Yanggon Thongdrol Phuntsog Ling Monastery

Yungdrung Bon religion spread quite early in the 12th century in Chharkha village, Dolpo. After that, during the period of Yangton Gyaltsen Rinchen, the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud or Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung, Ka Nyam or Written and Experiential teachings and so forth were practiced collectively by listening, reflecting and meditating in Koglang Yungdrung Nyishar Monastery. Numerous followers of this religion, including monastic clergy, arose in this very auspicious time. Now, of that monastery there exist merely the remains of Nyingpo Nam Sum or Three Heart Mantras of Bon carved in stone, more than forty stupas, the monastery and the monk’s residence.

The second monastery established by the Yangton Lamas, which is located on the other side of the village on a shaded slope of a mountain, is Tardzong Phuntsog Ling Monastery, and it included a monk’s residency and retreat rooms. Later on Yangton Lama Tsukphue Gyaltsen re-established the God Castle (g.sas khang) and temple. After that, due to problems of the natural elements, such as crossing a huge river to get to the monastery, and observing many other difficulties, Yangton Lama Tashi Gyaltsen established the third Yangton monastery named Yanggon Thongdrol Phuntsog Ling Monastery in the year 1988. Later on in the year 1993, he relocated the temple of Tardzong Phuntsog Ling to Yanggon Thongdrol Phuntsog Ling, even using the same wooden beams as in the older temple.

Consequently now there are problems such as water leakage which threaten the structural integrity of the temple as well as the safety of the ancient texts, thangkas and relics held inside. Thus, this monastery will have to be reconstructed in a larger form than that of the earlier one, including one small bedroom and kitchen for the main Lama or head of the monastery. Also, it requires a residency and kitchen for tantric practitioners and monks.

Yanggon Thongdrol Phuntsog Ling Monastery gives the opportunity to take a part in three-year retreat.

Whosoever wants to become a part of the tantric tradition of Bon in Chharkha village must practice the three-year retreat. During the retreat, practitioners are not allowed to leave the monastery; it is their fundament for the duration of the retreat. In the beginning, practitioners are taught reading and writing, and subsequently they memorize the prayers of their practices. Throughout the days the practitioners complete the Nine-Hundred Thousand Preliminary Accumulations, which comprise respectively of 100 000 Lamai Naljor, Refuge, Bodhicitta and Mandala Offering prayers as well as 100-Syllable Mantra, the 3 Heart Mantras of Bon and Prostrations. After this, the practice of the Peaceful, Powerful and Wrathful Deities is completed. In the very end, the Transference of Consciousness is practiced, with the manifestation of the signs of the realization of the practice.

source: http://yanggon.org/monastery/