Kathok Monastery

Kathok Monastery is located {{cvt|4,000|m}} above sea level on the eastern flanks of a mountain range in Baiyu County, Garzê, Sichuan.{{cite book |author= |title=Sichuan Sheng Dituce |location=Beijing, China |publisher=Star Map Press |date=2013 |isbn=9787547109151}} The entire monastery complex is approximately {{cvt|700|m}} above the valley floor and is accessed by a dirt road containing 18 hairpin turns. The nearest town is Horpo ({{zh|s=河坡|p=Hépō|}}), 17 km to the north.{{cite book |last=McCue |first=Gary |date=2010 |title=Trekking Tibet: A Traveler's Guide |location=Seattle, WA |publisher=The Mountaineer's Books |page=308 |isbn=9781594852664 }}

Kathok is a famous early Nyingma monastery which grew to include numerous branch monasteries within the Do Kham region and beyond. It is also credited as influencing the spread of the Nyingma monasteries known of as the "Six Mother Monasteries".4th Katok Rinpoche, A Brief History of Katok Monastery: A talk given by the Fourth Katok Getse Rinpoche, Gyurme Tenpa Gyaltsen, https://www.bodhicitta.org/chamtrul-rinpoche/katok-monastery/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926044726/https://www.bodhicitta.org/chamtrul-rinpoche/katok-monastery/ |date=2020-09-26 }}

Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche, spent 25 days visiting the site before the monastery was built, and sat on a rock with a double vajra, called Dorje Gatramo, with a {{bo-textonly|ཀཿ}} {{spaces}}(ka, with visarga, or {{bo-textonly|རྣམ་བཅད}} Wy.: rnam bcad) syllable on top. The monastery was built on this rock, giving it its name, which means "on top of the kaཿ{{spaces}}", and it is considered one of Guru Rinpoche's 25 sacred sites in Do Kham.

Kathok Monastery was founded in 1159 by a younger brother of Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo, Kathok Kadampa Deshek,{{Cite encyclopedia

| last = Chhosphel

| first = Samten

| title = Katokpa Dampa Deshek

| encyclopedia = The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters

| access-date = 2013-08-19

| date = March 2011

| url = http://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Katokpa-Dampa-Deshek/2589

}} prophesied by Guru Rinpoche to be an emanation of Yeshe Tsogyal. He built Kathok at Derge, the historic seat of the Kingdom of Derge in Kham. The prophecy that 100,000 people would achieve rainbow body at Kathok is said to have been realized.

Kathok Monastery's third abbot, Jampa Bum (1179–1252), whose 26-year tenure as abbot ended in 1252, "is said to have ordained thousands of monks from across Tibet, and especially from the Kham areas of Minyak (Wy.: mi nyag), Jang (Wy.: 'byang), and Gyémorong (Wy.: rgyal mo rong)."{{Cite encyclopedia

| last = Chhosphel

| first = Samten

| title = Jampa Bum

| encyclopedia = The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters

| access-date = 2013-10-08

| date = March 2011

| url = http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Jampa-Bum/P1492

}}

The original gompa fell into disrepair and was rebuilt on the same site in 1656 through the impetus of tertöns Düddül Dorjé (1615–72) and Rigdzin Longsal Nyingpo (1625-1682/92 or 1685–1752). After 1966, the monastery was destroyed by the Chinese while lamas were imprisoned. The monastery was rebuilt through the efforts of Moktsa Tulku after he was released from prison, and of Khenpo Ngakchung Tulku.Jann Ronis, Katok Monastery, http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Katok_Monastery_by_Jann_Ronis

Kathok Monastery held a reputation of fine scholarship. Prior to the annexation of Tibet in 1951, Kathok Monastery housed about 800 monks.

Kathok was long renowned as a center specializing in the Nyingma school Kama lineages (oral lineages), as opposed to the Terma lineages, and as a center of monasticism, although both of these features evolved under Longsel Nyingpo (1625–1692)."Celibacy, Revelations, and Reincarnated Lamas: Contestation and Synthesis in the Growth of Monasticism at Katok Monastery from the 11th through 19th Centuries" by Jann Michael Ronis. Ph D. dissertation, University of Virginia May, 2009. pg ii

According to The Tibetan Buddhist Resource Centre, disciples of Kenpo Munsel{{Cite encyclopedia

| last = Chhosphel

| first = Samten

| title = Khenpo Munsel

| encyclopedia = The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters

| access-date = 2013-10-08

| date = March 2013

| url = http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Khenpo-Munsel/9929

}} and Kenpo Jamyang compiled a Kathok edition of the oral lineages ({{bo|w=bka' ma shin tu rgyas pa (kaH thog)}}) in 120 volumes in 1999: "[T]wice the size of the Dudjom edition, it contains many rare Nyingma treatises on Mahayoga, Anuyoga, and Atiyoga that heretofore had never been seen outside of Tibet."The Tibetan Buddhist Resource Centre (2006). "[http://tbrc.org/#!rid=W25983 bka' ma shin tu rgyas pa (kaH thog)]". Source: (accessed: Sunday August 17, 2008)

According to Alexander Berzin,

{{quote|Katog has 112 branch monasteries, not only in Tibet, but also in Mongolia, Inner China, Yunnan, and Sikkim. For instance, Katog Rigdzin-tsewang-norbu (Ka:-thog Rigs-‘dzin Tshe-dbang nor-bu) (1698-1755) founded a large branch in Sikkim, and when the Eighth Tai Situ Rinpoche, Situ Panchen Chokyi-jungney (Si-tu Pan-chen Chos-kyi ‘byung-gnas) (1700-1744), visited China, he stayed at the Katog branch-monastery at the Five-Peaked Mountain of Manjushri (Ri-bo rtse-lnga, Chin: Wutai Shan), to the southwest of Beijing.{{Cite web| title = A Brief History of Katog Monastery | work = Study Buddhism. Original version published in "Nyingma Monasteries." Chö-Yang, Year of Tibet Edition (Dharamsala, India), (1991) | access-date = 2016-06-06 | year = 2003 | url = http://studybuddhism.com/web/en/archives/study/history_buddhism/buddhism_tibet/nyngma/brief_history_katog_monastery.html }}}}

Kathok Monastery became a bastion of the Anuyoga tradition when it became neglected by other Nyingmapa institutions.Dalton, Jake (2003). '[http://www.thlib.org/reference/spt/SPT--FullRecord.php?ResourceId=5344 Anuyoga Literature]' in rNying ma rgyud 'bum - Master Doxographical Catalog of the THDL. (accessed: Sunday August 24, 2008) The Compendium of the Intentions Sūtra (Wylie: dgongs pa ’dus pa’i mdo) the root text of the Anuyoga tradition was instrumental in the early Kathog educational system. Nubchen Sangye Yeshe wrote a lengthy commentary on the Compendium of the Intentions Sūtra rendered in English as Armor Against Darkness (Wylie: mun pa’i go cha).

File:Katok construction.jpg

In 2016, an expansion of the Kathok Monastery to the northeast was completed. This expansion included a new temple and assembly hall, directly adjacent to the existing monastery complex.Katok Monastery, Tibetan Trekking,

https://tibetantrekking.com/tibetan-buddhism/nyingma/katok-monastery/

• A minor figure from Kathok, the 1st Chonyi Gyatso, Chopa Lugu (17th century - mid-18th century), is remembered for his "nightly bellowing of bone-trumpet and shouting of phet" on pilgrimage, much to the irritation of the business traveler who accompanied him. Chopa Lugu became renowned as "The Chod Yogi Who Split a Cliff in China (rgya nag brag bcad gcod pa)."{{Cite encyclopedia

| last = Chhosphel

| first = Samten

| title = The First Chonyi Gyatso, Chopa Lugu

| encyclopedia = The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters

| access-date = 2013-10-08

| date = December 2011

| url = http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Chopa-Lugu/8631

}}

• Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (c.1893 – 1959) was educated at Kathok.{{Cite web

| last = Gardner

| first = Alexander

| title = Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro

| work = The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters

| access-date = 2013-10-08

| date = December 2009

| url = http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Jamyang-Khyentse-Chokyi-Lodro/9990

}}

• The 5th Nyingon Choktrul, Gyurme Kelzang Tobgyel Dorje (1937–1979) was a noted teacher in the Kathok tradition.{{Cite encyclopedia

| last = Chhosphel

| first = Samten

| title = The Fifth Nyingon Choktrul, Gyurme Kelzang Tobgyel Dorje

| encyclopedia = The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters

| access-date = 2013-10-08

| date = December 2011

| url = http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Gyurme-Kelzang-Tobgyel-Dorje/8596

}}

• Jamyang Gyeltsen (1929–1999) served as a principal abbot, and was involved in rebuilding the monastery in the 1980s. He is known for his teaching, writing, and for compiling a history of the monastery.{{Cite web

| last = Chhosphel

| first = Samten

| title = Jamyang Gyeltsen

| work = The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters

| access-date = 2013-10-08

| date = July 2012

| url = http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Jamyang-Gyeltsen/8536

}}

• The 4th Kathok Getse Rinpoche Gyurme Tenpa Gyaltsen (1954–2018), holder of the Kathok Monastery lineage, was known for his mastery of Dzogchen. He was head of the Nga-gyur Kathok Azom Woesel Do-ngag Choekorling, and 7th head of the Nyingma school, from January–November 2018.Tibet Review, Freak accident claims head of Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism’s life, https://www.tibetanreview.net/freak-accident-claims-head-of-nyingma-tradition-of-tibetan-buddhisms-life/Tibet Sun, Nyingma head Kathok Getse Rinpoche dies after accident, https://www.tibetsun.com/news/2018/11/21/nyingma-head-kathok-getse-rinpoche-dies-after-accident

• Katok Tsewang Norbu (1698–1755)
• Getse Mahapandita (1761–1829)
• Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso (1880-1923/5)
• Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang (also known as Khenpo Ngakchung)
• Katok Situ Chökyi Nyima (1928–1962, died of starvation in Gothang Gyalgo prison camp{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JXb58OyIiMgC&q=gothang+ama+adhe|title=Ama Adhe, the Voice That Remembers: The Heroic Story of a Women's Fight to Free Tibet|author1=Adhe Tapontsang|author2=Joy Blakeslee|date=1999|publisher=Wisdom Publications|isbn=9780861711499|location=Boston|page=133}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Katok_Situ_Incarnation_Line|title=Katok Situ Incarnation Line - Rigpa Wiki|website=www.rigpawiki.org|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025112241/http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Katok_Situ_Incarnation_Line|archive-date=25 October 2016|access-date=2018-12-02}})

• List of Tibetan monasteries

• Rigpa Shedra (July 24, 2008). [http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Katok_Monastery Katok Monastery].(accessed: Sunday August 17, 2008)
• {{Cite thesis

| publisher = University of Virginia

| degree = PhD

| last = Ronis

| first = Jann Michael

| title = Celibacy, Revelations, Reincarnated Lamas: Growth of Monasticism at Katok 17th-19th-c

| access-date = 2013-10-08

| date = May 2009

| url = https://www.scribd.com/doc/148960861/Celibacy-Revelations-Reincarnated-Lamas-Growth-of-Monasticism-at-Katok-17th-19th-c

}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

• {{Cite book

|publisher = Sichuan Ethnic Publishing House

|isbn = 7-5409-1659-1

|last = Jigtse

|first = Jamyang

|title = History of Kathog Monastery

|location = Chengdu

|access-date = 2013-10-08

|date = January 1996

|url = http://www.tibetinfor.com.cn/english/zt/bibliotheca/..%5Cbibliotheca/200402004521100738.htm

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20120912115127/http://www.tibetinfor.com.cn/english/zt/bibliotheca/..%5Cbibliotheca/200402004521100738.htm

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 2012-09-12

}}

• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/ikenney/5025566877/ Katok Monastery 2007] on Flickr
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013304/https://www.panoramio.com/photo/11939047 Katok Monastery courtyard]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20121118093808/http://www.colorado.edu/APS/landscapes/tibet/inventory.htm Katok, Tibetan Monastery Inventory]
• {{Cite web

| title = How to Build a Monastery

| work = Palpung, The Lost Yak

| date = 2010-09-06

| access-date = 2013-10-08

| url = http://thelostyak.com/tag/palpung/

}}

• {{Cite web

| title = Nyingma Kathok Buddhist Centre - Singapore

| access-date = 2013-10-08

| url = http://www.kathok.org.sg/

}}

{{Buddhist monasteries in Sichuan}}

{{Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture}}

{{Buddhist monasteries in Tibet}}

Category:Buddhist monasteries in Sichuan

Category:Buddhist monasteries in Tibet

Category:Buddhist temples in Tibet

Category:1159 establishments in Asia

Category:Nyingma monasteries and temples

Category:Buddhist buildings in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture