Nepal is a very holy place, comparable to Jerusalem in the western world, because it is the birthplace of Lord Buddha Sakyamuni. Furthermore, archaeology has determined that it was also the birthplace of the previous Buddha. In Nepal also are the two places where Guru Rinpoche attained two kinds of complete enlightenment. One is at Yangleshö, where he achieved Mahamudra enlightenment (Chakja Chenpo Rigdzin). Here, he also discovered Vajra Kilaya practice and subdued all hindrances to the dharma in both Tibet and Nepal. The second place is the cave of Maratika where he achieved deathless enlightenment (Tseye Rigdzin) with his consort Mandarava. Marpa Lotsa also received Dorje Phagmo (Vajra Yogini) initiation at Yangleshö and stayed there many years. In Nepal there are three Milarepa caves as well, one being the site of the famous occasion when he liberated a deer, a dog, and a hunter, who all became best friends with each other. And finally, there are the three Holy Stupas - Swayambunath, Namo Buddha and Bodhanath. Therefore, Nepal is a very holy place.

I met the Nepalese teacher Rana Guru and gave him some initiations. He has been in retreat for over ten years now. He and his wonderful and loyal consort Nihru Rana honour me by inviting me to visit him in his special private retreat room from time to time.
Also, I met Rita Thapa; she asked for an initiation to remove her hindrances, and I gave her some teaching and initiations. Rita is a very hard worker - she founded the TEWA Society for Nepalese Women, and has also opened a special cloth weaving building for some Nepalese families.

My tsawai lama Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche told me that it was because Nepal is such an important place that he had built a monastery there. He advised me to do the same and to construct a slightly wrathful looking Guru Rinpoche in order to subdue Kali Yuga problems. Therefore, in 1988, the Earth Dragon year, I purchased a piece of land near Bodhanath and started the building of the five-storied Tekchen Lekshay Ling, with a six foot golden gizera on top.

(Originally, I was thinking of this as a monastery for only monks; however, some good nuns came who wanted to study and practise Mahayana Buddhism but had no place to stay or means of getting food, so I accepted them. Now, the caretaker, lamas, tulkus and nuns reside at Tekchen Lekshay Ling Monastery.)

DAILY SCHEDULE

Lekshay Ling's daily schedule begins with the morning puja starting at 4:00 a.m. and ending at 6:30, breakfast time. At 7:00 a.m. there is time for study until the next puja at 8:00. 9:30 is time for tea and bread, and time for other pujas. Lunchtime is at noon, when the Triple Gem sutra (Könchok Jeten) and other food pujas are completed before eating. After this there is time for individual practise, turning the big prayer wheels, study, or rest, until it is time for tea and bread at 3:00 p.m. Daily Mahakala puja is then held, together with some other pujas. Supper is at 6:00 p.m., followed by Chöd and the evening fire puja. The day is concluded with five books of special wishing prayers. My uncle, the Chöd Master Namkha Dorje taught the special Chöd ritual and melody for Chöd practise that he learned from his uncle and great retreat lama, Lodro Chöpel, and from the great cave dweller, Pema Wangyal. They had both learned this from Drubtop Jamyang Tenphel Rinpoche, who in turn had received it from Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye.

On the eighth day of the lunar month Milarepa puja is held, and on the tenth day Tsedrup Sangwa Dupa (Amitayu long life puja). On the fifteenth and thirtieth days Kunrig Choga (Vairochana ritual) is held. This ritual is the best purification for this life and also the best for the liberation of dead people. On the ninth, nineteenth, and twenty-ninth days of the month a long Mahakala puja is held; and on the twenty-fifth day the Naro Kachöma puja. Lama Wangdü gave instructions on how to perform this ritual in the Tsalpa tradition.

In the first lunar month called Miracle Month, a Chakrasamvara Puja is held. Saga Dawa, the fourth lunar month, is the special month for Chenrezig practise, and also marks the triple anniversary of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and paranirvana. Two Nyungnays are held at this time. Nyungnay is a Thousand Arm Chenrezig practise, conducted over two days. On the first day one eats only lunch and practises all day, and the second day is a full day of practise where one observes silence and fasts, abstaining from all food or drink. This Nyungnay practise lineage was founded by the fully enlightened bhikkuni Gelongma Palmo over a thousand years ago, and her lineage later came to Tibet. The second Nyungnay month is the ninth, called Dig-da, when we also hold two Nyungnays. Recently, an additional set of Nyungnay is sponsored by Bongsar Tsodi on the anniversary of her mother's death. Namkha Dorje has very great faith towards this practise. In earlier times in Nangchen, Namkha Dorje’s family were the local rulers, and he organized the gathering of many people for Nyungnay practise. Together, they would complete several thousand Nyungnays a year. Even after coming to India he continued the tradition in Mainpat, so since moving to Nepal he continues by sponsoring Nyungnays at Lekshay Ling.
In the evening of the 25th day of the tenth lunar month, the anniversary of Je Tsongkhapa (Gaden Ngamchö), many butterlamps are offered and lit on the monastery roof while everyone repeats the Verse of Tsongkhapa.

The resident lamas and some nuns at Lekshay Ling have finished the three year retreat. All nuns have either finished or are still completing Kachöma Zhenyin or Kachöma Drubum retreat.

On the wall to the right of the statues is a painting of the Sixteenth Karmapa Rigpe Dorje, and below him Chakrasamvara, Dorje Phagmo and Mahakala Bernagchen. There is a metre high painting of Machig Lapchi Drölma, founder of the Chöd sect, and Chöd master Jamyang Tenphel, as well as the founding lamas of the Drukpa Kagyu, Drigung Kagyu, Talung Kagyu and Bambrom Kagyud. Spread high across both side walls are the Sixteen Arhats and the 46 lineage lamas of the Karma Kagyu Golden Rosary lineage. There are paintings of Sakya Pandita, Je Tsong Khapa and Longchenpa (known as "Jamyang Namsum" - the three Manjushri emanations of Tibet), and of the First Karma Thinleypa.

Wall painting with one-metre high image of

H.H. the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rigpe Dorje

Machik Lapchi Drölma

Looking in the direction of the main entrance, to the right of the doorway are paintings of all the Amitayu mandala deities (Tsedrup Sangwa Düpa) and the three long life deities. On the left, is a human-sized Kalachakra surrounded by Thangtong Gyalpo, Butön, Dölpopa, Red Chenrezig Gyalwa Gyamtso, Vajra Kilaya, Yamantaka, Guhyasamaja, Vajrapani, White Six Armed Mahakala and different Dzambalas, and some other deities.

All of the wall paintings are rendered in acrylic paints and all gold colour is pure gold. The artist, Ngawang Zangpo, is a master of the Karma Gardri tradition and the chief student of Gega Lama, the famous Gardri master who wrote a two volume collection of tangka painting instructions.

It is a little sad now because the colours are fading from exposure to damp, foggy weather, wind, changing temperatures and smoke from the butter lamps. I chose to have the work done in acrylic paints because the finish and colours are very nice, but unfortunately, acrylic paint cannot be washed as can oils.

On the wall outside the entrance are paintings of the Four Guardian Kings, and of the Wheel of Life depicting the twelve nidanas. Above the door are seven lion statues facing outward, and above them the four special area "blessers" and protectors, Rigdzin Jatsön Nyingpo, Karma Pakshi, Virupa and Sakya Wandü Nyingpo. To the right of the entrance is the Mahakala room with a wall painting of a three foot tall Mahakala Bernagchen, Mahakali, Vajrasadhu, Dorje Gur gi Gönpo as well as Jomo Tashi Tseringma and her four Sisters.

Now Lekshay Ling has a piece of land in Parping, with a house for a retreat centre, very close to the Guru Rinpoche cave in Yangleshö and the Asura Cave. Some nuns are in retreat there. A quiet place for meditators, this holy land of Parping is situated in a very beautiful area where cuckoos sing in the spring and early summer. It is in a forest, surrounded by beautiful mountains.