| Popular Monasteries in Tibet |
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| Sakya Monastery |
| The monastery is a place that visitors cannot
miss. The monastery lies 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of
Shigatse. Sakya, meaning "Grey Soil" in Tibetan since the soil
around is grey, is the center monastery of Sakyapa sect of
Tibetan Buddhism. Its wall was painted with red, white and grey
strips, which represent Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani........{Detail} |
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| Tashilhunpo Monastery |
| Tashilhunpo lies 2 kilometer (1.2 miles) west
of Shigatse city. The monastery is a very influential monastery
in Tibet. It was founded in 1477 by Gendun Drubpa, the first
Dalai Lama and a most outstanding disciple of Tsong Khapa. In
1600, the Fourth Panchen Lama started a large-scale expansion
and his successors carried on. The monastery now has a building......{Detail} |
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| Shalu Monastery |
| Lying 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of
Shigatse, the monastery was founded in 1040 by Chetsun Sherab
Jungnay. Shalu, meaning New Bud in Tibetan, was named after a
story. His teacher suggested him to built a monastery where his
arrow hit. The flying arrow finally hit a new bud. In 1320,
Buton Rinpoche, one of the greatest religious scholars was
invited......{Detail} |
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| Drepung Monastery |
| The monestary was established in 1416 by Tsong
Khapa's disciple Jamyang Qoigyi, who was versed in both Esoteric
and Exotoric Buddhism and became the first Kampo there. With the
support of plutocrats, it developed as the richest monastery of
Gelugpa and became the mother temple of Dalai Lamas. In 1546,
the third Dalai was welcomed as the first Living Buddha.....{Detail} |
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| Sera Monastery |
| Sera, one of the three largest monasteries of
Gelugpa, sits at the foothills of Tatipu. It is as prestigious
as Drepung and Ganden, which both have longer histories. Sera,
in Tibetan, means "Wild Rose Garden" since opulent wild rose
woods once grew around it. A legend says that Tsong Khapa and
his two disciples traveled in the area, spreading their
religion. One day, ...{Detail} |
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| Samye Monastery |
| Situated in Dranang, Samye Monastery was
completed in 779 under the patron of Trisong Detsen. At the time
of Samye's construction, Buddhism had been transmitted into
Tibet, but there were no formal Buddhist priests or rituals.
Trisong Detsen decided to invite Santarakshita and Padmasambhava,
both Buddhist figureheads in India, to promote.....{Detail} |
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