 In
1575 Sonam Gyatso, the Third Dalai Lama, officially
founded a monastery, which later came to be known
as Namgyal Dratsang (Victorious Monastery). Since
its inception, the monastery has assisted the Dalai
Lamas in their public religious activities and performed
ritual prayer ceremonies for the welfare of Tibet.
The monastery has been a center of learning, contemplation
and meditation on the vast and profound Buddhist
treatises. Namgyal monastery is nonsectarian and
maintains ritual practices and teachings of the
four main lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.
In
Tibet, the 175 Namgyal monks and their monastery
were located in the Potala Palace, performing spiritual
duties and religious ceremonies for both the Dalai
Lama and the Tibetan Government. A distinctive feature
of this monastery is its diversity of practice.
Namgyal monks perform prayers and rituals of all
the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery
is now situated next to the Central Cathedral. |
