Tokden Monastery, One of Tibet's Greatest Bon Monasteries

Zhang Zhung Dzogchen College, a three year retreat center at Tokden

Tokden's lineage is that of the Oral Tradition of Zhang Zhung held by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche, who achieved rainbow body in the 1930s. The college was established in 1924. More than two hundred yogis from every part of Tibet have been trained here. Before the college was established, the traditional three year retreat was undertaken by five students at a time. During the Liberation in 1956 and the Culture Revolution the monastery was destroyed and college activities were stopped for twenty seven years.

Tokden Monastery is a center of both the new and old traditions of Yungdrung Bon Buddhism. Here the Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen teachings have been transmitted without any interruption. It has been blessed by Shadza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche, who established the Zhang-zhung Dzogchen College.The Monastery is currently run by Driwa Rinpoche and Tshulchen Rinpoche.