Yang Gon Cho Khor Ling

Yang Gon Cho Khor Ling is the original retreat land of Togden Kunzang Longrol, in Powo, Southern Tibet, and was a main activity places for the Tröma Nakmo practice of Chöd of the Dudjom Tersar lineage.

Landscape

Yang Gon Cho Khor Ling is perched on a spectacular mountain known as Yuri, which means "Turquoise Hill”. It t commands a view of villages set in a breathtaking landscape, and is considered to be ideal for the dzogchen practice of Tögal.

Origins

Oral lineage stories said that long ago, “a great yogi known as Gyalwa Yang Gonpa blessed the land, named it Yang Gon, and prophesied that there, an excellent yogi would one day build a temple and fulfill the needs of sentient beings”.

When the time ripened, the Dzogchen yogi Togden Kunzang Longrol, who had been practicing as a mendicant, established Yang Gon Cho Khor Ling as his residence on the very spot foretold. There, he benefited many sentient beings, thus fulfilling Gyalwa Yang Gonpa's prophecy.

As Togden Kunzang Longdrol established himself at this retreat land, a number of ordained and lay practitioners joined him. Many practitioners from various other regions of Tibet frequented the land as well, visiting to receive pith instructions from Togden Kunzang Longdrol. Extensive group practices came to be a regular feature of life at Yang Gon Chos Khor Ling, many held on an annual or monthly basis. This retreat land became an important gathering place in the region, especially for the Tröma Nakmo practice of Chöd of the Dudjom Tersar lineage. Thus, Dudjom Rinpoche named the retreat land Yang Gon Thegchog Osel Chöling.

Togden Kunzang Longdrol and his disciples lived and did much of their solitary retreat on this land until, due to political troubles, Togden Kunzang Longdrol departed to search for a suitable and safer environment in Lower Pemaköd, now in India, where he establisged Tekchok Ösel Chöling.