Busa Wangdue Gonpa Dorling Monastic and Buddhist College
Busa Wangdue Gonpa Dorling Monastic and Buddhist College is located at Sephu under Wangduephodrang in Bhutan. It is the main monastic seat of the Tshungmed Tashi Tenzin, the Heart Son of the great Terchen Dorje Lingpa. The genealogy of subsequent reincarnations has been carried down through generations since then.
Busa Wangdue Gonpa Dorling Monastery was built in the seventeen (17th) century. Thuksay Tshungmed Tashi Tenzin laid the foundation of the monastery using the same treasure, The Golden Dagger which was discovered by Dorje Lingpa from Tshomo Umteng. He used the same golden dagger to consecrate the ground breaking ritual.
The monastery was managed by layman and yogis, since then they were taught about Dorje Lingpa teachings, practices and rituals by the successive lineage holders and the senior yogis.
Later in the year 2000, the then Dorling lineage holder Lam Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche established a Buddhist College with monk education, with initial setup support from His Eminence Gangteng Trulku Rinpoche.
The first batch of 30 monks were enrolled at the Busa Wangoen Buddhist College with the visit and blessing of Ven. Khenchen Pema Sherab of Namdroling Monastery in Mysore, India.
During the initiation, Khenchen bestowed The Getsul Dompa (novice vows) to all the monks.
The monastic education system under Dorje Lingpa Foundation is 6 (six) years of elementary school under various monastic schools and another nine years (Levels 1–9) of higher education under Buddhist College. After the completion of Buddhist College education, the monk is required to take on responsibility to support the monastic setup and school, taking on the roles of teacher, administrator, secretary, and in program management. After that, the monk will need to undergo a three-year retreat. And after the completion of retreat and successful service for the required year, he can be offered the title of Khenpo (Chief Abbot).
Currently, there are 47 monks studying at Busa Wangdue Gonpa, under the guidance of Khenpo Phurba, and 5 (Five) Lopens /teachers, overall, headed by the 11th Busa Trulku Rinpoche.
Busa Wangdue Gonpa Buddhist College.
Under the Dorje Lingpa College Project, the plan to relocate the Busa Wangdue Gonpa Buddhist College to Tshamkhapharkha, which is a blessed location where the Second Lineage Abbot, Drubthob Ugyen Dorji Rinpoche, spent his life dedicated to meditation, is underway. The college project was conceptualised and started in 2018 and is planned to be completed by December 2022, but it was delayed because of the pandemic. The college project approval was accorded by His Majesty the 5th King of Bhutan as a special case to promote Dorje Lingpa lineage, culture, tradition, and Dharma in the country.
The project is planned in three phases, as:
Phase I – Construction of hostels/dormitories which can house 120 monks, classrooms and teachers’ quarters. The commencement of the construction began on May 18, 2019 and is expected to be completed within 25 – 30 months.
Phase II – Administration blocks, dining halls and kitchens. The commencement of the construction began on August 1, 2020 and expected to be completed within 15 months.
Phase III – Congregation Hall (Tshokhang) with a capacity of 300 monks and Zimchung is planned to commence the construction work from March 2021 and expected to be completed within July 2024.
Plan to re-start Layman Yogi Monastic School
After the relocation of the Busa Wangdue Gonpa Buddhist College from the current location to Tshamkhapharkha by 2024, the foundation plans to use the existing hostels and facilities to re-start the layman and yogi (gomday) school in a proper way, focused on teachings and practises and skills related to dharma and Dorje Lingpa practises, culture, traditions, and teachings.
The Gomday school was started since the first lineage times, and they have till date upheld and maintained the practises, teachings, customs, traditions, and rituals of Dorje Lingpa, which are required to be revived.
Background and lineage of Busa Wangdue Gonpa, Dorje Lingpa Monastery
During the eighth (8th) century, the Second Buddha Guru Padmasambhava travelled through Bhutan, particularly in the current location of Busa Wangue Gonpa, subduing evils, burying treasures for future discovery, and also leaving his body prints (feet and hands) in many locations.
In 1368, at Yangdzong Monastery, Tibet, Terchen Dorje Lingpa, the third of the five King Treasure Revellers, discovered a script that bore a secret message on the total number of treasures hidden in Bhutan, as prophesied by a local deity named Jomolhar. In Lhasa, he discovered a roll of scripture from the stone pillar stating his future journey of Buddhism in Bhutan. While meditating at Chhuwori, where he discovered the most secret essence of Buddhist practises, he envisioned a vision to move towards the southern Himalayas and Bhutan to flourish the doctrine of Buddhism. With all the secret instructions and prophecies, Dorjie Lingpa started the journey to Bhutan.
While in Bhutan, he moved to Khothang Rinchenling (Wangdue) and went on retreat for several months. In his vision, the dakini directed him to visit Baylangdra (Wangdue) and discover the treasure which had been hidden by Guru Padmasambhava. At Baylangdra, from the towering cliff, he discovered: a statue of Avalokiteshvara; sacrificial pills; and a manuscript to destroy the lower destinies (nyen-song-kuen-chop).
In 1372, at Wangdue, Bjaragang, while he was explaining the text on Guru Communion (Lama Kadue), he envisioned Guru Padmasambhava, who instructed him to discover treasure at Limbukha in Punakha. He instantly moved to Limbukha, at Ugyen Phugmo (popularly known as Limbu Terchu), and discovered a box made of shellac from the cliff that contained a precious treasure in the form of a manuscript. He also discovered a vase filled with gold, a vase filled with water of longevity, and two turquoises. He also made a prophecy that several years later – a heart fortress would be built in between the two great rivers: Phochu and Mochu, and his prophecy was realised later in 17th century with the building of Punakha Dzong by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.
In 1374, with the information reflected on a treasure script, he began his journey towards Bumthang via the mountains. On the way, at lake Umteng Tsho, he couldn’t penetrate further; the trail was completely jammed by the avalanche of snow, so he decided to spend a few days there. While taking a short break, the local deity and guardian of treasure, NamenKarmo, devotedly invited him to her dwelling, which is located below Umteng Tsho. At her place, she offered a roll of manuscript, which contains the instructions on treasure revelations at Umteng Tsho. As per the guidelines provided in a treasure script, at Umteng Tsho, Dorje Lingpa discovered: a volume on Avalokiteshvara (Gyelwa Jamtsho); a golden dagger; and a meteoric iron sword (Namchag Umi Reldri). These treasures are currently kept as relics at Busa Wangdue Gonpa, Dorling Densa.
The Umteng Tsho / Lake is located one day walking north of Busa Wangdue Gonpa. With these treasures, Dorje Lingpa arrived on the hill where the current monastery is located, meditated, and prophesied that in the future, his Heart Son would establish a monastery at this location.
Subsequently, in the seventeen (17th) century, the Heart Son of Terchen Dorje Lingpa, Thuksay Tshungmed Tashi Tenzin came and laid the foundation of the monastery. The same golden dagger revealed by Dorje Lingpa, which was in his possession, was used to consecrate the ground.
This was also the start of the Busa-Trulku lineage at Busa-Wangdue-Gonpa-Dorje Lingpa Densa
