迖….
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you Rinpoche for bringing us on a virtual tour of Gaden Monastery. It is not easy to pay respect to the 3 Jewels in such a holy space. Rinpoche has kindly shared these precious images with us, I hope that this will create the cause for us to visit Gaden one day
感谢詹仁波切与我们分享数年前他在西藏新嘎档派-黄教母寺的点滴。此举让我们可有机会见到一些珍贵的著名寺院的照片如金甲衣护法的圣殿等，从中引发了我们在学佛上更为精进的精神。祈愿我们有朝一日也有机会到哪儿朝圣吧。
This is such an amazing journey. I can imagine the beautiful sight of Gaden for the first time. It must have been something really special for Rinpoche . I am glad that Rinpoche decided to share this with us and I am happy that Rinpoche had a good time during that journey.
Gaden Monastry indeed a holy place. I still rejoice for Rinpoche although the pilgrimage happened sometimes back. How fabulous it would be if I have merit to be there at least once in my lifetime.
谢谢仁波切的分享
每次看到仁波切分享关于朝圣， 尤其是西藏和尼泊尔的时候， 看着照片的同时心跳都会加速，呼吸急促， 让我想起小时候学校假期早上起身打开电子游戏机玩游戏的兴奋的感觉。 不同的是， 看着圣地的照片多了一份感动的感觉， 仿佛找到自己断掉的手脚那样。
真希望可以早日去这些地方朝圣。
谢谢
Thanks Rinpoche for taking us for a short tour to Gaden Monastery, feel blessed even take a glance to the pictures and the video above.
May we able to collect enough Merits to visit Gaden Monastery as Rinpoche advice hence dedicate the Merits for Rinpoche long life, stable health hence continue to turn the wheel of Dharma (with folded hands)
Thanks for Rinpoche’s sharing. By viewing the photos, wishing that I can create a good cause to visit the holy places.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.We are indeed fortunate to have a glimpse of such holy sites and the Ganden Monastery.Even so far away from civilisation and with such harsh weather.The lamas there really took great effort to preserve the holy sites for others to share and worship.
We certainly hope that ,we have the resources and the merits to perform pilgrimage to Ganden Monastery within our lifetime…..
This was quite a while but but i hope Rinpoche had a great time and i am so happy the he got to see these amazing things. I wish to see Gaden Monastery one day. Thank you for sharing RInpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article again. I read this and watched the video 2 years ago. I feel closer to Gaden this time. I read my own comment again. I feel so blessed that I am still alive. I am still able to read Rinpoche’s blog. Fortunate enough to work in Kechara Forest Retreat with all the nice people here.
So amazing that the students of Lama Tsongkhapa built The Gaden Monastery and offered to Him. Rinpoche made lots of good wishes for Kechara and all of us. Because of all the good wishes that Rinpoche made in Gaden, Kechara Forest Retreat will manifest.
Thank you Rinpoche for bringing us to Gaden Monastery in Tibet through this posting. It was a great determination and much effort for Lama Tsongkhapa who built the Gaden Monastery together with His disciples during that time. It is great to see the monastery was preserved and maintained until today, which serves as a pilgrimage destination for many people to pay homage and collect merits. May all of us can visit to Gaden Monastery to repay the kindness of Lama Tsongkhapa and His disciples for bringing us the Dharma in this degenerate lifetime. Without Lama Tsongkhapa, there will be no Kechara and we will not get to know and learn the Dharma that can free us from all sufferings.
Dear Rinpoche,
It really looks amazing and beautiful. I wish to be able to travel to Gaden with Rinpoche next time.
I wish that one day I too would have the opportunity to visit this holy site. Thank you for sharing your experiences Rinpoche! Without Lama Tsongkhapa and Gaden Monastery, Kechara would not happen, Modern Buddhism would not happen. We should respect and pay homage to this blessed location!
What a weird place to build a temple, lol. Seems so inaccessible. Or maybe that’s the point. I guess Lama Tsongkhapa used telekinesis to get all the stone and materials up to the mountain? I thought the chinese destroyed all the Tibetan monasteries hence why Gaden was rebuilt in India but i don’t know. A little bit more of my ignorance has been eaten up by reading this article. Thanks for posting! i am Glad that You got to visit this place!
Michael C, Rinpoche mentions that he drove up there and I’m pretty sure they had roads during Tsongkhapa’s time. If you think this is a weird place to build a temple, maybe you ought to pay a little visit to China 🙂 https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/art-architecture/the-hanging-temple.html
Gaden in Tibet was destroyed but small portions have since been rebuilt.
好殊胜的地方，要修多少世才可以遇见佛法？这是600年前这里来了位圣者把佛法传洋出去，让我们身在远洋的这块土地学习祂的佛法。真的要祈愿到西藏甘丹寺去顶礼，献上卡达。
Thanks Rinpoche for the sharing.
The pictures touched me so much!!!
The Gaden Monastery in Tibet is so beautiful. How i wish that the Gaden was not destroyed before, and all of us is able to visit the original Gaden.
I did search Gaden in google map before, the time i found Gaden, i really feel so touched. Hope that one day i am able to visit both Gaden in India and Tibet.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the beautiful pictures and write-up in this blog post. If it was not for Rinpoche, I would never have known of any monasteries. I am very glad I had the opportunity to visit Gaden in India about 1 and a half years back. and hopefully I will have the opportunity to visit Gaden in Tibet one day as well.
Whatever good merits I had, may I increase it with my Dharma work to be able to visit this holy place one day! It was lovely to visit Gaden in India to see where Rinpoche came from and all the lovely monks there who dedicates their life to serving others. What more they do so happily with no complains at all. It was definitely a good experience for me personally as I had never come in contact with any monasteries before.
I love how the monks can live in such simple conditions. Puts myself to shame to see how these monks live..I have practically everything I want but still I still every day for more. Like I said earlier, if it wasnt for Rinpoche, I would not have realised all these. Thank you Rinpoche!
For those who wants to support the monks in Gaden check this out: http://www.buddhas-space.com/post/41186316164
Wow, really really holy Gaden. Thank you Rinpoche to share this wonderful experience for us. So fortunate to see the photo of Golden Stupa that encases the holy remains of Lama Tsongkapa’s blessed body/clothes/relics . I wish i can visit holy Gaden Monastery in this life.
[…] I visited Gaden for the 1st time with an oxygen tank […]
Lama Tsongkhapa and holy Gaden. It will be so meritorious if we can visit Lama Tsongkhapa’s mausoleum to make offerings and prayers. As our Kechara House is connected to Gaden Monastery, it will be like going home to our parents’ home. Thank you Rinpoche for the beautiful video. So serene that it feels like its in another paradise.
I feel blessed after seeing the photos above. Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this photos to let us create the cause to be there one day when our merits in enough for the trip.
Thanks Rinpoche again that bring the Lama Tsongkhapa lineage to beautiful Malaysia and also the prayer that able to let us collect the merits through the prayer and joining Kechara activities. I m very glad that i able to join the branch of Gaden Monastery – KECHARA.
Gaden Monastery, Tibet looks spectacular. The stupa that contains Lama Tsongkhapa’s relics sounds amazing. I’m surprised it’s still there after the Chinese invasion. It’d be wonderful to make offerings there.
I remember Rinpoche saying to always carry an oxygen tank in Tibet. Otherwise, you’ll get severe altitude sickness due to the lack of oxygen. I have heard many people getting very sick because they didn’t know how to adjust to the high altitude.
I would definitely like to go on a pilgrimage to Tibet.
Its so fortunate we are still able to see and visit Gaden Monastery, a great manifestation of Lama Tsongkhapa through his dedication and determination for the growth of Dharma in the world.
Gaden is about 90mins away by road from Lhasa town. There is a great Korla (circumambulation) surrounding the Gompa (main temple) and all smaller chapels and building. It takes an hour to complete the walk circumambulating the whole monastery, for foreigners like me. The view is spectacular, and off course, the merits collected is tremendous…walking the path of Je Tsongkhapa
Rinpoche says “for the first time”. I think not. I’m sure he had been there many times before and it’s like going home. It’s humbling to know that Holy Gaden and the complete teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa and Buddha Shakyamuni are brought right here in our midst, to our doorstep through the kindness of our Guru, who having been a direct disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa, how much closer to the path to enlightenment can we get than what we have here and now? May we never lose sight of this realisation, may we take full opportunity, may we never lose our chance, for we may never have this coming our way again for eons to come. What merit did we have from previous lives to come to be here?
就是从这个地方开始，600年后的我也能在离西藏十万八千里远的地方修学宗喀巴大师的殊胜教诲。也就是这个地方，保存好的宗喀大师教诲能透过甘丹寺的各个高僧大德、僧人弘扬开来，让我这个佛教的门外汉也对佛法产生无比的信念。
就是当初有着这么一班忠心的佛门弟子，如今我们才不至于只懂得像佛像礼拜、做供养，更懂得佛陀的法教。看到仁波切说那里的人不畏惧寒冷和冰雪，步行上山参拜甘丹寺和宗喀巴大师，心里很是感动。有机会大家一定要到那里去朝圣，感受一下真正的佛门弟子的用心和坚持，乃至于我们能接受宗喀巴大师的中观教诲，去感受当年宗喀巴大师对其修行的毅力和信念。
仁波切能亲身到那里去朝圣，深感随喜。
I can imagine what a special place to be in! Such a holy place housing the holy remains of the Great Master Tsongkhapa for 600 over years. Every holy place is special, what more being able to set foot in a place where Lama Tsongkhapa has meditated for 6 years! I dare not imagine having the fortune of being there but I am sure it would be breaktaking. Thank you for sharing this special moment in your life, Rinpoche.
wish to go many holy placec.sure one day.
好神圣的地方，不知道要累积多少的功德，才有机会去西藏甘丹寺献哈达给殊胜的宗喀巴大师。。。。。我们这一世有这个缘份遇见佛法，也不知道修了多少世，还要要累积多少的功德才能与佛法和上师相遇。希望有一天能去西藏甘丹寺，走一回，今生无悔！！！
This is a wonderful holy place, cooling,people visit they also feeling good and more calm.
Hope one day i can be there.
Thank you very much for the sharing Rinpoche, we are so fortunate to have the connection with Lama Tsongkhapa and because of Rinpoche’s guidance, Kechara has manifest to benefit so many.
Looking at the pictures and the holy places that Rinpoche visited. Its so sacred and full of blessing. I would really really hope to go someday, to visit the Great Gaden and the 600 years of holy history.
Love,
Helena
Gaden is the first monastery of the Gelug Lineage. it was built on the snow mountain, so beautiful. I can imagine how difficult to build it while this place. It is constantly snow. In such an empty land people came here for spiritual practice and to learn Lama Tsongkhapa’s teaching. I visualize Lama Tsongkhapa sat on the throne right in the middle the prayer hall.
all these wonderful holy places before i die i want to go when it is snow.
Dear Rinpoche:
Thanks for the sharing. I would love to go Gaden next year and make prostration around the monastery. That is my dream and I will make it happen as soon as possible.
If possible it is a must to visit to holy places which could effectively strengthen our faith and mind. In fact, I’m looking forward for the year-end Bodhgaya trip that arranged by KD. I want to see, touch, feel, hug, pray, make prostration and offering and chant mantra there.
Besides visiting to holy places, we should “build” more holy places everywhere in the world to make them accessible and available to more people because not everyone has the opportunity and capability to travel. We, the fortunate one must not forget those less fortunate people and this is our responsibility as Dharma student to bring Dharma and make holy places available to others. May KFR & KWPC can be completed very soon and everyone of us is ready to serve.
Thank you very much. Take good care.
With love,
VP
Rinpoche’s roots must be from Gaden monastery as he was overwhelmed by the energy and vibration there and he couldn’t stop crying as he entered the monastery for the first time and more over he was told that his previous lives were from there.Hope Rinpoche will make more trips to Tibet with more students there again.
I am very excited and happy to read this article. I love all the pictures and the explanation. It is very wonderful knowing the existence of Lama Tsongkapa and Gaden at Tibet. I guess without all this from the beginning, there will be no Kechara and other things related to it. I hope i have a chance to visit Gaden one day.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing. Please take care with folded hand
Though its a 1st time visit to Gaden, Tibet for Rinpoche, its like a “home-coming back trip” to Gaden, Tibet. As it was said by Rinpoche’s gurus that Rinpoche’s previous lives were from Gaden, Tibet, it might also be for this reason that Rinpoche coudn’t stop crying and crying, overwhelmed by the great energy and vibrations he had strongly felt of that place. Tens of thousands from China, Nepal,Mongolia, Russia, India,and Japan have visits to this incredible Holy of Hollies main-silver and gold encrusted Tomb of Lord Tsongkhapa. It was reported that the chinese govt. had spent more than US3.2 million on rebuilding the Gaden main structurers destroyed during China’s cultural revolution. Lord Tsongkhapa’s fame as the greatest teacher in Buddhism, having preserved the pure Buddha-Dharma for the last 600 years, is now beginning to spread far and wide rapidly around the World!! May all kecharians receive the good blessings of Lord Tsongkhapa and the merits to visit this incredible holiest Gaden landmark found on top of the World!
Since young, Rinpoche has very strong affinity towards Buddhism, he loves Dharma, he suffers so much, went thru so much hardship just to study Dharma, to do prayer in temple, even just as simple as saying a word of mantra, it is forbidden by his foster parents in America. at age of 17, he left home, alone, Rinpoche went to Gaden in India to start his spiritual journey, to meet his Root Guru, Zong Rinpoche.
Please click the link below to see what Rinpoche has went thru:
http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/you-havent-seen-the-last-of-me.html
After so many years, after went thru so much, finally, in year 2009, Rinpoche put his foot in Gaden Tibet for the first time, Rinpoche’s home, a place where Rinpoche belongs to. But, because his promise of spreading Dharma in Malaysia, because of benefiting the sentient beings, to bring Dharma to many people, Rinpoche can’t stay in a place where he wanted, the monastery.
Can you not see his kindness? can you not feel his compassion? Who else in this place can do like what Rinpoche is doing? For us that had so much merits to meet Rinpoche, to participate in his work, where else we can find anything more meaningful than this? Don’t take this such merits for granted, because the merits we have now can be exhausted anytime.
Just looking at these pictures and reading Rinpoche’s account of the journey to Gaden in Tibet and watching the video made me tear a little and long to travel to Tibet to be there at Lama Tsongkhapa’s mausoleum. I guess I wanna go there to make prayers, be inspired and gain the tremendous blessings of Lama Tsongkhapa.
I would definitely would like to go there before I die. I dunno why but it has tremendous energy that I could even feel through Rinpoche’s words and explanations. I hope I would be able to make it there when I can still walk and hopefully if i could bring my parents there, that would be great!
要累积多少的功德才能遇见佛法，遇见了又如何把握还是我们个人的心向和抉择。希望有一天能登上西藏甘丹寺给殊胜宗喀巴大师舍利塔顶礼，献哈达，祈愿；到禅修洞凝视墙上大师的面容……
Thank you, Rinpoche, for this beautiful experience of being able to ‘visit’ Gaden with you in my mind’s eye, to tread the grounds of Gaden Monastery where the great saint and founder of our Lineage lived, prayed and meditated, to visit the mausoleum where his relics lie, to visit the cave where he had a long meditation retreat and completed his prostrations, recitations of the Confessions to the 35 Confessional Buddhas, his mandala offerings(to the count of millions!), and had visions of Lord Manjushri who talked to Him!
Just imagine,Lord Tsongkhapa was a person of flesh and blood and lived there 600 years ago and spread the Buddhadharma far and wide from there too! He built Gaden, among other monasteries. We should be inspired by Je Tsongkhapa and follow in his footsteps and build a Gaden of today. Kechara has manifested through Rinpoche’s wonderful guidance. KWPC must manifest next.
Thank you Rinpoche for share these sacred and beautiful pictures of Gaden. I can just feel the strong energy from the picture of the cave that LAMA TSONGKAPA MEDITATED FOR 6 YEARS WITH CLOSE STUDENTS. The cave that he completed ten million of prostrations, one million mandala offerings, ten million recitations to the 35 Confessional Buddhas, etc etc. The holy image in the cave is just so beautiful. I am viewing it again and again and making strong aspiration to visit Gaden and walk the path that has been walk by the Great Lama Tsongkapa.
Thank you Rinpoche.
I do wish to visit Gaden soon.
The place was built out of Guru devotion for Lama Tsongkhapa by his students. And I want to tap from that blessing!
The place is witness to the lives of holy beings that made an impression to the world for the better. And I want to tap from that blessing!
The place is first in a very long serie of holy Dharma places that followed its example. And I want to tap from that blessing.
Rinpoche, Thanks for the sharing. It was a meritorious trip and I believe all the Dharma aspirants would include the trip to Gaden as one of the item in the checklist during their lifetime. But for now, to be able to see the picture of the Golden Stupa and Setrap, I had felt blessed and lucky. From hereby, hope it will create a cause for me to be able to fulfill the quest.
I can’t imagine what it would be like to walk the paths that Je Tsongkhapa himself walked on, breathe his air, and stand in front of his stupa. The blessings would be tremendous.
Even to sit in his meditation cave for just a moment, knowing that Manjushri was there 600 years ago, in two emanation at the same time. I sure hope I have the merits to visit Gaden monastery in Tibet someday.
What I like most tho, is the fact that in Gaden, we experience the fact that Lama Tsongkhapa was a human. We see the results of his work, flashbacks of his life, and even his body in a stupa. We know he was alive, not so many years ago. And we also see Lama Tsongkhapa on our altars, in the monastery altars, being venerated as a Buddha. Its almost living proof that we CAN attain enlightenment, we CAN attain a better state, if we just put our minds to it and pursue the Buddhist path. Not many places in the world can offer the same experience, except perhaps Bodhgaya?
Like many, I also wish to make an aspiration to visit Ganden one day soon enough. But I would also like to point out that we already have a Ganden in Kechara. Work for Dharma for others is the highest goal.
Thank You Rinpoche for bring Ganden to us!
It is certainly on the top wish list of all Rinpoche’s students to visit this power place in the near future.
Besides wishing to visit the Gaden Monastery in Tibet, wouldn’t it be more accessible and beneficial if we can have our very own monastery/ retreat centre here in Malaysia? Rinpoche already has this vision – KWPC & KFR, now it is up to us to carry out the mission.
Thank you, Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for showing this place. I have made strong aspiration to go Gaden in Tibet in this life time, and I wish I have the merits to achieve this…
Gaden is beautiful. It would be a privilege to visit Gaden and make prayers there. Definitely a place I would want to go. I was in Tibet in 2007 but at that time I have no idea what Tibetan Buddhism is and I went there as a tourist and visited Potola Palace, Jokhang and places around. Even though I like the place and it is very enchanting/mysterious for me, it would have been better if I have known what Tibetan Buddhism is at that time.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these wonderful pictures of where our lineage started and be able to see where Lama Tsongkapa taught and meditated. Even though in pictures, we are blessed.
If I were to visit Tibet again, it will definitely be a totally different experience for me!
I read this article before I went to bed last night. As I read along the lines and looked at the photos, I visualised myself to be there and wow, I was blown thousand miles away. It already felt so surreal just by picturing it in my head, so imagine the power of it if I were to be there personally to experience? Without Lama Tsongkhapa, none of all this would have existed and I wouldn’t be here typing this comment. This is so amazing and nourishing. This is so beautiful. Too beautiful.
Dear Doreen, I pray that you will be able to visit one day soon (and without an oxygen tank hehe!).
How i wish i can be there visit! So beautiful. So fortunate to be able to travel with Rinpoche, i believe the group of students must have really benefit from this trip. How lucky they are.
Wish I am that lucky …
We have such merits and are extremely fortunate to be born a human being, and have the opportunes and conditions to meet the Dharma and study the Dharma, and learning from Rinpoche who comes from the lineage masters of Lama Tsongkhapa all the way back from Buddha Shakyamuni 🙂 Now Ganden is here. 🙂
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the wonderful experiences. I love the pictures very much. I would like to visit Tibet too. The holy image inside the cave of Tsongkhapa is amazing and very very beautiful. Thank you Rinpoche for such precious Lama Tsongkhapa teachings and may Lama Tsongkhapa teachings flourish widely.
May everyone have the opportunity to visit this sacred place and blessed tremendously! The vibration to be in Ganden must be awesome and beyond description!
Imagine going back to the roots where Tsongkhapa built Gaden, be in the same room and cave where he used to teach and meditate with his students. It would be like a dream come true for many of us.
We also have such a place like this in Malaysia ie. Kechara. Kechara embodies all of Lama Tsongkhapa teachings – both sutra and tantra, method and wisdom which is very rare to come by in this region and a caring, loving and compassionate Spiritual Guide, HE Tsem Rinpoche.
Thank you, Tsem Rinpoche for bringing Lama Tsongkhapa’s precious teachings to flourish in this region to benefit many of us in Kechara.
Wow, very beautiful and serene, to even hear and see of such a sacred and holy place on earth is unthinkable. Actually it is unimaginable that I can even see and hear Rinpoche and Kechara in my life. Miracle do happen. 🙂 I am so glad everyone who has the chance to visit to be blessed tremendously.
After reading this I now add Gaden to my wish list of place I want to visit in this life time. I hope I have enough merits to make these pilgrimage soon. I am very grateful to my kind lama to make all these available for us to read and inspired us. I am so fortunate.
How exciting will it be if I can visit at least once! It would be so interesting to see where Tsongkhapa and Gaden started everything from 600 years ago. I always here customers coming into the outlet and tell me they have been to Tibet and ask if I have. Sob…Sob… Thank you for the wonderful post Rinpoche.
I rejoice in the success of this very sacred pilgrimage! May all sentient beings partake in this rare merits!
Even by looking at the pictures I can feel a sense of calmness and peace in this holy place. Just imagine actually being there and experiencing the energy and vibration. It would be so wonderful. May I have the merits to visit Lama Tsongkhapa mausoleum to pay homage to the Golden Stupa that encases the holy remains of Lama Tsongkhapa’s blessed body/clothes/relics and to be inside the cave where Lama Tsongkhapa did his retreat.
Like what Jamie wrote, “It’s like going home”. Yes, I can imagine the joy and happiness that Rinpoche felt. Gaden in Tibet, Gaden in India and Gaden (Kechara House) in Malaysia is home to all Kecharians. Thank you, Rinpoche, for posting such fabulous pictures and for bringing Lama Tsongkhapa doctrine to us.
I too echo Thierry’s wish. Always wanted to go Tibet where better place then Gaden. I cannot begin to imagine how incredibly special it would be to just be there. To think that one is able to stand where Lama Tsongkhapa actually stood, breathe in the air that Lama Tsongkhapa breathed… WOW!
I wish to see Gaden and I hope to create the causes for such a wish… and to also create the causes to be part of our own legacy here in Malaysia, KWPC. I want to be a part of it so much!
To have the merits to live the rest of my fragile life in KWPC and die in KWPC alongside the love of my life and may we have the causes and merits to meet each other again in our next lives.
I want, I want, I want….
I want to go to Gaden!
I want to see the place where Je Rinpoche meditated and did prostrations, I want to touch the walls, I want to breath the air!
I want to pray in the chapel where his holy remains are enshrined.
I want to feel a little bit closer to Lama Tsongkhapa, closer to his qualities, may I achieve these qualities myself!
I want to be inspired by his great disciples that made the construction of Gaden a priority in their lives, may I make it a priority in my life to make KWPC a reality!
I want, I want, I want!!!!
I want to see Gaden, and I want to die in KWPC!
At the age of 27, I visited Tibet. At that moment, i didn’t aware of the existence of Kechara in Malaysia. Well, I really have had a fantastic trip in Tibet, both in Lhasa and Shegatse, and managed to visit 3 out of the 6 Gelug Monasteries. Emmm, something that make me feel regret after the trip, i.e. I did not equip myself with good Dharma knowledge, especially in relation to Lama Tsongkapa. Otherwise, I believe I could have been benefited more with an eye opening experience about Lama Tsongkhapa and other deities in the Monasteries. The most interesting experience which I may wish to share, maybe start from the moment I have invited a Shakyamuni Thangka in Tibet. Upon arrival in Malaysia, I have not been able to locate an opportunity or meeting up with anyone who has the expertise to frame the Thangka in traditional way until a day where it was so coincident that I walked-in to Kechara Paradise in Sunway Pyramid during my “window” shopping, that moment on I started my spiritual path as a Vajrayana buddhist. I heartily feel that it is the Shakyamuni Thangka that created this chance for me to start learning and practising dharma!
I had the great fortune to visit Lhasa, Tibet two years before Rinpoche went. With me were Ruby, Kunga (Tibetan thangka painter who visited Kechara back then), Datin Ng and her husband Dato Jeffrey Ng. Dato and Datin Ng generously sponsored our trip.
We visited Gaden monastery but did not have the merit to visit the cave where Je Rinpoche meditated because we were sick as dogs from altitude sickness. Even climbing up Potala Palace was laborious, gasping for breath each leaden step of the way up.
We had to queue to see the famed Jowo Rinpoche statue at Jokhang and there were many Tibetans doing their prostrations there.
My advice for those who want to make the trip:
Get your doctor’s advice if you are fit for it.
Upon arrival at hotel, rest, rest, rest even though you have plenty of daylight left. Do not be heroes and start visiting places even though you plan to stroll around. Trust me. All of us were sick by evening because we did not rest. I blacked out briefly in the bathroom while taking a shower.
Buy portable oxygen containers and use them while resting.
Drink plenty of water even though it would mean you have to go the toilet often.
Learn to speak Mandarin if you do not. English was not widely spoken then.
Trying to sleep the first two nights was a nightmare. My head pounded as if it was run over by a train.
Would I go again? No, not at my present age and with my way below par fitness. I would anytime go again and again to Gaden, India.
Thank You so much Rinpoche for posting the photos of Yours, to show us Your visit to Gaden Monastry in Tibet.
It is truly BEAUTIFUL THE HOLY PLACES, and looking at the views I can feel so my mind is RELAX..
I pray that before I pass on this life, may I have the great fortune to visit the Holy Places in Gaden Monastry where Lama Tsongkapa’s Mausoleum, The Meditated Caves, The Golden Stupa that encases The HOLY remains of LAMA TSONGKAPA’S BLESSED BODY, CLOTHERS AND THE RELICS. And of course didn’t forget Setrap’s Chapel.
The Status of Lama Tsongkapa and the Two Disciples, which is infront of Golden Stupa, it is VERY BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE IT!
May one day, Kechara Discovery be able to arrange the tour for KH members TO VISIT THIS HOLY PLACES. OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO PRAY VERY HARD THAT MAY H.E. TSEM TULKU RINPOCHE COME WITH US…! THANK YOU.
Looking forward to the trip soon.
Love, angel
I wish I can be there with rinpoche to visit Tibetan one day, anyway looking at the beautiful and video clip, I ready felt I am present at Tibet also visiting the holy temple Gaden Monastery.
Gaden Monastery at India has bought me so much wonderful memory for my life. I had future to met my tantric guru Kensur Jampa Rinpoche, Kyaje Lati Rinpoche , Song Rinpoche and other high lama. All of them are carry the lineage teaching from Lama Tsong Khapa.
Kechara House Malaysia had carried the lineage of the Lama Tsongkhapa teaching at this 21 century. We are futurity to separate Lama tsongkhapa teaching in this region.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this and Rinpoche’s clear explaination around Gaden Monastery in Tibet where Lord Tsongkhapa have single-handedly built a massive Dharma learning institution producing elite masters that are still out there benefitting the world. Without Lord Tsongkhapa, i would not have known about Dharma and Rinpoche at all. Its hard to imagine that under harsh conditions that masters actually studied Dharma here for the sake of others. From what I have came to know that monks will walk from afar (we’re talking about weeks of walking!) just to come and receive teachings from high masters! This is really really inspiring!
I aspire that one day I can visit such a holy place.
I’m very happy Rinpoche went to Gaden last year. Rinpoche said that when he first entered Gaden, he couldn’t stop crying.It must have been quite an emotional moment,coming back to the place where one’s previous reincarnations had lived. Although Gaden monastery has been reestablished in Mundgod, India, the original Gaden has opened again and there are monks living and practising there. But all the great masters have left. I wonder what the future will be like. Will its former glory be revived? I’d like to visit Tibet and see the sacred places frequented by Lama Tsongkhapa. For that, I must create the causes.
Lama Tsongkhapa is no fiction of our imagination. He was a REAL person who lived in the year 1357.
Rinpoche, thank you for sharing the pictures, video and most of all, Rinpoche’s thoughts, feelings and observations. I love the pictures very much. Just like what Jamie said, may KWPC manifest, to establish an institution such as Gaden to carry on the lineage teachings.
Rinpoche is already training up local teachers, rituals masters, writers, artists, etc etc., May all resources manifest that KWPC will be built, where many will have attainments from engaging in retreats, may many live be changed, healed and transformed to benefit others.
I would have never known such great monastery existed if not because of Rinpoche and Kechara. Due to the kindness of Rinpoche , we Kecharians truly are blessed by being part of such a great lineage that has been established By Lord Tsongkhapa. The visit by Rinpoche to Gaden Monastery in Tibet benefits people like me that yet or maybe never will get a chance to visit the this great monastery. The view , the aura , the spiritual presence and the whole feel of this monastery can make even the proudest man humble.
The Sangha community of past & present has sacrifice so much and done so much for humanity. We simply need to protect and preserved all these teachings.
I always heard the word of “Gaden” from the Dharma brothers and sisters when I first joined; I had no idea what is that and what’s so important about that.
After that I realize it’s a truly important place, it’s like the headquarters of Kechara where our Yidam, Lama Tsongkapa lived there 600 years ago.
This tells that Lama Tsongkapa is not just a statue and a story, it’s real, it’s part of the history, that this master gained enlightenment at Gaden in Tibet!! It also tells that enlightenment is not something that we can’t achieve; it’s doable, just that for laypeople like me need to work very hard on it.
I wish one day I can be there, to feel the energy of Lama Tsongkapa and Setrap. May Tsongkapa teachings widely spread all over the world!
: Indeed, it is like what Jamie wrote – it’s like going home. Just looking at the pictures, one can just imagine the excitement and immense joy Rinpoche felt upon entering Gaden and especially, visiting Lama Tsongkhapa’s meditational cave. I have not been to Tibet, but I would definitely want to go in this lifetime. After visiting the Gaden in India with Rinpoche, I can imagine what it would be like visiting Gaden Tibet. There is where everything started for the Gelugpa Lineage. The energy and blessings one would receive just by being there would be immeasurable. So many great Masters have lived there, prayed there, studied there and debated there. I am sure even the walls would be infused with Dharma. If an institution like Gaden can withstand the test of time, it shows how great Dharma is. And from Gaden Tibet, the Dharma flowed out to the rest of the world. We would be lost if the past lineage Masters did not hold onto the teachings, and passed them onto the heart disciples. So, beyond walls, bricks and stones – all of us need to carry the Dharma within us, and not just outside of us. Then the Dharma prevails through time.
It’s like “going home!”
Thank you for sharing this sacred visit the whole of our spiritual father, Tsongkhapa.
As I was doing work on the Tsongkhapa comic book (done by KMP), what shocked me most was the fact that the 70 buildings of Gaden were built in ONE YEAR! Imagine that – no fancy construction companies, tractors, bulldozers, cement mixers or highways. It was just yaks and the incredible devotion of Tsongkhapa’s students.
Thanks to all their effort, love, determination and hard work, Gaden still exists today, 600 years later, producing elite masters that are still sharing the teachings with the world. It kinda freaks me out to think that if only these disciples had thought “Oh, I can’t do it, I’m scared, what if I fail?” then we wouldn’t have any of this now. Every single one of us can make a lasting difference to the world and leave a legacy – as Gaden clearly shows us.
Now, on to KWPC! The new generation Gaden for the 21st Century. Are you in??….
I agree with you Paris. We must, as students work hard to get KWPC up asap.
For the past, to me Tibet is just a place for people go for pilgrimages; I have no knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism, monastery.etc,
To visit Gaden, the place of LAMA TSONGKAPA , the place he completed ten million prostrations, one million mandala offerings, ten million recitations to the 35 Confessional Buddhas.etc, the pictures & visuals of our Legend of Conch Shell pop up my mind.
(Legend of the Conch Shell covers the entire lifestory of the great saint Lama Tsongkhapa. The play opens with the offering of the conch shell to Buddha Shakyamuni and the prophecy he made of the boy who would be reborn to revive the Buddhadharma in Tibet in degenerate times. The storyline also focuses on Tsongkhapa’s great deeds and retreats, right until his parinirvana at the age of 62. http://www.kechara.com/?p=267)
Vividly relate Lama Tsongkhapa with our precious guru and Gaden, and link to present Kechara House. Thus, make Tibet the place that I want to visit.
With the lineage background history, I wish I could visit Gaden in Tibet one day, to experience the energy and vibrations of the place,
Thank you for this post of such a power place. It’s such a significant place in history yet most of the world still doesn’t know what happened there, who are the people, what did they accomplish, how does it affect what is happening today.
This is where the teachers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama studied and gained attainments. It’s such a shame that the masters had to vacate for fear of total destruction. Yet they did and they flourished and the rest of the world has had the benefits every since. If it weren’t for the Chinese government we would still be none the wiser that there is such a thing as Dharma practice. Centers wouldn’t be setup all around the world. One day it will be an institution of learning again what a great place to do retreats!
I have the fortune to be at Gaden Monastery Tibet twice but I can’t believe my fortune to be able to travel with my precious Lama, Tsem Rinpoche to Gaden Monastery on my 2nd trip there! I can’t believe I was in Gaden Monastery with the direct disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa who built Gaden Monastery!!! Tsem Rinpoche is the reincarnation of the direct disciple of Lama Tsongkapa who built Gaden Monastery in 1409. Gaden Monastery Tibet is perched on Wangbur Mountain, Tagtse County, 36 kilometers away from Lhasa, at an altitude of 4,300m. Must visit site.
Dear Victoria,
Thank you for your beautiful message. Lama Tsongkapa is a Buddha and so is Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche. I rejoice for your connection to them both.
Humbly,
Tsem Tulku
Rinpoche, than you for sharing this beautiful experience. So, so many things must happen for everything else to happen. Streams of moments, preceded by moments, preceded by moments. I feel such a connection to Lama Tsongkhapa and also to you, as well as my amazing Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche. How fortunate to have the karma to be in a human body. I am so fortunate. You are in that field.
with love in my heart/mind,
victoria
I want to go there too and I will make aspirational prayers that one day I will get to go there.
Dear Ng,
You are right, without Lama Tsongkapa and Gaden, Kechara would never manifest. Many hundreds of dharma centres around the world spreading dharma would never exist. I would never be here.
Very good observation. I appreciate what you realized.
Tsem Tulku
To have walked the same footsteps that Lama Tsongkhapa took, to be in the same cave he meditated in. Must have been a surreal experience !
Without Lama Tsongkhapa, Kechara House might not exist. That’s a scary thought !
Wish one day we will have the merits to visit the Great Gaden in Tibet.
Hope Kechara Discovery will come up with a pilgrimage soon.