In Langkazi County, Shannan, Tibet, on the bank of the Yamdrok Yumcuo Holy Lake, there is a very special monastery among Tibetan Buddhism - Samding Monastery (Samding Monastery, full name Samding Samding Forest). Its specialness does not lie in the grandeur of the building, but in that it is the highest-status female reincarnated leader ashram in the Tibetan Buddhism: the lineage of Samding Dorje Phagmo who presides over the temple is regarded as the incarnation of Vajra Haimu and has been passed down for more than 500 years and more than ten generations.

To understand the meaning of Samding Monastery, you must first understand the four words "Doje Pam". Dorje Phagmo, which means "Vajra Mother", is one of the most important female yidams of Kagyu. In the reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddhism, the vast majority of living Buddha lineages are held by men; while the Dorje Pam of Samding Monastery is one of the very few reincarnation systems in Tibet that is held by women and has a high status. This makes Samding Monastery a temple that is almost impossible to bypass when studying the female characters of Tibetan Buddhism.

The creation of Samding Monastery is closely related to the spread of Kagyu in Shannan area of Tibet. The temple is dedicated to Tara and Vajrayana, and Dorje Pam in the past has been both the temple owner and the spiritual supporter of believers in this area. Legend has it that Chökyi Drönma (1422–1455), the first Dorje Drönma, was a disciple of the Kagyu monk and ḍākinī. He achieved profound attainments and was recognized as the incarnation of Vajrayana after his death, thus starting this female reincarnation lineage.

The location of the temple is also quite interesting - it is located on the bank of Yamdrok Lake. Yamdrok Yongtso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. It means "jasper lake" in Tibetan and is regarded as the incarnation of the goddess in Tibetan belief. It is not accidental to build a female leader's ashram on the bank of a holy lake, but to overlap the two images of "lake" and "goddess": water is soft, but can penetrate stone; women are regarded as weak in traditional narratives, but in Samding Monastery they have become the bearers of inheritance.

Samding Monastery's Dorje Pam lineage has been passed down for more than ten generations since its establishment in the 15th century. It is one of the longest-lasting and most noble female reincarnation systems in Tibetan Buddhism. Like the lineage of male living Buddhas, the reincarnation of Dorje Pam also needs to go through complete procedures such as search, identification, and enthronement; the difference is that every identification reiterates one thing to society: enlightenment has nothing to do with gender.

The existence of this lineage means far more to Tibetan Buddhism than a temple. In most religious traditions, women are often excluded from the highest priesthood; and Tibetan Buddhism, through female lineages such as Dorje Pam, actually retains space for women to become spiritual leaders, reincarnate, and be worshiped by believers. Today, scholars who study Tibetan Buddhism gender issues almost always list Samding Monastery as a key case.

Samding Monastery belongs to the Kagyu system in terms of sect. Its practice is mainly based on tantric method, Tara method and female yogi practice. The main yidam - Vajra Haimu - is the most important yidam and "Oath Keeper" of Kagyu. This makes Samding Monastery not the administrative center of Kagyu, but it is the embodiment of the "tradition of female achievers" within Kagyu.

This is often overlooked. When people talk about Kagyu, their first reaction is always Tsurphu Monastery, the Karmapa, and Milarepa - a golden chain dominated by male ancestors. But next to this golden chain, there is always a hidden line composed of female achievers: Vajrayana, Niguma, Suka Siddhi, and Dorje Pam of all generations. Samding Monastery is where this hidden line lands in the human world.

Today's Samding Monastery is not only a place of spiritual practice, but also a pilgrimage stop for believers. Pilgrims who visit Yamdrok Yongtso often visit Samding Monastery; during large-scale Tara pujas or Dorje Pam-related celebrations, the temple becomes the center of attention for Tibetan believers. For readers who are unable to travel far, the Kagyu tradition emphasizes "pilgrimage" - reciting mantras, reciting yidam, and reading an article about holy places every day can also correspond to the dharma.

Q: Where is Samding Monastery?

Answer: It is located on the bank of Yangzhuo Yumcuo Lake in Langkazi County, Shannan, Tibet. It is close to the Yangtze Lake Scenic Area and is an important stop on the pilgrimage route to the holy lake in Tibet.

Q: What does Dorje Pam mean?

Answer: Tibetan means "Vajra Mother" and is one of the most important female yidams of Kagyu; the Dorje Pam lineage of Samding Monastery is regarded as its incarnation.

Q: Are female living Buddhas common in Tibetan Buddhism?

Answer: Not common. Dorje Pam of Samding Monastery is one of the highest-status and longest-lasting lineages of female reincarnated leaders in Tibetan Buddhism, and is therefore very representative in gender research.

Q: Which sect does Samding Monastery belong to?

Answer: It belongs to the Kagyu system, and the practice is mainly based on Tantra, Tara and female yogis.

▶WatchLiving Buddha — Kagyu Tekchen ChölingKagyu Tekchen Chöling Argentina · Watch on YouTube

Image source: YouTube (Samding Monastery and Dorje Phagmo documentary), which can be embedded after oEmbed verification.

This article is compiled based on public Buddhist historical data, aiming at cultural and faith exchanges, and is not a final conclusion of religious authority. If there is any discrepancy with the inheritance received by readers, please refer to their respective masters and classics.

Return to higher level to see 噶举的圣地. Samye Monastery and Mustang belong to the Sakya holy land system and will be launched in the Sakya group.

Images (all from Wikimedia Commons, see notes for licensing):

• Tsurphu Monastery before 1959 — Sandyroyrocky, Public domain
• Image: YouTube documentary (can be embedded after oEmbed verification)