Tsozong

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Tsozong Gongba Monastery
Elevation 3,540 metres
Location Tibet (China)
Range Assam Himalaya
Coordinates 36°00′19″N, 83°56′23″E
First ascent 1040 Guru Rimpoché
Easiest route 300km WE->Lhasa; 41km off Sichuan-Tibet Hwy

Tsozong Gongba Monastery (also Tsodzong or Tsomum, 1400 BC; meaning 'castle in a lake') is a small sacred chapel of the Nyin-gma-pa (Red) Sect of Tibetan Buddhism (monks wear red hats- see the other two Red Hat Sects)[1].

Kongtsun Demo - The protector of Dharma - the stories which surround the life of Padmasambhava describe him as subduing the ancient pre-Buddhist gods (Bön) of Tibet, compelling them to watch over the Buddhist faith forever as ferocious Dharma protectors (Palas).
Kongtsun Demo - The protector of Dharma - the stories which surround the life of Padmasambhava describe him as subduing the ancient pre-Buddhist gods (Bön[2]) of Tibet, compelling them to watch over the Buddhist faith forever as ferocious Dharma protectors (Palas).


Contents

[edit] In Sight

Tsozong Gongba Monastery has four buildings situated around a small yard (two of the main building are shown below).

Tsozong Gongba Monastery main building with the statues of Avalokiteśvara, Guru Rimpoché and Buddha (see next gallery below).

Tsozong Gongba Monastery auxiliary building with 3 'endless knots' above the door.

Tashi Island in the middle of the Basum Tso Lake, behind is peak (6,200km).

[edit] Symbolism

Om mani padme hum -variation of the six syllable mantra of Avalokiteshvara. is inscribed in Tibetan script on this rock behind the main building.
Om mani padme hum -variation of the six syllable mantra of Avalokiteshvara[3]. is inscribed in Tibetan script[4] on this rock behind the main building.

Nyin-gma-pa Sect (also Nyingma (lit. 'Old Ones')[5] is believed to be founded by the indian (Tantric[6]) monk Padmasambhava himself (also called Guru Rimpoche[7]). Guru Rimpoché[8] is being regarded not merely as a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara (or Avalokiteśvara)[9] but as spiritual equal of Shakyamuni Buddha. By around 1040 Guru Rimpoché triumphed throughout Tibet and nearby territories, thanks to the monk Atisa (Atisha; 982-1054) and his deciple Milarepa (1040-1143). Nyingma Sect is believed to be the oldest branch of Tibetan Buddhism having a history of more then 700 years. The construction of the Tsozong Gongba Monastery was chaired by the Nyin-gma-pa monk Sungye Lingpa and is now home of few nuns.

Avalokiteshvara (or Avalokiteśvara, in Tibetan - Chenresig) - statue in the main building.

Padmasambhava (or Guru Rimpoché) - statue in the main building.

Buddha Shakyamuni (Sakya Thukpa) - statue in the main building.

The three statues (Chenresig, Guru Rimpoché and Sakya Thukpa, see above) were actualy shot and burned by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the Cultural Revolution, before being restored by the local lama Dudjom Rimpoche and his son Chuni Rimpoche (now resident of at Lamaling Monastery near Bayi town[10], see the map on your left). A small 'kora' (ritual circumambulation circuit, see also Kora (pilgrimage)) around the monastery passes several hard-to-discern holy sites, including a Sky burial site, a 'body-print' of Gesar.

[edit] Directions

Tsozong Gongba Monastery can be reached via the Mila Pass with 16,500 feet above sea level. Zig-zagging the way over mountain passes one will ascend to over 4,450m driving over the Serkhyin La Pass. From the back of mongastery is revealed spectacular views of Namcha Barwa, the highest peak in the East Himalayas (7782m).
Tsozong Gongba Monastery can be reached via the Mila Pass with 16,500 feet above sea level. Zig-zagging the way over mountain passes one will ascend to over 4,450m driving over the Serkhyin La Pass. From the back of mongastery is revealed spectacular views of Namcha Barwa, the highest peak in the East Himalayas (7782m).

Tsozong Gongba Monastery is located on the Tashi (in Chinese Zha-Xi/Tsa-Xi, 島心湖) Island in the middle of the Basum Tso Lake (aslo Baksum Tso, Draksum-tso) - Eastern Tibet’s largest freshwater lake. Because of the water's stunning jade green effect its meaning in Tibetan - "Phasongtso" is "green water" (Cuogao). The color is due to Songluo (lit. pine-vine). Basum Tso Lake lies about 50km east of Kongpo Gyamda County. The lake surface is on average about 3,538 meters above sea level and covers an area of 25.9 square kilometers, with a length of 12km and a few hundreds to a few thousands meters in width. The deepest part is about 60 (198 feet) meters deep.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Tibet by Bradley Mayhew & Michael Kohn, Lonely Planet Publications, 2005, p.232.
  2. ^ The Bon Religion of Tibet by Per Kavǣrne, Shambhala, 1996
  3. ^ Tibet, Life, Myth, and Art by Michael Willis, Thorsons 2003, p.69
  4. ^ Tibetan Phrasebook by Sandup Tsering, Lonely Planet Publications, 2002, pp.15-17
  5. ^ The Buddhist Handbook by John Snelling, Barnes & Noble, NY, 1991, pp.176-7
  6. ^ Tantra, The Path of Ecstasy by Georg Feuerstein, Shambhala, 1998
  7. ^ Buddha, The Enlightened One by Gabriel Mandel Khan, Thunder Bay Press, 2000, p.85
  8. ^ Guru Rimpoché, His Life and Times by Ngawang Zangpo, Snow Lion Publications, 2002
  9. ^ Reading Buddhist Art by Meher McArthur, Thames & Hudson, 2002, p.43
  10. ^ Tibet of China by An Caidan, China Intercontinental Press, 2003 (ISBN 7-5085-0374-0/K489), p.144

[edit] See also

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