Deep in the high mountains of Baiyu County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, stands one of the oldest and most weighty centers of the Nyingma tradition—Kathok Monastery (Katok Monastery). Together with Zhechen, Palyul, Shechen, Mindrolling, and Dorje Drak, it is counted among the great mother monasteries of Nyingma, and within the tradition of "rainbow body" accomplishment, Kathok holds an especially singular place.

Although remote, Kathok—by virtue of its rigorous lineage and its pure atmosphere of practice—became the patriarchal root monastery jointly venerated by Nyingma practitioners throughout the Tibetan region and even in Bhutan, Sikkim, and Ladakh. Many practitioners retreat and study the Great Perfection here, and it is precisely here that the records of "rainbow body attainment" leave the most abundant and concrete traces.

The place-name "Katok" is commonly explained as meaning "summit of white snow" or "lone peak," answering to its situation suspended among the ranges. The monastery leans against steep ridges and faces a deep valley; from afar, a sweep of golden roofs gleams faintly amid clouds and mist—a rare "sky monastery" presence among Tibetan temples.

Kathok's layout does not pursue grand building complexes, but rather follows the mountain's contour in layered arrangement. This modesty of "not contending for ground with others" brings it closer to the original intent of practice—a place where one is willing to dwell and to quiet the mind.

Kathok was founded by Dampa Deshek (1122–1192) in the latter half of the twelfth century. Dampa Deshek was a renowned Great Perfection adept of his time; he chose this pure land as a seat for spreading the Dharma, establishing the Dharma lineage of the Kathok line.

Since its founding, the Kathok lineage has been celebrated for its "rigor": strict discipline and clear stages, especially distinguished in the teaching and practice of the Great Perfection (Dzogchen). Historically, Kathok gave rise to numerous branches, its Dharma lineage spreading far to the southern slopes of the Himalayas and to Bhutan, Sikkim, and Ladakh, becoming a bond linking Nyingma practitioners everywhere.

What Kathok is most fondly spoken of is the practice tradition of rainbow body. In the Nyingma's Great Perfection teachings, one who has practiced to the utmost depth may at the moment of passing dissolve body and form into light and rainbow, leaving only hair and nails—regarded as a sign that mind and the Dharma-realm have merged.

Accounts of rainbow body at Kathok are considerable in Tibetan literature. Since the twentieth century, there remain records of practitioners in the Kathok area manifesting such signs, making "Kathok" almost a byword for rainbow body attainment. For researchers, these accounts are both a phenomenon of faith and a window into the Tibetan Buddhist view of life.

Today, Kathok remains an important center of Nyingma practice. Should you have the chance to visit, the sequence is roughly as follows:

The Mountain Gate and Prayer Flags—Winding up the mountain road, visitors are first greeted by prayer flags fluttering across the hillside and mani stones.

The Main Hall and Stupas—Within the main hall are enshrined Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) and the meditational deities; outside stand rows of stupas, the most iconic sight of Kathok.

Retreat Caves and Practice Sites—Scattered among the cliffs around the monastery are the retreat caves of practitioners through the ages, where even now ascetics quietly cultivate.

Circumambulation and Sutra Turning—The faithful circumambulate the monastery and turn the prayer wheels clockwise, at a slow and focused pace.

The visitor's etiquette is the same as elsewhere: slow your step, lower your voice, do not point at the Buddha statues, do not photograph inside the halls. This is not a scenic spot, but a place where people practice every day.

Q: Which tradition does Kathok Monastery belong to?

A: Kathok Monastery is one of the important mother monasteries of the Nyingma tradition (the Red School), distinguished in the teaching and practice of the Great Perfection; its Dharma lineage influences the entire Tibetan region and the southern Himalayas.

Q: What is rainbow body attainment?

A: In the Nyingma's Great Perfection teachings, one of utmost practice dissolves at passing into light and rainbow, leaving only hair and nails—regarded as a sign that mind and the Dharma-realm have merged; Kathok's records of this tradition are especially abundant.

Q: Where is Kathok Monastery?

A: It lies in the high mountains of Baiyu County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan—lofty in terrain and cool in climate—one of the Nyingma tradition's long-established patriarchal root monasteries.

▶延伸观看Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava DocumentaryBuddha Weekly · 于 YouTube 观看

• Katok Monastery.jpg · NoGhost / CC BY-SA 4.0
• Dampa Deshek.jpeg · treasuryoflives.org / Public domain

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