Raising funds to build a small monastery near Kathmandu for around fifteen young monks, and to bring clean water, a school and a monastery to four Buddhist villages in the Himalayan foothills.
Why a monastery
To propagate the Buddha’s teachings in the world
Khenpo’s students based in Kathmandu, Nepal, requested that he build a monastery in the city to ordain and teach monks from their village. Khenpo compassionately responded that he would start a small monastery and take around 15 young monks under his care. Khenpo and his main students are currently working to raise funds to support the costs of this vision.
In recent years, Khenpo has established a meaningful connection with several towns in a rural Himalayan region of Nepal. Due to modernization and their remote location, the residents there feel they are losing touch with their Buddhist roots, largely due to a lack of spiritual guidance and support. In response, Khenpo has begun planning to offer teachings in the village.
Furthermore, Khenpo and his sangha intend to help build a monastery, retreat center, and stupa, and to reestablish the Buddha-dharma in the area.
The towns in Nepal are very poor and receive little to no financial support from the government. What I am most concerned about is their Buddhist culture being forgotten and disappearing from these towns. It would be a great loss for the people if they lose the identity to which they belong. Therefore, I am primarily helping them by building a monastery and supporting monks at my place so they can study Buddhist scriptures and philosophy in the traditional way.Ven. Khenpo Rinpoche
Land estimation for the monastery
| Item | USD | Nepali rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Remote area, 25 Ropani | $450,000 | ≈ ₨62,640,000 |
| Remote area, per Ropani | $1,800 | ≈ ₨250,560 |
| Urban area, per Ana | $900 | ≈ ₨125,280 |
Notes
The estimates above are based on seasonal needs and expenses for 19 monks.
Actual costs may vary depending on circumstances, such as the number of residents, seasonal conditions, or location changes.
Site plan
Revitalizing the four Buddhist villages: water, education and Dharma
When Khenpo first met Netra Tamang, a man from a town near Kathmandu, Netra shared the challenges his village faced and asked for support. Over time, Khenpo was invited to speak with more residents and eventually visited the town himself.
He found that the area was in dire need of support. Around 7,000 people live there, but the village lacks essential infrastructure such as clean water resources, schools, and a monastery for religious practice.
We don’t have knowledge about Buddhism and have no Gumba (monastery). We are all Buddhists, from four villages. Sometimes monks come and give us prayer flags, but we don’t know how to use them or perform ceremonies.
Netra Tamang
Firstly, we have no available water resources. Secondly, there are no schools for children’s education. No one comes to our villages. It’s hard to bring anyone here.
Pal Dorje, son of an elderly resident
Generally, people in these towns show great interest in listening to the Dharma and appreciate it when monks hold ceremonies, even if in faraway places.
Ven. Khenpo Rinpoche
What the villages lack
During a visit facilitated by Netra Tamang, Ven. Khenpo Rinpoche observed that the villages, home to approximately 7,000 people, suffer from:
- No clean water resources
- No schools for children
- No monastery or access to Buddhist education
- Limited outside support due to remoteness
Despite these challenges, the villagers express strong interest in Dharma and maintain Buddhist identity, but lack knowledge and resources to practice.
Project goals
To provide essential infrastructure and spiritual support to four underserved Buddhist villages near Kathmandu, Nepal, focusing on clean water access, basic education, and a monastery for religious learning and practice.
Water security
Build a sustainable water supply system: a well, filtration, and storage.
Education infrastructure
Establish a primary-level school with basic facilities.
Spiritual revitalization
- Construct a monastery (Gumba) to serve as a center for rituals, teachings, and community events.
- Conduct basic Dharma training and regular ceremonies.
Help build the monastery, the school and the water supply
Every gift supports the land, the construction and the monks and villagers who will use them.
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