About

Tsum Monastery was established in 2018 AD in Tsum Ngak by Dungse Lama Pema Rinpoche. It was consecrated and formally inaugurated by His Eminence the Ninth Thrangu Rinpoche. The monastery features a large shrine hall, with Guru Padmasambhava as the central deity, flanked by Guru Chöwang on the right and Karmapa Mikyö Dorje on the left. The monks’ quarters are located in the left wing of the monastery, while the Ngak Labrang, the residence and administrative center of the Ngak lineage, is situated in the right wing. There are currently more than 20 monks in the Monastery with one resident teacher and some day teachers. The courtyard and surrounding rooms accommodate essential facilities, including a kitchen, a Compassion Clinic, and a Compassion School, serving both the resident community and the local people in Tsum Valley. It also house Tsum Library since 2022.

Tsum Valley, known as the sacred hidden land Tsum Kyimo Lung, was prophesied by Padmasambhava, Rigdzin Gödem, and other great masters. In ancient times, Pawa Jamo, a descendant of Thonmi Sambhota, sought out this prophesied land, building bridges, naming places, and founding settlements that established two enduring traditions. To this day, the Tsumpa people preserve this legacy through the ten virtues of true Dharma and sixteen pure worldly disciplines. The valley has been blessed by many great masters, including Padmasambhava and Milarepa.

In particular, the illustrious tertön from Lhodrak, Guru Chöwang, a learned and realized master, after many years of benefiting beings, established a monastery in this blessed and spiritually rich place, known locally as Yulgyi Ngawa Ngak. This site has a deep and continuous history. Guru Chöwang and his descendants, the Ngak Ladrang lineage, received numerous letters, royal decrees, and proclamations from the courts of Nepal and Tibet, including a tamrapatra (copper-plate edict) from the Gorkha kings of Nepal. These masters have continuously nurtured the true Dharma among the people of Tsum, both directly and indirectly.

Building upon this spiritual legacy, the completion of Chökyi Düdey Monastery, a new center for the Buddha’s teachings, was successful. This monastery stands as a magnificent testament to both temporal and ultimate virtue, especially for the people of Tsum and for all beings in general.

The construction of Tsum Monastery was made possible through the leadership and guidance of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, who provided crucial support throughout the project. The initiative was further inspired by Pangön Lama Pema Lhatsen Rinpoche, father of the current Labrang Lama and a Dungse (lineage holder) of the Ngak Ladrang lineage, which traces its heritage to the renowned tertön and Dharma king, Guru Chöwang.

The present head of the Ngak Ladrang lineage, Dungse Lama Pasang Puntsok Rinpoche, assumed principal responsibility for overseeing and completing the monastery’s construction. He collaborated closely with Dungse Dawa Tashi to manage and coordinate the project. Their work was supported by numerous donations and contributions, both financial and material, from committed supporters and benefactors.

Additionally, members of the local community, including elders and youth, actively participated in the building process and contributed to various aspects of the project’s implementation.

The monastery was established to serve as a center for Buddhist education, practice, and community service in Tsum Valley. It is intended to support the well-being of the local population and to contribute positively to the preservation and dissemination of the Buddha’s teachings.