Light of Dharma 
Page 9
Lava Kagyu Thekchen Ling
Monastery & Retreat Centre
Lava, Distt. Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
Phone: +91 3552 282232
Located on a hill, overlooking the snow-mountain range to the north, the Monastery is surrounded by ancient forests and enveloped in mists for most of the year. In this remote, secluded place, monks in the Monastery are intensively engaged in Buddhist studies. There is also a 3-year retreat centre, Ngedon Chag-Chen Ling, which follows the ancient contemplative tradition of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage.
Six of the eight stupas
A Brief History
In 1987, the Buddhist community in Lava offered the 4-acre site to the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and requested him to 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 on them the empowerment of Chenrezig.
Lava Kagyu Thekchen Ling
To fulfil the community's wish, work began on the monastery in April 1988. It opened with the first seven monks in 1990 on the 6th of June, the auspicious day of Lord Buddha's activity of turning the Wheel of Dharma for the first time (Tib. Chökhor-Düchen).
While the monastery was still being built, the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche made plans to establish Ngedön Chag-Chen Ling, and construction started in 1989. The first 3-year retreat began with ten monks on March 10, 1991. At the request of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, the retreat program came under the guidance of the Very Ven. Bokar Rinpoche. The retreats have continued successively since it started, and the monks today are in the fifth 3-year retreat.
The facilities in Lava Monastery have expanded over the years to accommodate increasing numbers of monks. Today, there are 110 monks in the monastery and retreat centre.
The 1000-armed Chenrezig in Lava Mani Lhakhang
Mani Lhakhang
According to the wishes of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, an Avalokiteshvara Temple (Tib. Mani Lhakhang) has been built for the benefit of the lay Buddhist community. It was opened on the 10th of November, 2001, and was blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his historic four-day visit to the Monastery in 2001. His Holiness also bestowed teachings and the empowerment of Avalokiteshvara (11-headed or 1000-armed Chenrezig) to more than 10,000 people.
Monastic and Retreat Centres
Background | Training and Education
Pullahari Monastery & Retreat Centre, Nepal
Tsandra Rinchen Drak, Palpung, Derge, Tibet
Dzongshö Deshek Dhüpe Phodrang, Peyu, Derge, Tibet
Kinnaur Bodh Vihar, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tsakhang Gompa, Upper Dolpo, Nepal
   
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