RYI STUDENT BLOG

Upper Temple Hall, Nagi Gompa I first encountered Nagi Gompa, a nunnery in the Shivapuri National Park at the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley, three years ago, during Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s seminar.  It was love at first sight, and since then, an unending affair.  This is so for many reasons: the kindness and holiness of the nuns; the spectacular views of the valley; the clean air, and the great trekking trails to the top of Shivapuri and down to Boudha.  In the long run, this place is one of the most important reasons for me to stay in Nepal. Nagi Gompa was the seat of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, a renowned Dzogchen master who passed away in 1996.  He was the father of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche.  Many of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s foreign students continually came to visit him and stay for some time.  This why now there are rooms available for the steady flow of foreigners coming here.  Other of his students built their own retreat places. ...

I last wrote on the Student Blog three years ago.  I wonder what has changed in that time. I have finished my BA and started the MA program this year.   Looking back, I can say, to continue was not the easiest decision for me at all.  Studying at the Shedra for last 3 years has given me quite a lot.  Among many benefits, I can name a deeper and more correct understanding of the Buddha's teachings, the ability to listen to and understand teachings directly in Tibetan, and the opportunity to improve my writing skills in English, and so on. Anya and fellow student Jade However, along with that, I gained something which I didn't expect at all: more doubts.  When I mentioned this to Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, the abbot of the monastery we study at, he said it was a natural part of the process and that many monks and nuns complain about it as well.  I think it comes from the gap that I experience between my examination of the teachings, which the Buddh...

The Rangjung Yeshe Institute is pleased to announce that the Khyentse Foundation has agreed to double the amount given to our Khyentse Foundation-Rangjung Yeshe Institute financial aid fund. Specifically in order to allow us to offer more scholarships to monks and nuns.  Students must be enrolled in the Bachelor's or Master's program and be full time students to be eligible for the scholarships.  More information about RYI financial aid can be found HERE .   Already we have several new ordained applicants!   Thank you, Khyentse Foundation.

“Where are you from?”  How many times this question has been heard and will be asked again and again, by total strangers or new friends. How many times has it taken long seconds to answer.  And how many times the reply was not satisfactory. Sincerely, I don’t know where I am from. This question has always caused me a dilemma because it creates a fixed image and idea in people’s minds that do not reflect at all where I am from, and even less who I am. It is like lying. Born here, grew up there, parents from such and such place; studied there and over there; the mind wandering in this place and the heart in that one. This “I” has been travelling a lot, pretending to discover the world, while it has actually been looking for its own world. Looking for a place “I” could finally call ‘home’, where “I” could feel safe enough to stay. Looking for a place… somewhere outside of me. Here at the Shedra, I have found something very precious while studying Buddhism:...