Top Monasteries for a Spiritual Experience in Nepal.

Nepal, the spiritual and highest nation of the entire world, is a abode for humans for mental peace and spirituality. Nepalese monasteries are not just spiritual monasteries but study monasteries, meditation halls, and reflection halls. Nepalese monasteries welcome humans to live at their complex except at a few places so that they can live the life of a monastic, study Buddhism, and wake up to the real world.

Some of the top-rated monasteries where you can stay in residence on your spiritual retreat are listed below:

1. Kopan Monastery – Kathmandu

Kopan Monastery is one of the extremely gorgeous hill overshadowing valley below, was founded in the 1960s by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche and now it is a most celebrated Buddhist study and meditation centre. It’s a Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism with barely any monks and nuns. The serene atmosphere, disrupted only during daytime, is paradise for the hunter of soul.

Kopan is famous for one-month meditation retreats in which one can study full Buddhist philosophy, mindfulness, and self-development. There are peaceful gardens, prayer halls, and a library of books of Buddhist teachings. One has a chance to opt for morning meditation, witnessing the monks, and immersion into the Buddhist way of life. There are simple meals in the mess hall. Here, there is a culture of peaceful contemplation and refuge from the stress of modern existence.

Source- Google

Things to Do at Kopan Monastery:

1. One-month retreat stay: Experience a unique practice of Buddhist philosophy and meditation, i.e., karma, compassion, and mindfulness in everyday life.
2. Early morning prayer and chanting ceremony: See real religious practice of monks praying together in congregation from sacred Tibetan scriptures in huge assembly halls.
3. Garden meditation: Meditate in peaceful, well-manicured gardens with panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley and remain calm from inner core.
4. Prayer and chanting session: Pray and learn the fundamentals of Buddhist philosophy from inner experts who are trained and learn how to implement that in everyday life as well.
5. Visit the monastery library: Study Buddhism and become acquainted with monks and study Buddhist philosophy in depth.
   

2. Neydo Tashi Choeling Monastery – Pharping

Neydo Tashi Choeling Monastery is found in Pharping village town, a rural town, and a perfect location for a retreat and meditation holiday.

It is a Neydo Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist monastery and houses about 200 monks. This is one of the very few monastries that has a guesthouse accomodation. The guesthouse monastic income is used for feeding and the education of the monks. The peaceful environment, combined with officially approved meditational hours spent within the monastery, made it good for introspection. Pharping, sacred caves of which and where meditation was done by Guru Rinpoche, lies close by to stimulate the religious fervor. The monastery also has a peaceful prayer hall with paintings and photographs which stimulate the peaceful ambiance. Guided meditation, Buddhist debate, and veg lunch cooked by monks are also being arranged here.

Source- Google

Things to do in Neydo Monastery:

• Teaching practice of meditation: Gain the experience of meditational breathing and presence meditation from experienced monks.
• Visit to the sacred cave: Have the opportunity to visit the Asura Cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated and feel the sacrosanctity of the cave yourself.
• Contemplation silence later on: Get the opportunity to be close to the monastic community’s peace and sit and reflect in silence on life.
• Learn Buddhist philosophy: Resident monks can learn the deep philosophy and teaching of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Stay in the monastery guesthouse: Be a heart-mind monk but support monastery school programs.

3. Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery – Namo Buddha

Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery is located at Namo Buddha, Nepal’s most sacred Buddhist pilgrim destination. It is here that the former life Buddha gave his own flesh body to a hungry tigress and two cubs as an example of unexcelled compassion.

Thrangu Rinpoche’s monastery is on the hill where village stretches in all directions. It is a meditation retreat monastery and study center where Buddhist monks and Buddhist order pilgrims from around the globe are shelter. The monastery majestically constructed with gold-plated apex, beautifully completed wall murals, and a huge spacious prayer hall. Stay there would be something spiritual more with a facility to organize meditation retreats, question-and-answer with the monks, and studying Tibetan Buddhist way of life. The peaceful atmosphere, combine with the majestic sunrise and sunset view, also offer the best relaxation and meditation space.

Source- Google

Activities at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery:

• Sit at sacred spot: Make offerings by offering something at the sacred spot where Buddha gave his body to a starving tigress.
• Hidden seminars: Study in true seclusion within secret retreats by very senior monks.
• Monastery remains and murals: Uncover stunning Buddhist murals and very ancient holy remains within the monastery.
• Panoramic hikes: Stroll along nearby trails with Himalayan sceneries and peaceful atmosphere.
• Buddhist chanting: Listen or take part in daily intensive monk chanting practices.

4. Tergar Osel Ling Monastery – Kathmandu

Tergar Osel Ling Monastery is at peaceful Nagarjun hills of Kathmandu which is suitable for worshipful meditation practice.

World-famous celebrity Buddhist guru Mingyur Rinpoche runs Tergar Osel Ling Monastery under awareness and consciousness of training with a dash of humor. Even though one would effectively learn, well, elsewhere also at other monasteries similarly, silent retreat practicum of Osel Ling meditation retreat precedes solemn ordaining of practitioners to be world-free. Among greens, so among quiet and silence of mind too. Meditations are to be respected, the wisdom of the ancient meditators is to be followed, and prayer can be substituted. Thinking space and being space are luxury of simple monastic life of the monk. For others too, who would like to explore more into meditation, Tergar Osel Ling will take care.

Source- Google

What to do at Tergar Osel Ling Monastery:

• Silent retreats: Have silent days, become and form your awareness.
• Mindfulness meditation: Learn the day’s secret meditation by Buddhist monks that is best to practice every day.
• Morning prayers: Take classes to be accompanied by monastic chant and initiate the seasonal change.
• Nature walks: Enjoy a quiet walk in the calm forest that towers over the monastery and best for walking meditation.
• Dharma lessons audio: Listen to Buddhist instructors reciting Dharma lessons on various subjects such as impermanence, loving kindness, and calm mind.

5. Shechen Monastery – Boudhanath

Shechen Monastery, residence of Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, is situated close to the famous Boudhanath Stupa. It was establish by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Buddhist university. You can experience meditation retreat, and repository of Buddhist art here.

It is famous for heavenly painting sacred art, mythological murals, and beautiful frescoes. The Monastery Guesthouse provides the guest with accommodation if the guest is interest in learning the philosophy of Buddhism. Shechen Monastery monks’ quarters provide the daily prayer schedule, mind studies, and chanting. Some of the rituals are physical and even allowed to participate in some of them during religion classes. Moreover, it’s not very far from Boudhanath Stupa, one of the best Nepalese Buddhist pilgrims’ places, a monk is invited to either of them without any limit.

Things to Do at Shechen Monastery:

• Join and chant along with them: Become hypnotized by chanted rhythmic syllable of the sacred word in peaceful surroundings.
• Watch monastery painting: See orthodox Buddhist murals and frescoes.
• Spend a night in a guesthouse: Spend one dormitory night under monastic discipline with monks themselves.
• Tour the grounds around the Boudhanath Stupa: Circumambulate one of Nepal’s most sacred Buddhist pilgrimages, pray, and spin wheels of good karma.
• Learn Buddhist philosophy: Learn Buddhist philosophy from expert professors.

Benefits of Spiritual Retreats

1. Mental Clarity and Stress Reduction

Spiritual retreat is where the mind is made capable to free itself from distraction by something in the world. Awareness, inner peace, and contemplation are freedom for the rightful not to be concerned, not to be gloomy, and be inner peace in self. Inner peace and inner psychic space to heal so that they can provide to nourish the mind in wholeness’ stability, openness, and inner peace.

2. Self-Discovery and Personal Growth

Self-realization and self-actualization may be achieved but at global mud withdrawal boundaries. There, imagination had to do it by wishes and feeling. However, it has been constrained to personal development where potential life, values, and objectives were dreamed up through the decision process.

3. Improved Physical Health

Their training also involves yoga and walk training. Conventional therapy of detoxification and diet restriction management body composition of gut, sleep cycle, and energy levels. All above factors when imposed are accountable for body wellness as well as mind wellness in the long term.

4. Stronger Emotional Resilience

Spiritual retreats are the ways through which he or she is purified through trial and trial and wherein he or she triumphs and overcomes in life with humility and mercy. Moreover, consciousness, forgiveness, and gratitude sentimentalize a human being and make him or her tension-free, change his or her past life, and fill his or her life with hope.

5. Renewed Perspective on Life

When solution and problem of life is harmonize by one, then he/she becomes single life as intellectual and physical recharger. He/she achieves clear-mindedness and tranquil mind, and thereafter complete human being gets new state of mind, fresh mind, and consciousness.

Conclusion

Nepalese monasteries are the untainted spiritual renewal, hard-core meditation, and contemplation.  Nepalese monasteries are a trip from need to study Buddhist scriptures or need to flee twentieth-first-century reality from some grim place of nothingness. Each of the monasteries is precious in its own way, whether Neydo’s sacred grottos, Kopan’s mountain, or Tergar Osel Ling’s teaching. If you want to get your head around the perception-shifting work of attention, then Nepal monastery retreat, please contact us today at Happy Mountain Nepal, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. 

FAQS

1. Can everyone live in a Nepalese monastery?

   • Yes, most monasteries provide retreat, meditation, and study to visitors, some of which do not provide staying.

2. Do I need to be Buddhist to live in a monastery?

   • No, monasteries receive visitors of any religion who wish to develop inwardly, become peaceful and wise.

3. What is life there?

   • Life is simple rural with dorm-bedroom type accommodation, hardly any beds at all, and veg food.

4. Is there any rule to follow?

   • Yes, there are few rules to be followed while residing in the monastery, i.e., silence during meditation, simple dress, and day routine following.

5. How long can I stay in a monastery?

   • Stay can be for a few days to a week or two depending on programs and guest policy of the monastery.

6. What activities are include in the stay?

   • They include meditation, prayer group, Buddhist philosophy classes, silent retreats, and community services.

7. Are monastery stays free?

   • Most monasteries charge little for the things like  meal charge and accommodation charge in the majority of monasteries but donation monasteries are also present.
     

8. Do I need to be an experienced meditator to go to monasteries?
   

   • No, they also welcome beginners and the majority of monasteries also provide beginner courses for meditation and mindfulness.
     

9. Can I take phone and internet to the monastery?
   

   • There is not even a center or facility of the minimum use of the internet in most of the monasteries, and even digital immersion and detox there.
     

10. How do I book a stay at a monastery?

• You can contact the monastery directly through their website, email, or phone or book via Nepal spiritual retreat planners.