About Us
Segyu Gaden Phodrang Monastery , Nepal
Segyud Gaden Phodrang Kathmandu branch, is an established Tibetan Tantric College with rich history of learned masters since its founding in 1432, Tibet. Since 1986, our Kathamandu branch has been established at Tinchuli, near Boudhanath. For those who are interested to find out more about a deeper meaning of life through the more profound Buddhist philosophy, or just curious to have a taste a little flavour of ancient Tibetan culture during one’s stay in beautiful Nepal, welcome to our humble abode.
May you have an enriching and memorable stay here.
Tashi Delek.
Our History
Today, this monastery is one of the most sacred and historic Buddhist monasteries. Ever since its’ establishment, the monastery carries on the legacy of the Great Je Tsongkapas’ original teachings and the pure tantric practices. Likewise, it has also provided a strong foundation for Vajrayana teachings, such as the Guhyasamaja, Heruka, and Yamantaka.
As the monastery flourished over the years, Jestun Sherab Sengge left for central Tibet and established Lower Tantric College. This way both Upper and Lower Tantric colleges originated from Sed Gyued Gaden Phodrang.
After the 1959 exodus from Tibet, only 40 monks from the original Segyu Monastery seeking asylum succeeded in fleeing to Kalmpong, India through Gantok. They received assistance as refugees and faced many obstacles. Some of them were sent to road construction crews as ordered by the newly formed Tibetan Government in Exile. The remainder stayed to perform religious rites for the locals.
In 1986, in Nepal, some faithful sponsors offered the monks a little land and it was here that we constructed some rooms and a simple prayer hall. This was to become a branch of the monastery originally established in Kalimpong. In 1997, there arose some obstacles due to local politics. Thus it was decided to become independent from the monastery in Kalimpong, and we have remained so ever since. During this time, there were very few rooms for the monks and the prayer hall was in very poor condition. However, this did not deter us from continuing with our sacred religious traditions. We have since upheld the three principal Pratimoksha precepts and have honored the special traditional rituals of Segyu Monastery during the summer retreat in the same manner as the original monastery in Tibet during earlier times.
During this one and a half month retreat, preparations are made according to the text named Tsering Jong, an ancient ritual of Guhyasamaja, Heruka, Yamantaka etc. thus fulfilling the wishes of the great Lamas and deities of this rare lineage.
Our Venerable Abbot (1938 - 2022)
The venerable abbot of Segyu Gaden Phodrang Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Jampa Tsundu, was born in 1938 in the village of Yago, in the Se region of Tibet. His family name is Lama Drupkhang, and he is a descendant of the great master Lama Samten Reypa. His father, Fa TshePhun, was a village Chief and very skilled in this capacity. His mother, Ma Pyasa lak, was a very kind and courteous lady.
Traditionally, the middle son is ordained as a monk in the Tibetan community. Fa TshePhun was told by an astrologer that it would be very fortunate karma for this son to become a monk, so Jampa Tsundu was ordained at 9. He excelled in all subjects and completed all his studies at age 15.
During the Chinese invasion of Tibet, Jampa Tsundu fled to India.
For the next 20 years, this humble monk devoted his time to cooking for older monks, making Tibetan incense, and going to pujas at the newly founded Segyu Monastery branch in Kalimpong, India.
In 1979, at the advice of Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang; several other high Lamas; and at the request of the Segyu Monastery monks, Jampa Tsundu taught Dharma for the next six years. In 1985, he traveled to South India with the young Pemachoeling Tulku to receive teachings from Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche. Along with other high Lamas, he received many initiations (empowerments), transmissions, and explanations from his root Lama, Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang.
Jampa Tsundu began his journey to rebuild the original Segyu Monastery, which had been completely destroyed in Tibet.
He and his friend went to Dulnagpa cave (the cave of the great master Dulnag Palden Zangpo, where a naturally-appearing Yamantaka arose on the rocky face) to offer Tsog and pray. He then went to the Chinese regional office to discuss the monastery situation and apply for monastery reconstruction with the Chinese government.
In 1986, a sponsor offered land for new construction, and he traveled to Nepal to begin constructing the branch of Kalimpong Segyu Monastery. It took several trips back and forth to Nepal. Still, finally, with the support of Drubwang Ganchen Rinpoche and other sponsors, they built the monastery prayer hall and some residential rooms for the monks. On his fourth visit, with the help of his faithful students, Gen Kalden and other monks, they spent the next three months performing Guhayasamja, Thirteen Deity Yamantaka, and Heruka Sadhanas, among other rituals.
Over the next few years, Jampa Tsundu also made several trips to Europe, Thailand, and Indonesia. In 2012, at the monastery’s request, he took Abbot’s position and responsibilities at this great monastery.
