Namdroling Monastery

Namdroling Monastery (Tib. རྣམ་གྲོལ་གླིང་, Wyl. rnam grol gling) was established by His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche shortly after he came to India from Tibet. It is a few hours from Bangalore and Mysore, in Karnataka state, South India.

The huge investment of time and energy made by Penor Rinpoche to build his monastery has borne abundant fruit. Today, Namdroling Monastery is a thriving community and home to over one thousand lamas, monks and nuns, making it the largest Nyingmapa teaching centre in the world. Among those who have studied, or are studying, at the monastery, are all the major lineage holding tulkus and lamas of the Palyul tradition, including the fifth Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, the third Choktrul Rinpoche and the third Rago Choktrul. Their spiritual training is directed and guided by Penor Rinpoche himself.

Namdroling Monastery in Bylakuppe also has a retreat centre, opened in 1985, where thirty monks undergo an intensive three-year retreat. Penor Rinpoche personally instructed them in the Dzogchen Longchen Nyingtik cycle.

Every autumn, according to the tradition of the Palyul Monastery, Penor Rinpoche gave instructions on ngöndro, tsa-lung and Dzogchen from the Namchö cycle of Tertön Mingyur Dorje. This one month retreat is attended by students from the Institute, monks from the monastery and lay people. It was Penor Rinpoche's dream, that students would be able to combine in-depth, intensive study with practice, and now the monastery offers the perfect setting in which to do this.

Ngagyur Nyingma Institute

The establishment of the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute (Higher Buddhist Studies and Research Centre) is one project of which Penor Rinpoche can be particularly proud of. Officially opened in 1978, it currently houses over three hundred monks who are studying the buddhist sutras and tantras in depth, and each year students of outstanding scholarship and wisdom graduate after completing their nine-year course. The quality of training they receive is extremely high and those graduates who are selected to become khenpos are then sent to teach in different monasteries and centres.

The faculty of the Institute includes Khen Rinpoche Pema Sherab, Khen Rinpoche Namdrol, Khen Rinpoche Tsewang Gyatso, and a team of newly appointed khenpos. They all work tirelessly, with a pure motivation and no thought for fame or material gain, to keep the lamp of Dharma burning. Khenpos of outstanding wisdom and realization, like Dzogchen Khenpo Tsöndrü, Khenpo Dazer, Khenpo Rinchen, Khenpo Rigdzin, and Khenpo Tseten have helped enormously to shape the Institute into its present form. Khenpo Jigphun Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche have been among the 'visiting professors', and the Institute has been greatly enriched by their precious presence and their enlightening teachings.

Nine-Year Shedra Course

Here is a list of the texts studied during the nine-year shedra course at Namdroling. They form the basis of Nyingma scholarship in the Palyul tradition. It is also the basis on which the Rigpa Shedra's curriculum is designed.

Lower Sutra Course—1st year

Major subjects:

• Ascertainment of the Three Types of Vows by Ngari Panchen Pema Wangyal, with the Annotated Commentary called the Awareness Holders’ Entrance, by Khenpo Yönga
• Introduction to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life by Shantideva, with Annotated Commentary on the Bodhicharyavatara by Khenpo Shenga

Minor subjects:

• Thirty verses by Thönmi Sambhota on Tibetan grammar, with the commentary Mirror of Jewels by Khenpo Tsöndrü, or the Miraculous Key by Gyalsé Shenpen Tayé
• Stanzas for a Novice Monk by Nagarjuna, with the commentary Garland of Jewels by Mipham Rinpoche
• Praise to the Exalted One by Udbhaṭasidhasvāmin, with the Extensive Explanation of the Praise to the Exalted One by Prajñāvarman
• Science of Argumentation by Khenpo Tsondru
• The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism by Dudjom Rinpoche

Lower Sutra Course—2nd year

Major subjects:

• The Ornament of the Middle Way by Acharya Shantarakshita, with the commentary Words to Delight My Teacher Manjughosha by Mipham Rinpoche
• Entrance to the Way of the Wise by Mipham Rinpoche

Minor subjects:

• A Summary of the Wish-Fulfilling Treasury’s Chapter on Tenet Systems by Mipham Rinpoche
• Tibetan grammar, The Application of Gender Signs by Thönmi Sambhota, with the commentary Mirror of Jewels by Khenpo Tsondru, or the Miraculous Key by Gyalsé Shenpen Tayé
• History of the Nyingma School by Dudjom Rinpoche

Lower Sutra Course—3rd year

Major subjects:

• Introduction to the Middle Way by Chandrakirti , with his Auto-commentary on the Introduction to the Middle Way
• The Root Verses on the Wisdom of the Middle Way by Nagarjuna, with the Annotated Commentary by Khenpo Shenga
• Four Hundred Verses by Aryadeva, with the Annotated Commentary by Khenpo Shenga

Minor subjects:

• A text on Pramana by Dignaga
• Sword of Wisdom for Thoroughly Ascertaining Reality by Mipham Rinpoche
• Kāvyādarśa (1st half of the middle chapter) by Daṇḍin, with the commentary by Mipham Rinpoche
• History of the Nyingma School by Dudjom Rinpoche

Lower Sutra Course—4th year

Major subjects:

• Treasury of Abhidharma by Vasubandhu, with the commentary A Necklace of Jewels Delighting the Intelligent by Mipham Rinpoche or the Annotated Commentary by Khenpo Shenga
• Commentary on Valid Cognition, 2nd chapter, by Dharmakirti, with the commentary The Treasury of Eloquent Explanations by Mipham Rinpoche

Minor subjects:

• Pratimoksha Sutra by Shakyamuni Buddha, with the Annotated Commentary by Khenpo Shenga
• The commentary on the 9th chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara called The Ketaka Gem, by Mipham Rinpoche
• Biographies of the Palyul throne-holders, by Lama Jampel Zangpo
• Kāvyādarśa (2nd half of the middle chapter) by Dandin, with the commentary by Mipham Rinpoche
• History of the Nyingma School by Dudjom Rinpoche

Higher Sutra Course—5th year

Major subjects:

• Treatise on the Sublime Continuum by Maitreya, with the commentary by Khenpo Shenga
• The Lion's Roar: A Commentary on Sugatagarbha by Mipham Rinpoche
• The Ornament of the Mahayana Sutras by Maitreya, with the commentary The Feast of Ambrosia of the Great Vehicle by Mipham Rinpoche
• Commentary on Valid Cognition, 1st chapter, by Dharmakirti, with the commentary The Treasury of Eloquent Explanations by Mipham Rinpoche

Minor subjects:

• The Beacon of Certainty, by Mipham Rinpoche, with the commentary by Khenpo Kunpal or Troshul Jamdor
• History of the Nyingma School by Dudjom Rinpoche

Higher sutra Course—6th year

Major subjects:

• The Ornament of Clear Realization, with the commentary Clear Meaning by Haribhadra and the commentary Overview of the Ornament of Clear Realization by Patrul Rinpoche
• Commentary on Valid Cognition, 3rd chapter, by Dharmakirti, with the commentary The Treasury of Eloquent Explanations by Mipham Rinpoche

Minor subjects:

• Distinguishing the Middle from Extremes by Maitreya, with commentary by Mipham Rinpoche and Khenpo Shenga
• Distinguishing Dharma and Dharmata by Maitreya, with commentary by Mipham Rinpoche and Khenpo Shenga
• History of the Nyingma School by Dudjom Rinpoche

Tantra Course—7th year

• Vinayasutra by Gunaprabha (first half) with the Annotated Commentary by Khenpo Shenga
• Commentary on Valid Cognition, 4th chapter, by Dharmakirti, with the commentary The Treasury of Eloquent Explanations by Mipham Rinpoche
• The Treasury of Precious Qualities, with the commentary by Khenpo Yönga
• Essence of Clear Light, an overview of the Guhyagarbha Tantra, by Mipham Rinpoche
• Commentary on the Düpa Do by Khenpo Nüden

Tantra Course—8th year

• Vinayasutra by Gunaprabha (second half) with Annotated Commentary by Khenpo Shenga
• Establishing Appearances as Divine by Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo
• The Garland of Views: An Instruction by Padmasambhava
• The Wish-Fulfilling Treasury by Longchenpa, with Longchenpa's auto-commentary White Lotus or the Annotated Commentary by Khenpo Shenga
• Key to the Precious Treasury, A Brief Overview of the Glorious Essence of Secrets Tantra by Dodrupchen Jikme Tenpe Nyima

Tantra Course—9th year

• Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind by Longchenpa, with Longchenpa's auto-commentary
• General Explanation of the Kagyé called the Heart of Accomplishment by Mipham Rinpoche
• Staircase to Akanishtha by Jikme Lingpa
• Key Points for Meditating on the Four Stakes That Bind the Life-Force by Patrul Rinpoche
• Trilogy of Natural Freedom by Longchenpa

External Links

• Namdroling Monastery - Official Website