Trode Khangsar Chapel

As I read the history of Trode Khangsar, I can’t but help noting the great significance in it being founded by the 5th Dalai Lama as an apology. And his placement of Dorje Shugden statue within this “Protector House” is a recognition of Dorje Shugden as an enlighten Protector. Over the years, many had benefitted, even the Emperor Dhakhong of China was so impressed by Dorje Shugden’s enlightened answers and solutions that he proclaimed Dorje Shugden as a protector of the Buddhadarma and presented a Pandit’s Hat for Dorje Shugden. His Holiness the 11th Dalai Lama had taken part in the grand ceremony to hang the pandit’s hat over the doors of Trode Khangsar which significantly show that he condones and view Dorje Shugden as an enlightened Protector.

We hold the Dalai Lamas to be incarnate of the same mindstream and to be the emanation of Avalokitesvara, therefore it stands to reason that from the times of the 5th Dalai Lama all the way to the 11th Dalai Lama, Dorje Shugden had been recognised and acknowledged to be an enlightened Protector. We have also known the 14th Dalai Lama to enlist the help of the Protector and had taken refuge during his troubles with China. His very escape from Tibet as under the guidance and protection of Dorje Shugden. As such the ban on Dorje Shugden is certainly illogical and being called a “spirit” is definitely wrong.

Even as of today, Dorje Shugden is still strongly practiced in Tibet and protected under the government of China due to its policy of religious freedom.

Such a blessed place and a must go pilgrimage site particularly Dorje Shugden practitioners. Not only is it a historical site where Dorje Shugden was enthroned by the 5th Dalai Lama, but it’s a place where thousands, if not millions devoted practitioners have visited throughout the ages to make sincere prayers and aspirations.

Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa, Tibet

Over 400 years ago a great and learned lama Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was famed in Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and China for being very saintly and compassionate. He resided in his residence (Zimkhang Gongma Ladrang) in Drepung Monastery. His root guru was H.H. the Omniscient 4th Panchen Lama and his close dharma brother was the 5th Dalai Lama.

The 5th Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen had a very close and dharmic relationship and often went to receive teachings together from the 4th Panchen Lama. They were close in age. They both became very learned and well known. During this time, the Dalai Lama was enthroned as a Dharma King of Tibet. But more people went to see Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen for teachings, initiations and divinations. This made the attendants of the 5th Dalai Lama feel threatened that Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s fame might usurp the power of the 5th Dalai Lama. So they had a khata forced down his throat. At that moment, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen dissolved his psychic winds and generated the wish to be a great guardian of Buddha and Tsongkapa’s teachings. As his consciousness dissolved, he entered ‘bardo’ as a dharma protector of the highest order (jikten depey sungma). Many signs were seen throughout Lhasa at this time and the earth was said to have shaken in Lhasa. This event was already predicted to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s previous incarnation when he was one of the 8 main disciples of Lord Tsongkapa the Supreme Master and he served Tsongkapa directly by building Gaden Monastery.

When the 5th Dalai Lama heard what his scheming and power-hungry attendants had done, he was very distressed. He was very sorry Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was murdered and dishonored as he was a great dharma master. The 5th Dalai Lama composed an apology to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. In Lhasa, tens of thousands gathered for the cremation of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s holy body. During the cremation, the 5th Dalai Lama’s apology was read out at which flames spontaneously arose from the body of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen commencing the cremation. From the body, during cremation, a powerful whirlwind of smoke tunneled into the sky for all to see as this was an indication Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s consciousness has arisen as the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. The Dharma Protector Setrap immediately recognized this new protector Dorje Shugden and ‘enthroned’ him as a powerful Dharma Protector in the realm of the Buddhas. From this, Setrap and Dorje Shugden are closely connected and very close working hand in hand always. After the cremation, the great 5th Dalai Lama built a Dorje Shugden chapel on the spot the cremation took place and named it Trode Khangsar. The 5th Dalai Lama commissioned the statue of Dorje Shugden in this chapel and had monks installed in the chapel to do continuous propitiations to Dorje Shugden. Trode Khangsar Chapel was a commemoration to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who was wronged and also a celebration of his consciousness arising as the World Peace Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.

This Trode Khangsar Chapel still exists now in Lhasa where many make pilgrimages there. It is in good condition and was recently renovated. It is over 400 years old and a testimony to the respect the Great 5th Dalai Lama had to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who arose as Dorje Shugden.

I have visited this holy chapel in Lhasa years back. I’ve never heard of it till I was in Lhasa and by chance, I was told about it which I was happy to visit. I could not find the place but strangely a bunch of pilgrims from Amdo told me they would show me how to get there in Lhasa.

This short video is a short clip of this holy Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa today commemorating Dorje Shugden, built by the great 5th Dalai Lama. The great 5th Dalai Lama even composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden which is still available today and we can recite to invoke the blessings, protection, and assistance of World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.

Tsem Rinpoche

Trode Khangsar – A 400-year-old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa
http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/trode-khangsar-%E2%80%93-a-400-year-old-dorje-shugden-chapel-in-lhasa.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTybDwTeLAM

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The 5th Dalai Lama’s Prayer to Dorje Shugden

HUM
Though unmoving from the sphere of primordial spontaneity,
With wrathful turbulent power, swifter than lightning,
Endowed with heroic courage to judge good and bad,
I invite you with faith, please come to this place!

Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinoceros leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamos of the charnel grounds, praise to you!

Samaya substances, offerings and torma, outer, inner and secret,
Favourite visual offerings and various objects are arranged.
Although, previously, my wishes were a bit dense,
Do not stop your powerful apparitions, I reveal and confess!

Now respectfully praising with body, speech, and mind,
For us, the masters, disciples, benefactors and entourages,
Provide the good and avert the bad!
Bring increase like the waxing moon in spiritual and temporal realms!

Moreover, swiftly accomplishing all wishes,
According to our prayers, bestow the supreme effortlessly!
And like the jewel that bestows all wishes,
Always protect us with the Three Jewels!

From: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/the-5th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden

Tibetan from: http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-14th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html

布旦康萨（藏文：སྤྲོ་བདེ་ཁང་གསར，威利：spro bde khang gsar），位于西藏自治区拉萨市城关区八廓街，是一座藏传佛教格鲁派寺院，供奉多杰雄登。该寺也是多杰雄登护法的驻锡地及降神场所。~ 维基百科，自由的百科全书

而这座存在至今，宏伟庄严的寺庙，是有尊贵的第五世达赖喇嘛所建立的，并且在大殿的墙壁上壁画绘有有关于多杰雄登护法的前世的故事，而当中包括智慧佛文殊菩萨…且如今香火依旧鼎盛不断，这也是一种证明了多杰雄登护法是证悟的护法，而不是外界所传言的“魔鬼”，因为由达赖喇嘛所建造的寺庙，壁画上多杰雄登护法与其他佛并列的画像，香火延续400年不断.. 我想这能经历400年的历史洗礼依然依旧，人面全非，但桃花依旧…..

祈愿佛法传承不断，一切有情众生得以学习佛法修持佛法直至获得证悟，离苦得乐…

谢谢你
Jerry

It has to be one of the most important DS Chapels in the world we have to visit if we have the opportunity. Enlightened beings sometimes have to manifest mistake due to the Karmas of the normal sentient beings like us in order for us to believe or be convinced of something beneficial to us.

There is no ego in enlightened beings, they will do anything that can bring benefits to people. In this case, HH Dalai Lama did not mind to act ignorant for not knowing who DS was. While Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen gave up his life and was accused as an evil spirit in order to fulfil his promise to protect Dharma and practitioners.

Trode Khangsar has been a chapel to Dorje Shugden for 400 years, and continues to be full used with pujas or ceremonies performed to Dorje Shugden daily, this can clearly proves that there is nothing wrong with Dorje Shugden practice. If there is any, it won’t exist until now.

Trode Khangsar is the ‘living example’ of the entire Dorje Shugden- Dalai Lama saga i strongly feel. This is the main proof of the 5th Dalai Lama recognising Dorje Shugden as a Dharma protector right after the passing of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen. It also ironed out the significant Dharma relationship between the two most prominent and learned master of that period.

The below statement says it all:

“It was commissioned by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th Century and serves as a testament to the official establishment of Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden’s practice in Tibet.”

I am grateful that Trode Khangsar is still preserved till today and very glad that it is fully utilised for pujas. May Dorje Shugden practice flourish to an even bigger scale. I wish to see all Buddhists will one day flock Trode Khangsar as one of the “MUST GO” pilgrimage site.

Glad to see pictures of Trode Khangsar. The fact that the 5th Dalai Lama manifested the realisation that Dorje Shugden is an enlightened Dharma protector shows that Dorje Shugden is indeed powerful and applicable for us today. The Amban who burnt the list of questions from Qing Emperor Dakhong not even infront of Dorje Shugden shows that Dorje Shugden is all omniscient who can see into our past, present and future. Also, it is evident how Dorje Shugden played a role in Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet to India, as it was upon consulting Dorje Shugden that Dalai Lama decided to leave Tibet. May I one day, have the merits to visit.

It is very significant that Dorje Shugden is an enlightened protector as the H.H 5th Dalai Lama founded Trode Khangsar as a “Protector House”for Dorje Shugden, in which he also placed a statue of this enlightened Protector. He did this following his remorse after being misled in regards to the events relating to the death of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen.

Trode Khangsar bore witness to the recognition of Dorje Shugden by the Chinese Qing dynasty emperor at the time of His Holiness the 11th Dalai Lama, Khedrub Gyatso. At that juncture, an Amban, a Chinese official, was present in Lhasa. The Amban burnt a set of questions in front of Trode Khangsar and asked for clear answers from Dorje Shugden. These were questions posed by the Qing Emperor Dakhong himself relating to certain political decisions that needed to be made. When the Trode Khangsar oracle took trance, Dorje Shugden gave clear advice and answers to the questions burned by the Amban. When the answers were brought back to Emperor Dakhong, he was amazed at the precision and clarity of the advice given.