RYI STUDENT BLOG

The Joy of Learning My journey to RYI has been an unexpected one! My decision to transition from practicing music therapy to studying full-time within a time span of mere months has been a process both challenging and motivating. My engagement in this course has introduced me to Buddhist philosophical texts, history and language studies of Tibetan and Sanskrit. Not only that, I feel greatly blessed to have gotten the opportunity to receive various Dharma practices. This has been possible because RYI sits right amid the Seto Gompa Monastery (Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling), under the vigilant guidance of Venerable Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, whose residence is on the top floor of the same academic building. In addition, one can behold the majestic view of the Boudhanath stupa right from the academic building itself, what a blessing! Talking about the classrooms, there is a traditional style of seating arrangement, with cushions spread out on the floor; I must admit that sitting cross-legg...

Kathmandu is the capital city and the largest city of Nepal with a population of 1.5 million. It is my first time here in Kathmandu, Nepal and what brought me here is my decision to study Buddhist philosophy. I feel very much blessed to be here and especially to be able to study in this holy land. I couldn’t ask for a better condition.   I started my course in Rangjung Yeshe Institute in august last year, 2018. I am very much satisfied with all the classes I take. I will definitely learn a lot and most importantly become a better human being. I am rather taken aback by how well the teachers and the students are here. Being a school of Buddhist studies, I realised how different it is from the other institutes or universities. Anyone I met has been very kind and helpful all this time. Also to mention how simple and calm the environment is at the institute. Everyone respects one another which I really appreciate. Since, the institute is very close to the main Boudha Stupa...

A F ulfilling Experience It is said that the Stupa at Boudhanath, Kathmandu, has the power of fulfilling all the wishes and aspirations one makes in front of it. However, for me the mere fact of living here, next to the stupa, somehow represents already an accomplishment of my wishes of having a meaningful life. Here, the environment is pervaded by the spiritual life of the people, with their gestures and expressions. For instance, every single day there are hundreds of people circumambulating the stupa. People from all over the world join together in venerating this holy place. Some of them come from foreign countries excited about seeing this monument for the first time; some others arrive walking from the Himalayas, after a long pilgrimage, just to see the Stupa once in their lives; others spend the whole day doing prostrations in front or around the Stupa; and even others just want to live nearby to be blessed every day. Not only that, but also the whole area has pl...