Jangchub
Choeling Monastery, Pokhara, Nepal.
In 1963, His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa
asked Dupsing Rinpoche to leave Kathmandu for Pokhara in order to
meet the spiritual needs of the Tibetan and Nepalese population
there.
At first, a small monastery was established for performing
Buddhist services and ceremonies. Over time, as the number of
devotees grew, parents began to ask Dupsing Rinpoche to ordain their
sons as monks. Before long, there were 35 monks at the monastery
including a young tulku, the present Shangpa Rinpoche.
In 1967, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama named the monastery "Jangchub
Choeling Monastery" and officially recognised the monastic
community under the guidance of Dupsing Rinpoche. Three years later
Dupsing Rinpoche, aware of the need for expansion, moved the
monastery to its present location. He planned to erect a larger
building and improve the facilities. Sadly, Dupsing Rinpoche passed
away in 1979.
Over
the past 20 years, Shangpa Rinpoche has continually expanded and
improved the facilities at the monastery. In 1991 the present shrine
hall was built and His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche inaugurated the
monastery.
Vikrama Shila Buddhist Institute, Pokhara,
Nepal.
Yet, a place for prayer is not enough for a monk to
develop a complete understanding of the Buddha Dharma. Thus
donations were sought to establish a Buddhist educational institute,
and in December 1996, the Vikrama Shila Buddhist Institute was
completed.
New and larger dormitory rooms for the increasing
number of monks where completed in January 1998.
At present there is
around 115 monks living and studying at the Monastery and Institute.
Karma Ngedon Palbar Ling, Retreat center,
at Sarangkoth in Pokhara, Nepal.
