The Sangha of Tsandra Rinchen Ling

The 3-year Shangpa Kagyu Retreat Centre
The traditional 3-year Shangpa Kagyu retreat continued throughout the lifetimes of Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and Jamgon Kongtrul Palden Khyentse Oser (the First and Second Jamgon Kongtrul incarnations). However, they were abruptly discontinued in 1959, when political changes began in Tibet.
   Twenty-five years later, in 1984, when the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche visited Tsandra Rinchen Drak for the first time, he inspired the sangha to rebuild the destroyed retreat centre, and to re-establish the tradition of the 3-year Shangpa Kagyu Retreat.
   The first 3-year retreat resumed in 1986 with 25 monks under the guidance of Lama Karma Namgyal. He is a devoted disciple of the Very Ven. Kalu Rinpoche, and completed the 3-year retreat in the 1940s in Tsandra Rinchen Drak, under Kalu Rinpoche who was then the retreat master.

Changdzo Yonten Phuntsok
The activities at Tsandra Rinchen Drak have continued under the able guidance of Changdzo Yonten Phuntsok, who is also a qualified Tibetan doctor. This 89-year-old devoted disciple, and General Secretary of the Second Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Palden Khyentse Oser, has lived in Tsandra Rinchen Drak for over 70 years.
   Despite his advanced age, Changdzo Yonten Phuntsok is still very active. Following the instructions of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, he rebuilt the main shrine hall and retreat centre, both of which were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. He completed the construction of a Tara Shrine room in 1996, as well as three stupas to enshrine the relics of the First, Second, and Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoches. His wish is now to rebuild the Lineage Shrine Room (Ka-Rab Lhakhang) originally constructed by Palden Khyentse Oser.

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