The Sacred Dzogchen Natural Mountain Caves
The History of the Dzogchen Natural Mountain Caves
About a thousand natural sacred caves are scattered throughout the Holy Dzogchen Area; today hundreds of them are habitable.
These caves can be found in the snow mountains, rock mountains, forest mountains, and grass mountains.
They vary in elevation from 2,700 to 7,000 meters above sea level. The area has magnificent views, dotted with hundreds of colorful lakes, impressive waterfalls, beautiful flowers and trees, and is home to many species of birds.
Here many of the world's most highly accomplished practitioners went into retreat and achieved enlightenment.
In these sacred caves many holy Vajra masters achieved enlightenment:
At Gangtro Gongma, the Snow Mountain's high lake cave, Dzogchen Pema Rigdzin, Paltrul Rinpoche, and Nyoshul Lungtok spent many years in retreat. Other practitioners achieved enlightenment here.
At Gangtro Barma, the Snow Mountain's middle lake cave, Padmasambhava lived for three years. He concealed many Dharma treasures in this area. Many practitioners have attained enlightenment here. Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche has since rebuilt a statue of Padmasambhava in this cave.
At Gangtro Okma, the Snow Mountain's low lake caves, Pema Kundrol Namgyal and others lived for many years. Many practitioners have achieved enlightenment here as well.
At Tamchen Gang, the rock caves, Namkha Tsewang Chokdrup lived his entire life. Khenpo Ngakwang Norbu and others achieved fruition here.
At the Ngakchungma grove caves, Mipham Rinpoche and others made extensive retreats and accomplished Dharma practice.
In the Senge Druppuk caves, Shri Singha lived for many years and many subsequent practitioners reached high realization there.
At the Shinje Druppuk upper cave, Dodrupchen Kunzang Zhenphen accomplished the Buddha Yamantaka yidam. Many masters who stayed here achieved very high Siddhis.
At the Shinje Druppuk lower cave, Paltrul Rinpoche wrote many books, and Abu Lhagung and others stayed for many years to practice Dzogchen.
At the Tsering Jong caves, Vimalamitra, as well as several other Dzogchen Masters such as Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje and Kenchen Pema Losel, stayed in retreat for many years, deepening their realization. These days the great practitioner Lama Karma and others live here.
From the Peme Tang caves, Guru Padmasambhava blessed the whole Dzogchen area as a mandala three times. Khenchen Pema Dorje and Khenpo Ngakchung, among others, continued Dharma activities here for many years.
At the Three Charnel Ground caves, Chodnyen Padma Tsewang and others completed wrathful practices.
At the Horse Mountain caves, Tulku Drime Rinpoche and many female practitioners reached accomplishment.
In Tadze Jong, the Right Canyon Caves, many humble Dzogchen yogis achieved Rainbow Body.
At the Beyul Jong caves, many secret yogis achieved realization. Padmasambhava discovered a sacred, hidden Dakini city in the Galaxy Lake of Beyul Jong.
At Shona Jong, the Left Canyon caves, many wrathful practitioners accomplished secret Vajrayana fearless actions.
At the Gyalmo Drakkar White Rock caves, Padmasabhava gave teachings to the Dharma Protectors. Afterwards, many Chod practitioners achieved realization here. Later, Khenpo Thup Ngyen taught Dzogchen here for many years.
Every day from these and many other caves, some unnamed, you can hear at least thirty different Dharma-summoning horns announcing practice all over the sacred Dzogchen valley.
The Holy Dzogchen Area is also home to many amazing, sacred places such as:
Ekazati Lake
Rahula Rock Mountain
Tsiwu Marpo House
Hidden Galaxy Lake
Siltrom Snow Mountain
Sky Rock and Blessing Fruit
Padmasambhava's Footprints
Music Boulder
There have been numerous miraculous signs of many past Dzogchen masters throughout the Holy Dzogchen Area.
