An elderly Buddhist follower goes downstairs inside the Lama Ling Temple. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Out of deepest admiration for Choyi lama, 66-year-old farmer Padma Tenzin went to Lama Ling Temple in 1990, and decided to stay there from then on.

Choyi Lama from Medog, whom Padma refered to as the only lama (an honorary title for eminent monk with high achievements) in Lama Ling Temple. He is 91 years old now.

Twenty-one years ago, Padma's cousin fell ill and was sent to Lama Ling Temple. "Choyi lama is a master of Tibetan medicine. He took care of my cousin and treated him wholeheartedly," Padma said.

Those days he stayed with his cousin and spent time with Choyi Lama together. After his cousin recovered, Padma decided to stay, as a monk to devote himself to others' well-being like his mentor.

Today, there are eighteen monks and four nuns in Lama Ling temple. As the oldest monk, he spent a lot of time studying Buddhism.

"Everyone here studies Buddhism twice a day," Padmasaid, saying that monks and nuns receive a fixed grant from the government and live a stable life

"It is a good place for cultivation, with pleasant climate, peaceful and quiet environment," he said. Thus Lama Ling Temple, literally meaning a mountain attracting lamas from other places, has been a holy place for people from Lhasa or even Qinghai Province, Padma explained.

Lama Ling Temple is a Nyingma Sect monastery, and Padma said he cares little about the Dalai Lama, just focusing on the Nyingma ways of cultivation.

"Apart from Buddhism learning twice a day, we have spent all our  spare time building and repairing the buildings," Padma said.

By far, the pagoda in the temple has been moved out of the old place. One of the old halls remains. And new dormitories for monks and nuns are being built, together with a new kitchen, a meeting room, etc.