Katsel Monastery Tibet

Drikung Katsel Tsi Chen Cho Kyi Ling (The center of Great Compassion) is located in NorthEast Tampa at 9545 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33592

Meditation Tampa is a Buddhist Meditation center in Tampa Bay, Florida, dedicated to the traditional study and practice of The Buddha’s Teachings.  We are a Buddhist Meditation Organization in Hillsborough County open to everyone in the community.  Our center is part of the Glorious Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and a branch of Katsel Monastery in Tibet.

Our mission is to to maintain, honor, preserve and spread the traditional teachings of the Buddha. In addition Katsel Meditation Tampa wishes to provide a spiritual sanctuary for people to cultivate a peaceful mind through meditation practices and good ethical conduct.

Katsel Meditation Tampa is a Buddhist Meditation Center that was based out of a residence in the suburbs of Tampa, Florida. Then it out grew its residence and now meets weekly at a public venue with plenty of parking and good people of all ages and experience.

The Lama’s and Rinpoches (Teachers) of our tradition of Buddhism gave our center a name and purpose. Katsel Meditation Tampa was born and named; [Drikung Katsel Tsi Chen Cho Kyi Ling] which means “The Center of Great Compassion”.

Katsel Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in Tibet, was built by Dharma King Songsten Gampo in the 7th century in an effort to control a local demonic force that was interfering with establishing the Dharma in Tibet. This force was seen as a great ogress, and a system of twelve temples were built to control her. The Jo Khang nails down her heart, and Katsel binds her right leg. The Nyingma, Gelug, and Kagyu lineages of Tibetan Buddhism all have shared in Katsel’s rich history. In the 16th century, Rinchen Puntsok, the 17th Drikung lineage holder, gave Yangzab teachings at Katsel, and from that point on, Katsel became Drikung Kagyu.

A historical highlight Takpa monastery has a close connection with Katsel, and they have helped each other in the past, and are still helping each other today. During the Mongolian invasion of Tibet, Takpa monastery, a Gelug institution, gave Katsel tea cups with the Gelug insignia on them. Tagtdu Rinpoche showed the Mongolian leader these cups, and Katsel was spared from the fate of being burned. The other monasteries in the area were not so fortunate. During the recent Cultural Revolution, Katsel was completely destroyed. The pictures is of the result of the recent effort to rebuild Kasel. excerpt from DMC Katsel in Boston.

Public Meditation Group and Discussion

Groups Meet Weekly at Katsel Meditation Tampa, 9545 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33592. Check out our Calendar of Events for the next event and join us weekly.