A brief history of Mangtro monastery , during the 15th century drungpa Dorjey palzang (yogi palzang) a learned Sakya pa scholar and great yogi, came to Leh where he meditated in the Gonmo che cave. This is situated behind the hill of the current Mangtro monastery. During that time Dakpa bum dhe great religious king of Ladakh, built a splendid stupa called Riwo Tashi Woe in Leh. The stupa was built in order to benefit sentient beings and prevent all disturbing and apposing forces for the kingdom. Following its completion the king requested that yogi palzang bless the stupa. Yogi palzang accepted the king’s request and blessed the stupa. During the blessing many amazing sings were seen by the people of Leh. Because of such a profound display the king developed enormous devotion toward yogi palzang. To show his deep devotion the king offered yogi palzang with lands throughout his kingdom. As yogi palzang gazed out at his gift of vast lands, he was overjoyed by its sheer beauty of the eastern valley land. He therefore named the place Mangtro, meaning” universal joy”.
At Present, Mangtro monastery is looked after by our peerless kind teachers, His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche and His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche. Since 1968, Khenchen Rinpoche took residence at Mangtro monastery providing both outer and inner support that propagated pure monastic discipline. Khenchen Rinpoche fulfilled the wishes of both the monastic community and lay people of Mangtro and at large the devoted people of Ladakh by granting empoerments, instruction and transmissions of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. At present there are approximately 70 monks at Mangtro monastery. Under the gracious direction of the tow Luding Khen Rinpoche many young monks of Mangtro monastery have been sent to Ngor Pal Ewam Choden, Sakya college, Sakya institute of vajrayana, Dongsar institute and Sakya monastery in mungod to study rituals and philosophy. Although Khenchen Rinpoche could not continue to stay at the Ladakh after the establishment of Ngor Pal Ewam Choden at manduwala, Mangtro monastery remains directly and indirectly benefitted by the blessing of the two Luding Khen Rinpoches with the their guidance on all major decisions.
