:: Tibet-Tuli ::

Tuli Monastery is located in Qing Hai, Qi Nan province. It was built by Lama Tenzin Norbu (emanation of Vajra Pani) in 1916. For the succession of this monastery, he had chanted the Chenrezig mantra 600 million times as well as auspicious prayers to bless the monastery. In 1927, he attained Nirvana and became the 21st Wheel Turning King of Shambala Pureland. Up till today, all the sanghas and disciples are still receiving blessings from Lama Tenzin Norbu.

With regards to the cause of Tuli Monastery, there have been many predictions from various masters. In 15 April 1935, the former Regent Tibet (Rinchen Tulku) turned the bowl upside down after drinking the yogurt from a porcelain bowl and predicted that Tuli Monastery would be one of the biggest monasteries in Tibet with 5500 monks. The Tuli Monastery would bear the same honour as the 3 great monasteries in Lhasa, Tibet. He then left his Dharma hat and Yamantaka robe as evidences for the future.

The monastery is the Pureland of Dakinis with an area of 3500 acres. There have been many legends on the manifestations of Dakinis and their enlightened masters. Thus, the monastery is doing Dakini Tsog offering on the 10th and 25th day of each month. Many monks and disciples went to the Pureland land of Dakinis and Amitabha after this life.

The monastery is surrounded by different shapes of mountains which resemble 4 big elephants, implying that Mahayana Buddhism will spread all over the world. There are also 8 conch-shaped mountains which imply the fame of the monastery will spread all over the world.

Besides these, there is a hill shape with 4 auspicious signs which implies all merits will be completed. There is also a hill shape with 8 auspicious signs which symbolises the auspiciousness and the fulfilling of all wishes.

On the both sides of the monastery, the wavy landscapes resemble that of lotus petals. The monastery is located in the middle of the ‘lotus petals’ like a lotus pedestal. The Mon La River is in the front of the monastery. It looks like a jade dragon, implying that the dharma wheel is forever turning.

You will feel the sense of peace and tranquility with the fluffy white clouds in the clear blue sky, vast green pasture, beautiful flowers and wonderful cooling weather. The cool breeze and thankas with the chanting of the lamas in the background make you have the leap of faith to enter the Buddhist path.

The monastery has attracted increasing number of monks with a total of 130 at the present and the number is still growing each month. Since 1994, Guru Ngawang Gyatral has been the abbot of the monastery. In the past years, he has dedicated his time in teachings of the 5 treatises on stages, 3 paths of Bodhi (beginner, intermediate and advance), 4 tantras and many more.

The sanghas are chanting, debating and practising the teaching of Buddhism every day. Now the Guru has trained a batch of Geshe (Buddhist PHD). Due to the dedication and effort of the Guru as well as the sanghas’ determination to learning, the monastery has many outstanding and talented monks.

Since 2002, Tuli Monastery and 2 other big monasteries have been holding an annual grand debating ceremony in the province to do further research and debate on Buddhism. So far, Tuli monastery has been crowned the champion yearly. It has also won many praises and honour from all directions especially in August 11th 2006 when Tuli Monastery won this title among 1000 competitors. The 2 other big monasteries have also declared Tuli Monastery as a role model for them. In September 18th 2006, Tuli Monastery was awarded title of ‘The Outstanding Monastery’ by the Provincial Religion Council and was selected as the exemplary monastery from 180 monasteries.

All the monks in Tuli Monastery are presently listening, thinking and practising dharma. Teaching, debating and writing dharma articles are also flourishing. Many poems and articles written by the monks from Tuli Monastery are being posted in various renowned dharma magazines. There are now over 20 dharma masters and they have become masters of many monks and non-monk believers. In practice, all the monks insist on having a 3-month retreat during winter. All the monks in Tuli Monastery have good characters. They are gentle, hardworking and determined to learn. They are listening, reflecting and practising Dharma. In addition, they also keep to their vows and mediate so as to develop their wisdom in order to carry out all the bodhisattva deeds.

There are many holy objects in Tuli Monastery including many statues and thankas. There was a Medicine Buddha in the monastery which released amrita (nectar) from his body yearly. There are 2 Tsong Ka Pa statues which have the flesh relic of Tsong Ka Pa as well as 1 Tara thanka which can speak on her own. This Tara thanka has given Dharma talk to one of the famous Tulku. Not only these, there are other holy objects such as the gold-printed Prajnaparamita sutra, the always changing facial expression Dharma protector (Dorje Lapa), the holy stone of Manjushri and many more.

There have been many legends around Tuli Monastery. There was a legend about a Tibetan hero, King Gesar, who was sent to Tuli. About 3 kilometres away from Tuli was the valley of the Yellow River and there are still many traces left behind by King Gesar and the footprint of his horse. There are still many mysterious legends which can be heard from the villagers.