Phuntsoling Monastery was built in 1614. It is located in Lhaze county in Shigatse area. around 4100 meters above the sea leavel.
Phuntsoling Monastery belonging to the Kagyu Sect, once was the central monastery of the Jonangpa. It belongs to the Kagyu sect, which was known for the examination of the nature of emptiness.
This practice was undertaken by the greatest scholar of this monastery, Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen. He was one of the first proponents of the hard-to-grasp notion of shentong, which is roughly based on the idea that the Buddha-mind if not ultimately empty, even though all forms are empty illusions. Buddhist philosophers have been debating the Shentong for 7 cneturies. Different schools have different views on this matter. The Gelugpa school didn't share Dolpopa's view. And in the 17th century, the fifth Dalai Lama suppressed the Jonangpa school. And then Phuntsoling was forcibly converted into a Gelugpa institution.
Take a walk to the ruined fortifications behind the monastery,you might never forget the stunning view. The ruined Dzong on a cliff acroos the Yurlong Tsangpo River,you might never get rid of this image for the rest of your life.
Around the middle of the fourth lunar month every year, there will be a festival held at Phuntsoling. During the festival, you can see Lamas and pilgrims from every far corner of the region. They all gather in the courtyard for prayers and celebrations. However, this ceremony is not open for visitors.
Kagyu Sect is known for the wxamination of the nature of emptiness. The greatest scholar of this monastery, Dolopa Sherab Gyaltsen was one of the 1st proponents of the hard-to-grasp notion of shentong, which is roughly based on the idea that the Buddha-mind is not ultimately empty, even though all forms are empty illusions.
