Katok Monastery
Katok Monastery (Wylie: kaḥ thog) is listed in various enumerations as one of the six principal Nyingma monasteries, one of the main lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.
Katok Monastery was founded in 1159 by a younger sibling of Phagmodrupa, Katok Dampa Deshek. The original gompa fell into disrepair and was rebuilt on the same site in 1656 through the impetus of Tertön Düddul Dorje (1615–72) and the terton Rigdzin Longsal Nyingpo (1625-1682/92 or 1685–1752). Katok Monastery held a reputation of fine scholarship. It is held that prior to the annexation of Tibet by the Chinese in 1951, that Katok Monastery housed circa 800 monks.
Katok was long renowned as a center specializing in Kama (as opposed to terma), and as a center of monasticism, although both of these features were disrupted under Longsel Nyingpo (1625–1692).
According to The Tibetan Buddhist Resource Centre, disciples of Kenpo Munsel and Kenpo Jamyang at Katok Monastery in 1999 compiled a Katok edition of the 'Kama' (Wylie: bka' ma shin tu rgyas pa (kaH thog)) in 120 volumes: "...twice the size of the Dudjom edition, it contains many rare Nyingma treatises on Mahayoga, Anuyoga, and Atiyoga that heretofore had never been seen outside of Tibet."
Anuyoga
Kathog Monastery became a bastion of the Anuyoga tradition when it became neglected by other Nyingmapa institutions. The 'Compendium of the Intentions Sūtra' (Wylie: dgongs pa ’dus pa’i mdo) the root text of the Anuyoga tradition was instrumental in the early Kathog educational system. Nubchen Sangye Yeshe wrote a lengthy commentary on the Compendium of the Intentions Sūtra rendered in English as 'Armor Against Darkness' (Wylie: mun pa’i go cha).
Lauded scholars seated at Katok Monastery
- Katok Rigdzin Tsewang Norbu (1698–1755)
- Getse Mahapandita Gyurme Tsewang Chokdrup (b. 1761)
- Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso (1880-1923/5)
- Khenpo Ngawang Palzang (also known as Khenpo Ngakchung)
- Katok Situ Chökyi Nyima (1928–1962, Katok Situ Rinpoche died of starvation in Gothang Gyalgo prisoner camp)
