About Tharlam Monastery

History of Tharlam monastery

Tharlam Monastery was originally established by Ga Rabjampa Kunga Yeshe in Tibet in 1436, during the 15th century.

Located in Kham, Tharlam Monastery was affiliated with Ngor Monastery in Tsang and housed numerous relics and sacred objects. Between 1919 and 1921, Vajradhara Gaton Ngawang Legpa undertook significant reconstruction efforts, funded by generous donations. He built a three-story-high golden Buddha statue, flanked by gilded, two-story-high statues of Sakya Paṇḍita on the right and Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo on the left.

In 1981, His Eminence late Dezhung Jampa Kunga Tenpai Nyima, the supreme tulku of Dezhung, re-established the monastery near the Boudhanath Stupa in Nepal. This was part of his commitment to care for Tharlam Monastery both spiritually and materially, as instructed by his guru, Gaton Dorjechang. To fulfill his guru’s wishes, he founded the Shree Tharlam SabzangNamgyal Ling Temple on the auspicious occasion of Buddha’s Descent from Heaven.

Subsequently, Khenpo Jamyang Sherab, the abbot of Tharlam and a direct disciple of H.E. Dezhung Rinpoche, constructed a magnificent three-story tall copper-and-gold statue of the supreme refuge, Lord Buddha Shakyamuni, as the monastery’s central image. On either side of this statue, he erected two-story high copper-and-gold statues of Choje Sakya Paṇḍita and Ngorchen Dorjechang Kunga Zangpo. These statues, along with their structures, were crafted with great care and purity, reflecting the aspirations of his guru.

H.E. Dezhung Jampa Kunga Tenpai Nyima gave many profound teachings on sutra, tantra, and Sanskrit grammar. In 1990, His Holiness Dagchen Jigdral Dorjechang bestowed the Lamdre empowerment for the first time outside Tibet at Tharlam Monastery. This empowerment was attended by thousands of students, including high lamas, monks, and lay practitioners.

In 1993–1994, His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen Dorjechang visited Tharlam Monastery and gave teachings on Dubthab Kuntue, a collection of sadhanas in the Sakya tradition compiled by Loter Wangpo. In 1994, the fourth supreme reincarnation of Dezhung Rinpoche was enthroned at Tharlam Monastery. In 2007, His Holiness Dagchen Sakya Jigdral Dorjechang gave the extensive and profound teachings of the Lamdre Lobshe for the second time. Ngor Luding Khenchen Dorjechang, Gawa Ngawang Lekpa’s reincarnation Gonpo Sonam Choden, and other revered masters blessed the monastery with their teachings, further enriching the Mahayana Dharma tradition.

Under the leadership of His Eminence Dezhung Rinpoche Ngawang Kunga Tegchen Chokyi Nyima Tenpai Gyaltsen, the monastery continues to uphold the practices of the previous holy masters. Guided by his wisdom and compassion, the monks and disciples engage in the three activities of teaching, practice, and service, ensuring the flourishing of the Dharma and the benefit of all beings.

In 2024, at the request of H.E. Dezhung Tulku Rinpoche, His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen, the 42nd Sakya Trizin, along with their entourages, traveled to Nepal and delivered extensive and profound Lamdre teachings at Tharlam Monastery over the course of two months to more than four thousand devotees who had gathered from various parts of the world.

Today, Tharlam Monastery is home to over a hundred monks. Of these, twenty monks are pursuing advanced studies in Buddhist philosophy at Sakya College and other institutions. Seventy-six students are enrolled in the monastery’s school, where they receive both traditional Buddhist education and secular studies up to class eight. Graduated monks actively participate in daily pujas and Dharma activities under the supervision of the vajra master and monastic managers.

To benefit all sentient beings, Tharlam Monastery conducts many significant pujas, including the annual Rabjampa Guru Puja, performed to fulfill the aspirations of the root gurus.