Jampa Ling in located in Chamdo, Tibet. It was buily by Lord Tsongkhapa’s disciple in 1444.
It has 12 dratsangs and there used to be 5000 monks during its prime. It is surrounded by many small chapels, and is especially famous for its annual “Lama Dance”. This monastery currently has 1300 monks.
Overlooking the town of Chamdo, the monastery of Chamdo Jampa Ling (chab mdo byams pa gling) is situated on a hill above the confluence of the rivers Dza Chu (Mekong) and Ngom Chu. It was founded as one of the earliest Gelugpa institutions apart from Ue-Tsang.
A local legend has it that when Tsongkhapa traveled from Amdo to central Tibet and came through Chamdo in 1373, he predicted that the Buddhist Doctrine would thrive there one day. This prophecy came true some seven decades later, in 1437, when one of Tsongkhapa’s disciples named Jangsem Sherab Sangpo laid the foundations for a big lamasery.
Sherab Sangpo was a native of Kham who first studied at Sera monastery in Lhasa. As he was very much impressed with the high standard of spiritual and intelectual attainments on the part of many scholars there, he once thought to himself, ‘On my return home I should like to do something similar for the welfare of the people.’ Byan[g]-chub-hbum, an important personage at Sera, read his mind and invited him to his own room.
The guest was given many gifts and was told, ‘I understand you will soon return to Hsi-khang [= Kham] to propagate the doctrine, hence these small gifts.’ The guest was surprised, saying: ‘I did not speak of returning to Hsi-kang. Do I understand that I am not welcome here? I shall ask Rgyal-tshab-rje about this. Maybe he will let me stay.’
He went to Dgah-ldan [Ganden] to see him. But strange enough, this senior disciple of Tson[g]-kha-pa did not persuade him to remain in Tibet either, but instead encouraged him to go to Chab-mdo and gave him many gifts. Consequently, in 1437 he built the monastery Byams-pa-glin[g] at Chab-mdo, the first in Hsi-kang.
View Jampa Ling’s brochure in Tibetan (large files)
Part1 | Part2 | Part3 | Part4 | Part5
View Jampa Ling’s brochure in Chinese (large file)
Video 1
Download this video or Watch in Youtube Part1 | Part2 | Part3
Video 2
English
Indonesia
Tibetan
lobsang la
October 18, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR5o71qriN8&feature=related
lobsang la
October 18, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXMllgkVyuQ&feature=related
Sarah
January 16, 2011
This monastery is very big and quite beautiful, surrounded by mountains. There is much scenic beauty, which is a common sight in Tibet. Although there are less monks now, it’s good to know the cultural traditions are still maintained.
Sierra
August 28, 2016
What an interesting story behind the founding of this Jampa Ling. To think that Lama Tsongkhapa mentioned the flourishing of the Dharma in this region in his time and to have it come true just 50 years later!
Such a very large monastery with so many sangha and beautiful statues and thangka. And, from the photos, there are more than one blessed statue and thangkas of Dorje Shugden.
Thanks for the video of the monastery. They really showed the expanse and splendor of the monastery.