Nalanda Buddhist Institute, Bhutan

Nalanda Buddhist Institute
Coordinates:	27°32′27″N 89°49′26″E / 27.54083°N 89.82389°E / 27.54083; 89.82389
Monastery information
Location	Bhutan
Founded by	Je Shakya Rinchen
Founded	1754
Type	Tibetan Buddhist
Sect	Kagyu
Lineage	Sothhern Drukpa Kagyu
Head Lama	Sonam Tshewang, principal

Nalanda view from Dochu La

Nalanda Buddhist Institute, also known locally as Daley Goenpa or Dalida, is a Buddhist monastic school (shedra) located in western part of Punakha Dzongkhag (district) of the Kingdom of Bhutan, below Talo monastery and above Walakha. It is about 20 mins drive from the main highway to Punakha, before reaching Kuruthang from the Metsina junction. It can be seen from Dochula pass and from Tinleygang on the main East-West highway.

Principal Sonam Tshewang

The Founding of Nalanda

In 1754, the 9th Je Khenpo, Shakya Rinchen, considered to be a reincarnation of Rechungpa, founded the monastery of Nalanda here below Talo. He built it as a second Nalanda, the original being in Magadha, near Patna in the present day state of Bihar, India.

The site of the ancient Nalanda university in India is considered to be very holy by the Bhutanese and so many tried to visit it at least once during their lives. But in Bhutan, there were very few roads and so it was very difficult to get to India, and even when they got there, they faced many obstacles including culture, food, language and were at risk at getting robbed. So he built this second Nalanda in Bhutan.

Shaja Rinchen Rinpoche chose this site after seeing a number of auspicious signs. The main monk body has a tradition of spending the winter months in Punakha Dzong, and the summer months in Thimphu. Once whilst travelling for the winter, he saw eight vultures flying to this spot, which he thought were the eight scholars of the original Nalanda Buddhist Institute in India. And this was confirmed when they appeared to him in a dream and gave a teaching to him, so he came to the place and saw more good signs.

During the construction of the original temple, he saw eight Indians in a valley adjacent to the site (see story of the Eight Disappearing Indians)

The first monastery was a single storey, and after some time, Jambayshinyen, His Holiness the Je Khenpo of the time, built a second storey.

During Shaja Rinchen Rinpoche’s life, the monastery was used as an institute for teaching, but after he died, the teaching stopped. Another lama came and restarted the teaching but this also ceased once he died.

In 1991, His Majesty, the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, ordered for the teaching to start again, and 2 lopens began with 20 monks.

Over time the number of lopens and students has increased, until now, 2008, when there are 6 lopens, and 105 students, ranging from 8 to 28 years of age. Shaja Rinchen Rinpoche saw eight Indians in the valley adjacent to the site whilst building the temple.

He soon realised that they must be the eight scholars of the original Nalanda So he went back to find them, but they had disappeared and this confirmed to him that they were indeed the scholars.

So to thank them for their presence, he commissioned eight small clay statues which are now inside the old shrine room of the upper lhakang.

If you get married in the second Nalanda, it is equivalent to them getting married in the original Nalanda.

Gandey Jesa Dor (Heaven Viewing Rock)

Gelwang Shaja Rinchen Rinpoche was sitting on a big stone and appreciating the scenery when he saw a vision of Tushitta Heaven (Ganden).

So he called his two main disciples Je Kuenga and Je Yuenten, and sat them on the stone and held them by the waist whilst they looked at the same spot, and they also saw it.

Tulku (Trulku -reincarnation)

The reincarnation of Gyelwang Tenpi Ningchey Rinpoche, currently resides at Nalanda Buddhist Institute. The reincarnation of the Shabrung's speech (mind and body are reincarnated in other Tulkus), is currently attending (mainstream) secondary school in Paro, and will return to his monastic studies on completion.

Gyelwang Tenpi Ningchey Rinpoche

Learning English

Madam Roopa volunteer teacher for senior class

The monks have English class twice a day, 6 days a week. The senior English group welcomes visitors to come and help them with their conversation practice and to learn about where their country and culture. Evening class is from 5-6pm

Junior class question time

To visit Nalanda, see map link: [1]

To volunteer at Nalanda - see http://www.idealist.org/view/volop/34PXHpNfBK6W4

Association for Children's Welfare (Bhutan)

Khenpo Tshewang is also General Secretary of the Association for Children's Welfare, a non-profit organisation that supports economically disadvantaged children in completing their basic education.