TSURPHU MONASTERY

In 1189 the monastery was founded by the first Karmapa, Dusum Kyenpa. First Lama to give, before his death, indications about his next birth, Dusum Kyenpa introduces the reincarnation system that will subsequently be adopted by all lines. His following incarnation is invited to the Mongolian court by Koublaï Khan, which gives him the title of Pakchi, which means "master" in Mongolian. Victim of a plot, he was imprisoned and then released four years later. In 1331, the 3rd ^{Karmapa, Ranjung Dordje, became the religious leader of the Mongolian emperor Togon Temur. Tsurphu grew in the 5 th century under the th Karmapa. From 1565 to 1652, the Karmapas possessed temporal power under the kings of Tsang, but were détrônés by other Mongols who gave power to the 5 th Dalai Lama.}

In 1959, Tsurphu had 1 000 monks. During the Cultural Revolution, the Khampas defended the monastery that was bombed three times. The Karmapas are the heads of Karma Kagyupa lineage. The 16 ^th Karmapa was exiled to Rumteck at Sikkim and died in Chicago in 1981. Problems of precedence within the Kagyupa lineage have delayed the recognition of the small tulku, the réincarné child, who was already six years old when he was inducted in 1992.

Since 1984, restoration has been undertaken. Apart from some relics and little statues that could be saved, everything is new, but the atmosphere of the old has been restored as in Ganden. Dominating the monastery, a hermitage houses monks who retire for three years. Above, half an hour from an ascent, is Karma Pakchi and his meditation cave. There is a superb view of the valley and the ruins of the ruins that can be measured.