Reting monastery is about 150 km north-east of Lhasa at an elevation of 4,150m. It is situated amidst a remarkable juniper wood on the slope of the monastery premises. Historically, the monastery has been the central seat of the Reting Rinpoche. In addition, this lineage started in the eighteenth century. When the seventh Dalai Lama appointed the abbot of Reting monastery as his personal tutor.
Dromtonpa constructed the monastery in 1056. Most noteworthy, he was the foremost Tibetan student of the great Bengali Buddhist master Atisha. Dromtonpa’s successors Neljorpa Chenpo and Potowa expanded the monastery following Dromtonpa’s death in 1064. But the Mongol armies of Dorta pillaged the site in 1240. Later in the 14th century, Revenerent Master Tsongkhapa visited Reting and experienced a vision of Atisha. On the basis of which he composed his celebrated great Treatise on the Graduated Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Chenmo). From the seventh Dalai Lama Vii, the abbot of Reting monastery became eligible to serve as regent of Tibet. This regent tradition existed in two phases: the first phase of 1845-55 and the second phase 1933-47.
The main relics enshrined in the monastery are the highly revered solid gold image of the meditational deity Guhyasamaja in the form of Manjuvajra. 45 centimeters in height and the deity was the principal meditative object of Atisha. It is believed to have been naturally formed from the union of the primordial Buddha Vajradhara and his consort. The principal hall once also contained a “speaking image” of Tara and a stupa known as Tashi Pelbar. Furthermore, there are many other holy chambers. To visit such as the residence of Dromton and his teaching throne, the residence of Reverent Master Tsongkhapa. The Reting Monastery also holds a giant Thangka. The giant Thangka unveils once a year.