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Monks of the new Maratika Monastery located adjacent to the holy Maratika Cave.
Due to the kindness of a generous donor the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund issued a grant of US$70,000 to build a monastery in Maratika, Nepal. The small monastery was built adjacent to the entrance of Maratika Cave. This holy site is where Padmasambhava achieved immortality.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has a strong connection with the Maratika Lama, Khenpo Karma Wangchuk, who takes care of the area. The Maratika Lama is the son of Lama Ngawang Chophel, who was a close disciple of the Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s previous incarnation. (For more on this important pilgrimage site, see “The Caves of Maratika,” published in Mandala June-July 2008.)
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Sangha doing practice at Maratika Cave, Nepal, February 2016. Photo by Ven. Losang Sherab.
In 2009, Rinpoche shared the following about Maratika:
“This place, which is called Maratika, is greatly blessed, as the great master Padmasambhava meditated here on Amitayus (the long life deity) and actualized the state of deathlessness (the siddhi of immortal life). Apart from other lamas, the great Kyabje Trulshig Rinpoche [did] long life retreat every year here for His Holiness’s long life, which also greatly blesses the place. Especially, according to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, due to this accumulation of white virtue, just through seeing, hearing, remembering, and touching this place, the two obscurations of beings will quickly be purified, one will be looked after by the all-knowing one (the great master Padmasambhava) from Urgyen, and easily attain the state of omniscience. This holy place has many more infinite blessings than just explained, and every sick and afflicted being should go there.”
Monks of Maratika Monastery in the new gompa.
During Rinpoche’s 2016 pilgrimage to Maratika, Rinpoche received from Khenpo Gyurme Thegchog Gyaltsen a prayer he had composed called “A Requesting Prayer to Maratika: The Source of an Ocean of Siddhis.” Rinpoche translated this prayer into English.
His Holiness Trulshik Rinpoche included this in his verses of praise, “The Vajra Song Melodiously
Praising Maratika”
I, an ordinary person cannot express this Place in mere words
No one can deny the truly powerful blessing of this Place
By the prophesy of the all pervading two great Terton Lords
And the prayers from past life karmic connections
Amitayus, Protector of Boundless Life and Wisdom
Shakyamuni, Excellent Refuge Buddha
And Padmasambhava, the Saviour of the Dark Age
Consecrated and established the Maratika Monastery.
Please rejoice in the Supporting Ordained Sangh Fund supporting the building of this small monastery in such a precious place. This monastery will benefit the monks residing there as well as pilgrims visiting the area for years to come.
You can learn more about the Supporting Ordained Sangha Fund and the ways it supports monasteries and nunneries.