Reasons For Reviving the Bodong Tradition

1. It is the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to revive all the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. He said, “We are trying to keep Tibetan Buddhism alive as a whole, which means that each tradition must also be kept alive. When five fingers are healthy, the hand is also healthy. Without the five fingers, there is no hand, is there? We can talk about the preservation of Tibetan spirituality in a similar way. This is our responsibility”.
2. Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal held women in high esteem both as symbols of divinity and spiritual practitioners. He was critical of misogynic attitudes which considered women as a mere source of lust and spiritual contamination. This is quite unique to the Bodong tradition, and it is very important to continue this practice. The positive attitude towards women is reflected by the relevance of the female representatives of the Bodong tradition. Choekyi Dronme, the youngest daughter of the king of Gungthang Lhawang Gyaltsen (1404-1463) was a leading disciple of Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal. She was considered to be an embodiment of goddess Dorjee Phagmo (Vajravarahi). She founded the Samding monastery in 1440 AD and followed Bodong tradition. She was the first Samding Dorjee Phagmo. Samding is the only monastery in Tibet which is led by female reincarnation. Even today, the 12th Samding Dorjee Phagmo is leading the Samding monastery.
3. The work of Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal consists of more than one hundred and thirty-five volumes. These cover all aspects of Buddhism, and contain beautiful and systematic explanations of the education of a person from childhood until attaining enlightenment. These volumes will be the main texts for studies in the future.
4. There are many people whose families have followed the Bodong tradition for many generations. Its revival is very important to them.
5. The Bodong tradition includes a number of healing practices, the revival of which would be of great benefit to many sentient beings.