The spiritual and cultural space for Vajrayana Buddhism, ‘Drikung Kargyu Samtenling, Vietnam’ was inaugurated on March 7.

His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche; His Eminence Drubwang Sonam Jorfel Rinpoche; President, LBA, Thupstan Chhewang; CEC, Hill Council, Leh, Tashi Gyalson; Member of National Commission for Minorities, Rinchen Lamo; Deputy Chief of the Central office of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Ven. Thich Thanh Huan; Head of the Buddhist Administration of Phu Tho Province, Ven. Thich Minh Nghiem, Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation, Bhikkhu Dhammapiya, and many other dignitaries were present during the inaugural program.

Located in the mountains of the Dalat, Vietnam, ‘Samten Ling’ is a place for teaching and practicing Vajrayana Buddhism initiated by His Eminence Drubwang Sonam Jorfel Rinpoche. The construction work of the monastery and retreat centre started in the year 2018 and was completed in 2022. The Great Stupa, ‘ Drikung Kagyu Rinchen Khorchen Khorwe Go Gek’ prayer wheel in the Samten Ling is the largest prayer wheel in the world and is set to make a Guinness record.

‘Samten Ling’, the monastery and the retreat centre built at the Samten Hills, Dalat has been awarded the certificate, ‘The spiritual and cultural space for Vajrayana Buddhism’ by the Vietnam Union of UNESCO Associations.

Representatives of the Vietnam Union of UNESCO Associations, Tran Van Manh said,  "The award of the certificate of the Vietnam Union of UNESCO Associations is meaningful to introduce to the community the Vajrayana Buddhism and to promote and preserve for the future generations.”

Offering the congratulatory gift to His Eminence Drubwang Sonam Jorfel Rinpoche, His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche expressed his gratitude to His Eminence for the initiative and for establishing Samten Ling.

His Holiness said that Drubwang Sonam Jorfel Rinpoche believes in and works on keeping the traditions upheld and has established dharma centres, meditation centres, nunneries, etc.

“Samtenling is yet another initiative and I am sure that the centre will help in promoting Vajrayana Buddhism”, His Holiness added.

His Holiness also expressed gratitude and felicitated the people who have helped and supported in establishing Samten Ling.

In the year, 1939, His Eminence Drubwang Sonam Jorfel Rinpoche was born in Bodh Kharbu village in Ladakh. At the age of 8, he took refuge vows from His Eminence Togdan Rinpoche. He received the full ordination vows twice in his life each from Yondzin Rinpoche in Tibet and His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche. He has been engaged in various activities to strengthen and promote the Buddha Dharma. His Eminence restored and renovated many old monasteries and established nunneries in Ladakh such as in Lamayuru and Bodh Kharbu. He sponsored and started Ladakh sMonlam Chhenmo during the early 90s which has now become an annual schedule where 1000 venerable monks from various monasteries of Ladakh gather.

Addressing the gathering, LBA President, Thupstan Chhewang said, “Coming from an extremely humble background, Drubwang Sonam Jorfel Rinpoche have secured deep knowledge through hard work and serious studies. You have established lasting imprints of your philanthropy, philosophy, and compassion across the countries spreading Lord Buddha’s message of peace and harmony”.

He said that the His Eminence initiative has given a fillip to spiritual ties between the two countries.

CEC, LAHDC, Leh highlighted the various initiative and work of the Rinpoche in various countries. He said that the establishment of Samten ling will strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The dignitaries during the inaugural event of Samten Ling expressed gratitude to His Eminence Drubwang Sonam Jorfel Rinpoche and prayed for his long life.

A scintillating cultural performance by the artists of Ladakh and Vietnam was also showcased during the event.