Kagyu Monasteries: Drigungtil


From the time of its founding until the present, there have been 38 abbots of Drigungtil. The population of the monastery has been greater and smaller at different times in its history. In 1959, there were all together about 400 monks, 60 meditation retreatants, 6 Lama’s residences (Bla-brang), and 8 Incarnate Lamas.

Drigungtil Monastery has always emphasized meditation practice, particularly of the tantric specialties of its founder. There is a long tradition of meditators living in caves above and around the monastery, engaged in intensive practice of the Six Teachings of Naropa (Na-ro chos-drug, Six Yogas of Naropa) and the Possessing Five Tradition (lnga-ldan). From time to time, these yogis living in retreat would have to demonstrate their meditation accomplishments before the two heads of the Drigung Tradition, the Drigung Chetsang (‘Bri-gung Che-tshang) and Drigung Chungtsang (‘Bri-gung Chung-tshang).

When Drigung Kyobpa Jigten Gonpo founded the monastery, he began the custom of giving discourses twice a year on selected sutra and tantra topics. These were known as the Summer and Winter Dharma Sessions. The succession of abbots continued this tradition, but the level of studies at the monastery remained low. Up until the 19th century, the main emphasis was on rituals, practice and religious dances, all undertaken mostly based on faith. There were only two colleges, Drubdra Shar (sGrub-grva shar) and Drubdra Nub (sGrub-grva nub), the Practice Colleges of the East and West, respectively. Then, the 34th Abbot, Kyabjey Zhiwe Lodro (sKyabs-rje Zhi-ba’i blo-gros), and Chokyi Jungne (Chos-kyi ‘byung-gnas) invited Nyagtrul Jamyang Wangyal Rinpoche (Nyag-sprul ‘Jam-dbyangs dbang-rgyal Rin-po-che) to establish a Teaching College at Drigungtil. This was named Nyichang Shedra (gNyis-‘chang bShad-grva). The monks of the monastery would rotate spending five years at this Teaching College studying 13 great scriptural texts through the medium of logic and debate.

