Brief History
In 1986, the Very Venerable Dabzang Rinpoche offered the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche land for a monastery, and requested him to establish a 3-year retreat centre for monks of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Accepting the offer, the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche began the construction of a monastery in 1987. He named the place "Pullahari" after Naropa's monastery in Bihar, India, north of Bodhgaya, the holy place of Buddha's enlightenment. Lotsawa Marpa visited and lived there for many years, and received and accomplished the essential practices at that place. It was also at Pullahari that Naropa came to know about Marpa's main disciple, and was amazed that such a marvellous practitioner as Milarepa existed in the dark, snowy land of Tibet. He then prostrated in that direction, and it is said that all of the trees at Pullahari bowed that way too.

  
Pullahari monks duering a break

   The monastery building in Nepal was completed in February 1992, and was blessed by the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. Then, he requested the Very Ven. Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche to guide the 3-year Mahamudra retreat centre and the programs at the Rigpe Dorje Institute, which he planned to establish in Pullahari. After the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche dissolved his mind in parinirvana on the 26th of April 1992, his instructions and wishes remained to be fulfilled by his devoted monks and disciples
   One day, at Pullahari, a short time before he passed away, while the Third Jamgon Rinpoche was speaking about his vision, Tenzin Dorjee asked him why he was making plans for so many projects. In reply, Rinpoche told Tenzin Dorjee that he should not think only of him when carrying out his activities but also of the Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoches that would come in the future.

  
Monks in debate

   The Third Jamgon Rinpoche also told Tenzin Dorjee that Dharma activities would flourish in Pullahari in future, and advised him to pay attention to the place. He walked around Pullahari and showed Tenzin Dorjee, Thinlay Ngodup, Lama Tenzin Yongdu, and those who were working with him at the time, where to locate the different buildings for his activities, including the site for the 3-year retreat and the Rigpe Dorje Institute.
   The Stupa Temple of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, the retreat centre, the Rigpe Dorje programs and all the other activities at Pullahari were initiated and completed after the Third Jamgon Rinpoche's parinirvana.
   Today, there are more than 240 monks in Pullahari Monastery, and 17 in the fourth 3-year retreat. (More Photos)

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