Rumtek Gompa

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We spend a day visiting Rumtek Monestary with our friend Heather who we met at the Hidden Forest Retreat. Rumtek Monestary is the seat of the Karma Kaygu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Formerly the main monestary was in Tibet, but in 1959, following the Chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet the 16th Karmapa (Leader of the Kaygus) had the Monestary built at Rumtek. He recieved help from the royal family of Sikkim to do this.

There had been an older monestary, (Old Rumtek) here, before 1959. It has been remodeled & we visited it too. Rumtek is a beautiful place in a beautiful setting.

Since the Death of the 16th Karmapa, there has been controversey about who is the reincarnation as 17th Karmapa.

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