The full name of this retreat center is Samantabhadra Great Pleasure Retreat Center, which is also called the Upper Retreat Center (Tsandra retreat Center). It was built by the eighth Kenting Tai Situpa and did few years retreat. But later when the second Ongen Rinpoche built the Lower Retreat Center, the Upper Retreat Center became desolation for no resident monks stayed there to look after it. The first Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche provided most of the donations which he received from disciples to rebuild the center, and then he held the first three year retreat session of this center on the date of 10, month of Buddha's birth, the fourteenth iron-monkey year, Tibetan calendar (1860 A.D.) since then this holy place became the most well known Shangpa Kagyu lineage main seat.
The ninth Kenting Tai Situpa Pema Nyinje denominated this retreat center as Samantabhadra Great Pleasure Luminosity Retreat Center and Monastery. There were many well-known masters having conducted their retreats in this center ever since Jamgon Kongrul Rinpoche rebuilt it, The 2nd Jamgon Kongtrul Paldhen Khyentse Oser established more elaborate of this retreat and build Karmapa Lineage Temple, Khyab Je Kalu Rinpoche was the most famous master who did retreat and later became retreat master of this center.
This historical retreat center was destroyed totally during the culture revolution and it was rebuild in 1987 by the joined effort of Palpung administration and Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang. Under the guidance of Venerable Duppon Lama karma Namgyal four times traditional three years retreat was done Since it was rebuild. Currently retreat master is Ven lama Dhamchoe and his assistant is lama Thubten Dorje who are appointed by Duppon Lama Karma Namgyal.
Presently, the retreat center is developing under responsible of Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang.
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