The legacy of Tashi Gomang Monastery stretches back to the reign of King Ashoka of India in the 3rd century BCE. His devotion to the Buddha's teachings was so strong that his prayers caused a stupa to spontaneously arise high in the Himalayas of western Tibet, at what was to become the site of Tashi Gomang Monastery. Authenticated by the First Traktung Dudjom Lingpa, the First Dodrubchen Jigme Trinley Odzer, and Garlong Duddul Wangchuk Lingpa (the previous incarnation of Tarthong Garlong Rinpoche), this stupa has been a very important pilgrimage site for more than 2,000 years. In the hillside behind the monastery are powerful reminders of the spiritual powers of great masters of the past: footprints in stone of Guru Rinpoche, Yeshe Tsogyal and Padma Rangdrol Dorje.
Tashi Gomang is renowned in the Golok region for its sacred spring, a source of absolutely pure water with legendary curative powers which is free-flowing even in the dead of winter and the heat of summer. It is also the site of miraculous activity, as evidenced by the incised Om Mani Padme Hung mantra which arose spontaneously in the stone outcropping behind the monastery. This self-arising mantra is said to liberate all who see it from suffering.
Throughout the year retreatants at Tashi Gomang Monastery perform seasonal practices, with the ultimate goal of benefiting all sentient beings. Spring is the time for Vajrakilaya, Mahakala, Shitro, and Vajra Dancing. There is a 50-day summer retreat, Vajrasattva practice in the fall, and an Amitabha retreat during the winter. The Tulkus, Khenpos, monks, nuns, and yogis at Tashi Gomang Monastery also perform an extensive monlam ceremony dedicated to world peace every year.
In addition to being the dharma master at Tashi Gomang, Tulku Orgyen Zangpo has taken full responsibility for a number of other monasteries. Tod Zawulong Monastery holds an illustrious place in the history of Buddhism in Tibet. Adjoining its monastery is the cave where Yeshe Tsogyal attained Rainbow Body and ascended to the Pureland of the Copper- Colored Mountain with Guru Rinpoche.
Dudul Palchen Monastery in Lhasa is currently the seat of Kyabje Zabtrul Shindu Rinpoche, an accomplished yogi who is renowned throughout Tibet. Upon his death, he has formally requested that Tulku Orgyen Zangpo succeed him as spiritual head of Dudul Palchen and its associated monasteries.
The remaining jewel in Tulku Orgyen Zangpo's garland of monasteries is a nunnery of eight Dzogchen nuns who practice on the very sacred site of what was once Shamda Palchen Monastery. This ancient very large monastery was the seat of Zur Shakya Jungnay, one of the three pillars of the early Nyingma lineage of master to disciple transmission.
Tulku Orgyen Zangpo has dedicated his life to maintaining not only the legacy of Tashi Gomang Monastery and its humble meditation community, but also to the numerous other monasteries that have been entrusted to him, and to enriching and assuring their survival in the centuries to come.
