Bhutan Pilgrimage—Day 9 – Her Eminence Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche

Thursday, March 31 | Pilgrimage to Drak Karpo

On this day, the group visited Drak Karpo (Split Rock), a site located above a system of caves. Inside the Yutok Temple is the actual cave where Guru Rinpoche did his retreat. Outside the group circumambulated a huge stone which it is said that Guru Rinpoche removed from the cave opening and split, and which bears his hand-prints. Climbing the adjacent cliff led to the Lotus Mound (Pema Tsek), one of the charnel grounds where Guru Rinpoche practiced. In the afternoon the group paid homage at the Kichyu Lhakhang and the adjacent Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Memorial House and museum. Great waves of devotion rippled through everyone who had the good fortune to be able to walk on the sacred land of this great master.

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A monk from the Kila Gompa asks the machine operator to allow pilgrimage vechicles to pass.

Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Tenpa Choepel la, the tour coordinator.

Mindrolling Sangyum Kushog arrives for the Drak Karpo pilgrimage.

Mindrolling Sangyum Kushog is greeted by group members.

Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, the abbot of Kila Gompa and Tenpa Choepel la.

Group members gather below Kila Gompa at the foot of the Drak Karpo site.

Pema Tsek (Lotus Mound). One of the eight charnel grounds of Guru Rinpoche.

A sacred rock bearing the imprint of Guru Rinpoche's mala.

Offering khatags at the site of the mala imprint in rock.

The rock removed from the cave entrance and split by Guru Rinpoche.

Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and the abbot at Drak Karpo.

CIrcumambulating the scared rock at Drak Karpo.

The charnel ground Pema Tsek (Lotus Mound).

VIew of the shrine built around the cave of Guru Rinpoche.

Entrance to Kichu Yenden Monastery established by Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Two Bhutanese nuns on the path to Drak Karpo.

Cluster of white prayer flags at Drak Karpo commemorating the dead. THis is a common site across Bhutan.

Lunch at Kila Gompa at the foot of Drak Karpo.

Ven. Namdrol Gyatso la and Ven. Thrinley Gyaltsen at Kila Gompa.

Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro is one of the oldest and most sacred temples in Bhutan. It was built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, and contains an original 7th century statue of the Buddha and a life-like statue of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Dilgo Khyentse's automobile preserved in the Memorial Museum in Paro, Bhutan.

The Dilgo Kyhentse Rinpoche Memorial House now preserved as a museum, Paro, Bhutan.

The throne, adjacent to his home, from which Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche gave teachings, Paro, Bhutan.

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