Our Spiritual Programme
Discover Buddhism at Kopan
Kopan offers the perfect environment for study and meditation for the serious student, casual visitors, and retreaters.
- Discover Buddhism - Short Meditation Courses 2008
- Intensive 2-months Buddhist Study program starting in May with Ven. Fedor Stracke
- Medicine Buddha Retreat with Ven. Namgyel
- 7- Day Green Tara Retreat with Ven. Namgyel
- Reiki Courses with Ven. Namgyel
- Nyung Ne - Fasting Retreat
- Waterbowl retreat at the Kopan Nunnery
- One Month Lam Rim Meditation Course
- Vajrasattva Retreat
- A Place for Rest and Reflection
- Booking Form
For information on accommodation, meals and costs, please click here for Visitors Information
Discovering Buddhism - Short Introductory Meditation Courses
Regular 10 day introductory courses are held in March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October. The courses give an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, teach meditation skills and include a two day analytical and single pointed meditation retreat. The courses are led by Ani Karin and Ven. Losang Namgyel, both senior Western sangha, with daily teachings from a Tibetan Lama.
If you are just interested in Buddhism, or experience problems in your life such as uncontrolled emotions, dissatisfaction, etc - this course will give you some skills to address these problems and make your life more fulfilling and meaningful.
The daily schedule consists of sessions of meditation, teachings and discussion groups. The course leader as well as the Tibetan Lamas of the monastery are available for personal guidance. The daily programme starts at 6.30 am and finishes at 9 pm. The participants are expected to attend all session. Half day silence is kept as a course discipline
All courses are residential with accommodation and food provided. The course starts at 5 pm on the first day check-in recommended by 3 pm), and finishes at 12 noon on the last day.
Costs 110 US$ - This includes all meals, course material and accommodation (in dormitory)
The cost indicated is for accommdation in dormitory. Accommodation other than dormitory will incur extra charges. Please check our visitors information Visitors Information for details.
Course Dates 2008
- April 30 - May 10 (ten days)
- May 31 - June 10 (ten days)
- July 3 - July 13 (ten days)
- August 1 - 10 (ten days)
- September 15 - 25 (ten days)
- October 10 - 20 (ten days)
FPMT Basic Program at Kopan - Intensive Buddhist Study Course Second Year
Date: May 19 - July 13 (8 weeks)
After a successful summerprogram in 2007, Ven. Fedor has agreed to continue teaching the Basic Program at Kopan in 2008.
The topics in summer 2008 will be:
- Heart sutra Retreat
- Tenets
- Guide to a Bodhisattva's way of life
Course teacher: Ven. Fedor Stracke
The course is based on the Basic Study Program of the FPMT. It is being held over 5 years, in yearly modules. The course leads to a certificate issued by the Education Department of the FPMT, and will enable you to to take further studies such as the Master program of the FPMT.
Extensive study material will be made available for the students.
Daily Schedule:
- 6.45 Morning meditation
- 7.30 am Breakfast
- 9.00 - 11 00 Teachings om Bodhisattva charya vatara
- 11.30 Lunch
- Free study time after lunch
- 3.30 - 5.00 Teaching on the Tenets
- 6.00 - 6.45 Meditation
- 6.45 Dinner
- 7.30 Study group with Debate
Pre requisites
You are welcome to join this course for one or several modules of your choice. To receive the certificate, all modules have to be attended, and the required exams have to be passed. It is not necessary to have completed the previous module.
Applicants for the course should have done some study and have experience of Tibetan Buddhism, such as the Discover Buddhism course of the FPMT, the Foundation Course, or the one month November course at Kopan.
Cost: 800 US$ - This includes food, accommodation in dormitory and extensive course material. (Other rooms are available at an extra charge)
Ultimate healing with Wisdom and Compassion
Medicine Buddha Retreat with Ven. Namgyel
June 15 - 29
This retreat is the perfect opportunity to spend time reflecting on your life, on any problems you might experience with health and happiness, in a caring and accepting environment, with a retreat leader who is familiar with human suffering in its many forms. The first three days will include teachings on the graduated path to enlightenment, and one session of the Medicine Buddha sadhana practice.
The main part of the retreat consists of Medicine Buddha sadhana practice four times a day, and related teachings. It is not necessary to have taken refuge or received the initiation of Medicine Buddha in order to participate in the retreat.
This is a full time residential retreat, and participants are asked to commit to attend the full retreat and to abide by the course discipline as explained by the retreat leader at the beginning of the retreat.A Medicine Buddha Initiation might be offered at the start of the retreat.
This retreat can be attended by anybody, even though they may not have taken the initiation or refuge. There will be four sessions of meditation a day, involving visualisation and mantra recitation. Chi gong or Yoga may be offered. The first three days of the retreat will include a quick overview of the Lam Rim (stages on the path to enlightenment).
The retreat will be guided by Ven. Namgyel, an accredited FPMT teacher and monk. Ven. Namgyel has extensive experience with the practice of Medicine Buddha, and is well know for his kindness and deep understanding of healing in all its various forms.
You will be asked to complete a questionaire. This form will be only read by the retreat leader, to help him tailor the retreat more closely to the needs of the participants.
What does "Ultimate healing with Compassion" mean?
Lama Zopa Rinpoche says:
"Healing essentially comes from the mind, not from the body. Healing our mind is crucial, because otherwise our problems, which are beginningless, become endless. Disease is caused by our self-cherishing: ignorance, anger, attachment and other delusions and by the negative actions these motivate. Our negative thoughts and actions leave imprints on our mind, which then manifest as disease or other problems. The imprints also make it possible for disturbing thoughts and negative actions to arise again. If we do nothing to heal our mind, there is always the danger that we will again create the cause of the disease, that we will repeat the actions that caused us to become physically unhealthy. While external medicine can be taken to heal a physical sickness, inner medicine - meditation - needs to be taken to heal the cause of the disease and to ensure that we never experience the disease again. Meditation not only heals the disease but brings great peace to the mind. Compassion is the best healer. The most powerful medicine comes from developing compassion for all living beings. Each time we meditate on compassion for all living being we accumulate infinite merit, the cause of happiness and success; each time we practice meditation for the benefit of all living beings we perform ultimate healing."
Cost: 275 US$ - This includes all food, accommodation in dormitory and course material for this two week retreat. Accommodation is limited, so early booking is recommended - Book directly here
Tara - The Compassionate and Wishfulfilling Mother
7- Day Green Tara Retreat with Ven. Namgyel
"Tara can solve many problems in your day-to-day life: liberate you from untimely death, help you recover from disease, bring you success in business, help you to find a job, bring you wealth." - Lama Zopa Rinpoche
July 20 - 27
This one week retreat is open to everyone who has done an introductory course into Buddhism and has taken refuge. If you have received a Green Tara Initiation with a retreat commitment - this is a great opportunity to fulfill your commitment. The retreat will start in the evening of the first day, and finish after lunch on the last day. The sessions will be based on the Tara sadhana.
A Tara Initiation might be offered.
This is what Lama Zopa Rinpoche says about the benefits of practising Tara
"Somehow, naturally, even grown-ups call their mother when there is some really serious pain or problem. However, Tara is much closer to you than a mother. Tara is so quick to grant help for success in obtaining the ultimate happiness of enlightenment. Regarding the benefits of the 21 Tara's prayer and the Tara mantra, that is the benefit. You will be protected from fear and danger. Your wishes, whatever they are, will succeed. You receive so much good fortune, so much cause of happiness. It also stops suffering rebirths in your next lives. You receive initiations from many millions of Buddhas, and then you go to enlightenment. There are even many temporal benefits from doing Tara practice. Tara can solve many problems in your day-to-day life: liberate you from untimely death, help you recover from disease, bring you success in business, help you to find a job, bring you wealth. When there is a really serious problem, such as some heavy disease with the danger of death, if you really come to rely upon Tara, it is a very common experience that you get liberated from that problem. By doing Tara practice, you recover from that disease. You can have whatever happiness of this life you wish by doing the 21 Taras prayer and reciting Tara mantras."
This one week retreat is open to everyone who has done an introductory course into Buddhism and has taken refuge. If you have received a Green Tara Initiation with a retreat commitment - this is a great opportunity to fulfill your commitment. The retreat will start in the evening of the first day, and finish after lunch on the last day. The sessions will be based on the Tara sadhana.
A Tara Initiation might be offered.
This is what Lama Zopa Rinpoche says about the benefits of practising Tara
"Somehow, naturally, even grown-ups call their mother when there is some really serious pain or problem. However, Tara is much closer to you than a mother. Tara is so quick to grant help for success in obtaining the ultimate happiness of enlightenment. Regarding the benefits of the 21 Tara's prayer and the Tara mantra, that is the benefit. You will be protected from fear and danger. Your wishes, whatever they are, will succeed. You receive so much good fortune, so much cause of happiness. It also stops suffering rebirths in your next lives. You receive initiations from many millions of Buddhas, and then you go to enlightenment. There are even many temporal benefits from doing Tara practice. Tara can solve many problems in your day-to-day life: liberate you from untimely death, help you recover from disease, bring you success in business, help you to find a job, bring you wealth. When there is a really serious problem, such as some heavy disease with the danger of death, if you really come to rely upon Tara, it is a very common experience that you get liberated from that problem. By doing Tara practice, you recover from that disease. You can have whatever happiness of this life you wish by doing the 21 Taras prayer and reciting Tara mantras."
Cost: 125 US$ This includes food and accommodation in dormitory and the necesary prayers and Sadhana.
Booking is recommended
Introductory Reiki Courses
Teacher: Ven. Losang Namgyel (Reiki Master)
During July and August Ven. Namgyel will teaching Reiki Basic level over two days. The course starts in the late afternoon of the first day and finishes after lunch on the third day.
Reiki I Level
Dates: July 17/18/19
July 29/30/31
August 13/14/15
Cost: 150 US$ this includes accommodation in dormitory (2 nights), food, and extensive course material, including a manual.
Reiki II level
Date: 30 June 2007
Cost 110 US$ this includes one overnight stay and food.
This one day workshop (between 10 am and 5 pm) includes the attunement and the use of symbols both for oneself and others and how to do distant Reiki. Pre-requisite is to have received the Reiki I attunement received by a Reiki teacher.
Book directly here
Nyung Ne - Fasting Retreat
During the month of Saka Dawa (Tib. 4th Month), Shakyamuni's Enlightenment and Paranirvana is commemorated. During this time traditionaly a two week Purification retreat is held at both the Kopan Nunnery and Monastery under the guidance of experienced practitioners. The retreat focuses on the practice of the Compassionate Buddha chenrezig. Iti ncludes many prostratons and prayers, with silence and abstinence from all food and drink every other day. Accommodation is provided in simple dormitories.
The retreat consist of 8 sets of two days, and you can attend as many sets as you like.
- Dates for Nyung ne at Kopan nunnery: June 3 - June 19th
- Dates for Nyung Ne at kopan Monastery: June 18/19
Cost: 10 US$ per two day session
Please schedule your arrival for the day before the retreat starts.
- Booking is recommended - Book directly here
Offering 300,000 Waterbowls - Group Retreat at the Kopan Nunnery
Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery is hosting again this year a waterbowl group retreat during which 300,000 waterbowls will be offered. The accommodation will be at the nunnery in single and double rooms. A group of nuns will assist the retreaters.
If you have the commitment of waterbowl offerings, this is it for you. Lama Zopa Rinpoche says each retreater gains the merit of the sum of all the waterbowls offered.
The retreat is open to anyone who is interested and those who have the practice commitment.
The retreat will start with a pilgrimage to some of the holy places in the Kathmandu Valley to accummulate merit and remove obstacles to the retreat.
- Date: June 23 - July 2
Cost: 500 US$ - This includes food, accommodation in comfortable rooms, all the setup cost for the retreat, such as waterbowls, tables, buckets, etc. An Additonal 35 US$ will pay for the expenses of the pilgrimage. Payment for the pilgrimage is to be made in Nepal.
THE BENEFITS OF MAKING WATER BOWL OFFERINGS
"When you place one bowl of water in front of the Buddha Statue, it becomes the cause for achieving Enlightenment and even just visualized, the effect is the same. The water offering becomes the cause for Enlightenment, and the merit gained is unbelievable.
Offering water bowls is a simple practice that can be done every day, and is an excellent way to accumulate extensive merits. The reason we need merit is to be able to transform our mind into the Dharma, and develop our mind on the path to Nirvana and Enlightenment. There is no way to have Dharma realizations without accumulating merits. If there is no merit, or positive potential, meditating on the words of Dharma alone cannot change the mind. It is like planting a seed in dry soil and wishing for it to grow, without the necessary water and nutrients – nothing much happens. The Dharma remains as intellectual knowledge but never enters one’s heart. - Lama Zopa Rinpoche
One Month Lam Rim Meditation Course
Change of Date - November 19 - December 19
The most precious event during the November course is the teaching by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
To give all course participants the opportunity to listen to these teachings, we had to delay the start of the course by ten days (due to some previous commitments by Lama Zopa Rinpoche).
Rinpoche will as usual teach for the last tend days of the course. Rinpoche has agreed to give the following initiations:
- Vajrasattva Initiation (commitment of retreat or 28 mantras daily for life)
- Tara Initiation (possibly 21 Taras)
- Chenrezig Initiation
The registration for the one month course in 2008 starts in July 2008 - Please do not send any registration or deposit befor that date, as it will not be accepted.
Three Month Vajrasattva Retreat 2009
Following the annual one month meditation course is the annual three-month Vajrasattva retreat.
The retreat starts around mid January. The exact date of the retreat has not yet been set. Please check again later in the year. The retreat follows a strict schedule of 4 sessions a day (no teachings)
Conditions of attendance:
The retreat is open only to students who have previously attended the one month meditation course at Kopan, or have done a similar Lam Rim course, such as the FPMT Discovering Buddhism course in a center or as home study. Preferably the applicant should have received the Vajrasattva Initiaton with commitment to do retreat.
Applications are accepted from September 2008. If you are planing to attend the one month course this year (2008) you can book during this course.
- For information and registration form, please contact us or email : kopan@mail.com.np
A Place for Rest and reflection
In between courses, you are welcome to stay at Kopan and enjoy the peace and quiet ina psiritual environment. You can participate in theteachings, meditations and discussion daily at 10 am, enjoy our wonderful library, or attend the prayersession of the monks.
We recommend that you book accommodation for your private stay in advance.