Brief history

The main monastery was founded in the 8th century by the great female practitioner Khandro Tashi Khidren of Chhagkhar who was only the consort of Guru Rinpoche from Bhutan.

Read more about Monmo Tashi Khyidren here

Khandro Tashi Khyidren had meditated in many places including Paro Taktshang (Tiger’s nest), Singye Dzong etc. Among those holy places, Rephel Mindrol Lhakhang was the one where Tashi Khyidren had built her retreating place. The holy water revealed by Guru Rinpoche and Tashi Khyidren can be seen 15 meters away at the right side of the monastery, and the footprint of the riding horse is found behind the main temple. Later it has become the main seat of important religious figures such as Rephel Lama Gyeltsen, YabjeTenpai Nima (father of the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel) and the 10th Lhalung Thuksey Thekchog Tenpei Gyeltsen.

The monastery is the custodian of one of the most highly regarded religious treasures, a wall painting of Zhitro Lhatsog (a mandala of wrathful and calm form deity) from 8th century, a spoken Buddha statue and treasure bell of Terton Sherab Mebar.

In late 2009, the people of Samcholing and Rephel community made a request to Khedrup Rinpoche to take over the monastery and made a request to the Royal Government of Bhutan to offer the monastery to Rinpoche. Rinpoche accepted the request and renamed the monastery as Sangchen Ogyen Tsuklag. Today the monastery is home to 40 monks, 4 teachers and a Khenpo. The monastery is mainly transmitting the glorious Longchen Nyingthik lineage which is heart essence drop teachings of Maha Sandhi (dzogpa chenpo) an unbroken lineage from Padma Sambhava till our present living masters. The temple is a religious landmark for the community, and hosts a number of religious events every year. Prayers and basic rituals are performed during auspicious days of the Bhutanese calendar.