Yolmo
yol mo gangs ra, the "Snow-enclosure of Yolmo"; also known as a so-called "hidden land" or sbas yul - under the name of sbas yul padma tshal; a mountaneous region in Nepal, not far from the capital Kathmandu and bordering on Tibet. One of the places in which rig 'dzin rgod kyi ldem phru can (1337-1408), a famous early rnying ma gter ston, discovered many of his treasures or gter ma. This region has been prophesied by the Buddha in the Avatamsaka Sutra (mdo phal po che) as a sacred place that has been blessed by many previous Buddhas and Siddhas. In some of the old guides to Yolmo it is said that to do a single day of retreat in Yolmo, is as beneficial as doing a whole year of retreat in any other place on earth. There are various places associated with visits of Guru Padmasambhava, the most well known of which is the cave called Nyida Rangjung (nyi zla rang byung) above the village of Milam-khyim (Melamchigaon) and a self-arisen stone throne of his, surrounded by many miraculously formed rocks, simply known as the Shugtri (bzhugs khri). In yol mo one also finds the famous practice cave of Jetsun Milarepa (rje btsun mi la ras pa) (1040-1123) known as Tagphug Senge Dzong (stag phug seng ge rdzong), one of the six so-called secret caves of his. For more information, see the Guide to the Hidden Land of Yolmo and A Praise to Yolmo Gangra by Kyabje Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche. [TSD]