LEH, Ladakh: As requested by the monastic authorities, His Holiness the Dalai Lama today visited Ngagyur Dragthok monastery, located about 40 kms away from Shiwatsel Phodrang, the official residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Ladakh.

His Holiness was invited by the monastery to inaugurate its new prayer hall and confer teachings to the monks and public of the locality.

Upon arrival at the monastery, His Holiness was accorded a rousing reception by the monks and lamas. His Holiness was then offered the traditional Mendrel Tensum representing the Buddha’s body, speech and mind.

His Holiness then recited prayers of blessings  before addressing the devotees, numbering over a hundred, who have gathered outside the monastery.

In his address, His Holiness urged the public to study the Buddhist texts and called for a faith based in logic and reason. His Holiness further spoke about the need for inner development such as warm-hardheartedness and compassion alongside material development.

Ngagyur Dragthok monastery is a branch of the Thupten Dorje Drak Evam Chogkar Choekhor Namgyaling monastery of Ngagyur Nyingma lineage based in Shimla, HP. The patron lama of the monastery was the late Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche who passed away in December 2015. The monastery currently has 28 resident monks.

The main attraction of the monastery is a giant statue of Guru Padmasambhava with Guru Dorje Drolo on its right and Guru Pema Gyalpo on its left. Guru Dorje Drolo and Guru Pema Gyalpo are two of the eight manifestations assumed by Guru Padmasambhava at different points in his life.