The Treasury of Lives

A painting of the opening of Rongme Karmo Taktsang by Chokgyur Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. The king of Derge is also depicted as attending.

Ganden Shedrub Pekar Drolwai Ling, also known as Serchen, Sertri, and Sertang, is an important Geluk monastery in Amdo that was founded in 1748 by Gyeltsen Sengge, the 53rd throne-holder of Ganden. This is one of two monasteries in the town of Taktsang Lhamo, which is located on the border of Gansu and Sichuan provinces. The other monastery is Taktsang Lhamo Kirti, which is adjacent to Serchen. Because of their close proximity, they are sometimes confused as one monastery.

Taktsang Rawato was a monastery in existence by at least the eighteenth century when the First Setsang, Ngawang Tashi studied there.

Luchung Takstang Gon is Geluk monastery in Amdo that was founded in 1688 by the Tenth Ponpo of Chone, Lobzang Dondrub, and Detang Khanpo Tsangyang. It was built on the foundation of a Bon monastery that dated back to the twelfth century.

Rongme Karmo Taktsang is a treasure site of Chokgyur Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo to the northeast of Dzongsar Monastery. Ju Mipam Gyatso spent thirteen years there in retreat. Monks from the Khamshe College currently use the hermitage for five-year retreats. The site is associated with Padmasambhava.

Taktsang is one of the major pilgrimage sites of Bhutan. According to legend Padmasambhava flew to the cliff-side site upon the back of a tigress, a manifestation of his consort Yeshe Tsogyel. It was developed as a temple complex in 1692 by the Fourth Druk Desi, Tendzin Rabgye. Over the centuries it has been a site of activity of many great teachers and practitioners, such as Milarepa, Tangtong Gyelpo, Pema Lingpa, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and Dilgo Khyentse. It was damaged by fire in 1951, burned completely in 1995, and was rebuilt in 2005.

A Geluk monastery founded by Taktsang Lobzang Rabten in Amdo in 1713, and his primary seat. Lobzang Rabten founded Taktsang, at the age of thirty seven, at the command of The Fifth Panchen Lobzang Yeshe. One of its branches was Shardzong.

Takstang Lhamo Kīrti is one of two Geluk monasteries in Taktsang Lhamo, a town straddling the border between Gansu and Sichuan provinces. The location is considered sacred, as a deity is believed to reside in the nearby mountain and Padmasambhava is said to have eliminated demons from the space. Tāla Ngawang Pelzang built a hermitage at Taktsang Lhamo in 1713 that he later gave to the Fifth Kīrti. After this, it developed into a large monastery and one of the seats of the Kīrti incarnations.