Dzongsho Deshek Dhüpe Phodrang

Peyu, Derge, Kham, Tibet

In Praise of Dzongsho by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye:
"Through the power of virtue from the slightest praise of this supreme, wondrous, and marvellous site, the Three Roots of the Victorious Ones will be pleased. From their expanse, they will shower down blessings, empowerments, and siddhis like rain. The glow from the smiles of the Protectors being pleased will protect one day and night like an only child….."


Dzongsho, protectively surrounded by holy mountains, is among the twenty-five major sacred places of Eastern Tibet where the five intrinsic enlightened principles of form, speech, mind, qualities, and activities are unified. There, in the 2nd month of the Fire Hare year, 1867, the great Rime masters, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chogyur Dechen Lingpa, enthroned Lodro Thaye in the holy cave of Tsitta Sang Phuk and proclaimed him the prophesied Terton name, Chime Tennyi Yungdrung Lingpa. In accordance with an earlier prophecy, Lodro Thaye then established a Protector Temple and a retreat place for the practice of the inner tantras of the Shangpa Kagyu Lineage in Dzongsho. In his hermitage which is still there today, he composed the Rinchen Terdzod. Dzongsho became a great seat of learning and practice, attracting scholars and practitioners from all over Tibet. The activities continued uninterruptedly throughout the lifetimes of Lodro Thaye and Palden Khyentse Oser but ended abruptly in the late 1950s when political turbulences stirred Tibet.

Almost 30 years later, in 1984, the sangha was re-established under the inspiration of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche during his visit to Tibet that year. Among the first 12 monks was Lama Kunzang Yeshe, Dzongsho’s Senior Chanting Master (Umze) today. During his second and last visit to Tibet in 1990, the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche inspired the rebuilding of the temple and retreat place in Dzongsho. Today, the Venerable Tenzin Nyima Rinpoche directs and guides all the monastic activities.