Six Mother Monasteries
Six Mother Monasteries
Tradition has held that there are six monasteries known as "mother monasteries" of the Nyingma lineage, although there have been slightly different formulations of the six.
At one time they included Dorje Drag, Mindrolling and Palri monastery in Upper Tibet;
and Kathok, Palyul and Dzogchen monasteries in Lower Tibet.
After the decline of Chongye Palri Thegchog Ling monastery and the flourishing of Shechen, the mother monasteries became Dorje Drag and Mindroling in the upper region, Shechen and Dzogchen in the center, and Kathok and Palyul in the lower part of Tibet. Dodrubchen is often substituted for Kathok in the list. Out of these "main seats of the Nyingma" developed a large number of Nyingma monasteries throughout Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.
Dorje Drak
Dzogchen
Kathok
Mindroling
Palyul
Shechen
Also of great importance to the Nyingma lineage is Samye, the first Tibetan monastery, founded by Shantarakshita.
He is the unbroken lineage leader of the Nyimgma Kathok Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
