Namgyal Monastery

Categories: United States | Monasteries

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

• Tibetan :   རྣམ་གྱལ་
• Wylie :   rnam gyal,

Namgyal Monastery is any of several Tibetan Buddhist institutions associated with the Dalai Lama(s).

(1) The monastery (dratsang) historically housed within the Potala Palace, to which the Dalai Lama traditionally belongs. It was founded by the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, in 1575, and has focused on ritual duties associated with the Dalai Lama in his religious role. Whether the Peoples Republic of China has maintained an institution with this name is unclear.

(2) The same institution in exile in Dharamsala. For several decades its monks have accompanied the fourteenth Dalai Lama overseas, and demonstrated such things as lama dances and Tibetan sand painting or sand mandalas]at various venues.

(3) An American branch of the above, founded 1992 in Ithaca, New York. Its several monks (rotated in and out from Dharamsala) teach a several-year curriculum in "sutra and tantra," including Tibetan language, to a clientele consisting predominantly of Western dharma students. In addition it sponsors various lectures, short courses, and retreats. Its full name is "Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies." Also one third of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobains ashes were scattered here.

There are also persons, not necessarily associated with the Dalai Lama, with the name Namgyal, for example Namgyal Rinpoche and Loppön Jigme Thutop Namgyal Rinpoche.

References

• Official site for # (3)