Brief history Tashi Lhunpo monastery

History Tashi Lhunpo

Tashi Lhunpo was founded in 1447 in Shigatse, Tibet. It gradually grew into a huge Buddhist school, comparable to a large university campus. In the 1960s, there followed 5,000 Tibetan and 2,000 foreign monks an education.

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), the two-thirds of buildings destroyed, mainly the student residences. The temple section was largely spared, but the student body dwindled from 7,000 to just 500. The now deceased 10th Panchen Lama (Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen, 1938-89), was not allowed to leave Tibet and some senior lamas stayed with him. The absence of those leading figures complicated the revival in India of a new Tashi Lhunpo monastery by the Tibetan community in exile.

Still, they managed to create a new monastery out of nothing in Bylakuppe, South India. Bylakuppe is currently the largest Tibetan settlement in exile in India. In 1972 it became New Tashi Lhunpo inaugurated by Dalai Lama. It currently houses 413 monks and 160 students.

True to the Buddhist philosophy of compassion, non-violence and kindness the monastery also continues to campaign peacefully internationally for the return of the abducted Panchen Lama.

For Tibetans anywhere in the world, Tashi Lhunpo acts as a unifying factor and a beacon of hope for a peaceful future for Tibet and its people.

It shows resilience that the Tibetan community in exile is trying to rebuild their precious destroyed heritage in Tibet in an equal state abroad. The progress of the works depends entirely on donations and volunteering. The new Tashi Lhunpo has a long way to go before matching the status of its former counterpart in Tibet.

Reach Out is delighted to have been able to do its bit for Tashi Lhunpo's development, so that it can fulfil its educational and connecting role in the world can continue to fulfil.