A major spiritual initiative under the Gelephu Mindfulness City is gaining momentum in southern Bhutan, as preparations intensify for the construction of Druk Ugyen Samye Ling in Chuzergang Gewog. The project is set to formally commence with a ground-breaking ceremony scheduled for April 10.
In the days leading up to the ceremony, the site has already become a focal point for spiritual activity. Thousands of devotees from across the country gathered this week to participate in Tendrel, a sacred ritual aimed at removing obstacles and inviting auspicious conditions. The gathering reflects both the religious importance of the occasion and the growing anticipation surrounding the project.
The ceremonies are being led by the revered master Namkhai Nyingpo, who has begun a ten-day oral transmission of the Thirteen Great Root Texts of the close lineage. This transmission, considered rare and deeply significant, is accompanied by Nyesel purification rituals and collective prayers, offering spiritual merit and reinforcing continuity within the Buddhist tradition.
Druk Ugyen Samye Ling is envisioned as a landmark spiritual center inspired by the historic Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery established in Tibet in the 8th century under King Trisong Detsen. While drawing from this ancient model, the Bhutanese project seeks to create its own distinct identity.
According to Project Director Khenpo Tenzin Gyatso, the monastery will house sacred relics and treasures comparable to those found in its Tibetan counterpart. However, one feature is expected to set it apart globally: the construction of 100,000 statues of Guru Ugyen Norlha. This unprecedented undertaking is intended to enhance the site’s spiritual significance while marking it as a unique historical achievement for Bhutan.
Spread across more than 25 acres, the Druk Ugyen Samye Ling complex is poised to become a central pillar of the Gelephu Mindfulness City vision—an initiative that blends spirituality, culture, and sustainable development.
As the ground-breaking date approaches, the ongoing rituals and teachings underscore the deep spiritual foundation upon which the project is being built, signaling not just the start of construction, but the beginning of a new chapter in Bhutan’s religious and cultural landscape.
