Kagyu Tekchen Ling Today
Situated on a hillock looking at the snowy range of Tibet to the north, the monastery is surrounded by ancient forests and enveloped in mist for most part of the year. In this remote, secluded place, monks follow the ancient tradition of prayers, study and rituals both in the monastery and in the customary three-year Shangpa Kagyu retreat centre.

  
  The mountains of Tibet as seen from the monastery

A Brief History
In 1987, the Buddhist community in Lava offered the 4-acre site to the third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche with the request that he establish a Buddhist monastery there for the benefit of the local people.
   During his first visit to the site on the 15th day of the First Tibetan month, 1987, an unusual snowfall covered the entire hill. The third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche was pleased with this good sign. More than 4,000 devotees from the community came to meet him and he bestowed to them the empowerment of Chenrezig (4-armed).
   To fulfil the community's wish, work began in April 1988 and on the auspicious day of Chökhor-Düchen, June 6th, 1990, the monastery opened with the initial seven monks.
   While the monastery was still being built, the third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche began plans to establish Ngedön Chag-Chen Ling, a Shangpa Kagyu retreat centre on the same site. Construction started in April 1989, and the first 3-year retreat began with 10 monks on March 10, 1991. At the request of the Third Jamgon Rinpoche, the retreat was placed under the guidance of the Very Ven. Bokar Rinpoche.
   The facilities in Lava monastery have expanded over the years as the number of monks grew. Today, the fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche studies and trains there. There are currently 120 monks and 12 in the fourth 3-year retreat.

  
  The Mani Lhakhang and Monks Rooms

The Mani Lhakhang
According to the wishes of the third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, a Mani Lhakhang has been built for the benefit of the lay Buddhist community. It was opened on November 10th, 2001 with the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the auspicious and historic occasion of his four-day stay at the Monastery. His Holiness also bestowed teachings and the empowerment of Avalokiteshvara (11-headed or 1000-armed Chenrezig) to the sangha and the people of the community.

Photos from Kagyu Tekchen Ling