May/June Heart of Glastonbury - Magazine - Page 25
Altitude Sanctum: ZheRan Monastery, A Refuge for the Soul
ZheRan Monastery,
established in ZheRan Valley
at an altitude of 4900 meters
in 1982, stands as one of the
highest-altitude monasteries
in the world.
Originally a branch of
Agyong Monastery, founded
by the 4th Dzogchen
Tell us about yourself and who
Rinpoche, it holds a
you are?
significant place in Tibetan
Buddhist heritage.
Located in a frigid
permafrost zone with an
average altitude of 5000
meters in Kekexili and a
population of around 2000,
ZheRan Valley was once
entirely isolated, lacking
even a road. Venerable
Gyakong Padma Tenzin
Rinpoche aspired to rebuild
ZheRan Monastery,
providing Tibetan herdsmen
in the area with access to
Buddhist blessings and the
path to liberation, while
also extending the reach of
Dharma blessings from the
highest temples and stupas
to farther-reaching places.
During the monastery's
reconstruction, several
miracles occurred. The
statue of Padmasambhava in
the prayer hall once spoke
and shed tears, witnessed
by the disciples and young
monks present at the time.
The construction of such a
monastery at an altitude of
4900 meters is indeed
evidence of the miraculous
blessings of the Buddha, as
well as the aspirations of
Rinpoche and his disciples.
After nearly a decade of
effort, ZheRan Monastery
has been revitalized,
changing its old adobe
buildings for a new
appearance.
Nowadays, it serves as a
spiritual sanctuary for local
Tibetans and a home for the
souls of Rinpoche's
disciples.
Situated at a high altitude,
ZheRan Monastery's unique
geographical location endows
the winds that pass through
with seeds of liberation.
Those who encounter the
monastery's image or name
accumulate incredible merit
and wisdom, accelerating
their journey to liberation.