the 6 main branchs of Nyingma

namahbuddha

Hi friends,

I would like to ask if anyone here knows if there is any difference between the Six mother monasteries of the Nyingma school. Is there any practices from one that doesn't apply to the other or it is all the same and the only difference is just geographic?

the links below are from nyingma groups websites, as far as my little understand goes, and I can notice some different expressions just reading their websites or looking the picture galleries, like the way the members of the group dress, the practices programme throughout the year, the architecture of their temples etc. Why is that? Ex:

http://www.taramandala.org/Photos.htm

http://br.chagdud.org/vajrakilaya-2009/

http://www.mangalashribhuti.org/

http://usa.palyul.org/

thanks

SherabDorje

Nyingma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Six mother monasteries

Tradition has held that there are six monasteries known as "mother monasteries" of the Nyingma lineage, although there have been slightly different formulations of the six. At one time they included Dorje Drak, Mindroling monastery and Palri monastery in Upper Tibet; and Kathok, Palyul and Dzogchen monasteries in Lower Tibet. After the decline of Chongye Palri Thegchog Ling monastery and the flourishing of Shechen, the mother monasteries became Dorje Drag and Mindroling in the upper region, Shechen and Dzogchen in the center, and Kathok and Palyul in the lower part of Tibet. Dodrubchen is often substituted for Kathok in the list. Out of these "main seats of the Nyingma" developed a large number of Nyingma monasteries throughout Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.

Also of great importance to the Nyingma lineage is Samye, the first Tibetan monastery, founded by Shantarakshita.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyingma#Six_mother_monasteries

namahbuddha

Hi SherabDorje,

yes i have read the wikipedia. they don't say though about differences within the nyingma groups and between monasteries. So I want to discuss with you guys here although this is not an urgent matter I just was seeing some websites and notice very different expressions , rituals etc. so maybe someone from the nyingma school could say more about that. thanks a lot

caz

I might have an Idea as to why, You tend to find that even those practising the same tradition but from different monastrys will have a slightly different agenda from the next I dont think nyigmas are heavily conformist under a single head of school but of course I could be wrong, Its a bit like some monastrys study certain variations of texts of their system while others study something slightly different, Protectors vary from monastry to monastry as well as with many other things, Not to worry mind you Dharma diversity is wonderfull there are methods and presentations that work for some but not others so the more diverse a tradition the better accomidated people will be

namahbuddha

I agree Caz, interesting about the nyingma not having a single head, it maybe explains the whole thing. thanks a lot