Pal Ngagyur Shedrup Dojoling
Nyingmapa Wishfulfilling Center for Study and Practice
Nestled on the northeastern edge of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, Pal Ngagyur Shedrup Dojoling is a traditional center for Buddhist study, meditation, and practice in the Nyingma Ancient Translation tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is dedicated to preserving and transmitting the authentic teachings of His Holiness Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche and the lineage of its founder, Venerable Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche.
The monastery is home to a community of monks and ngakpas who come from diverse Himalayan regions, including southern India, Sikkim, the remote Mugum Valley of northwestern Nepal, and the Indian Himalayan regions of Kinnaur, Spiti, and Himachal Pradesh. Together, they devote their lives to Buddhist education, meditation, ritual practice, and preserving the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of Tibet.
Our History
Pal Ngagyur Shedrup Dojoling was founded by Venerable Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche on April 9, 1974, in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, India, near Dharamsala, the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 1975, the center relocated to Mussoorie now in Uttarakhand, India. At the request of His Holiness Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, it moved to Nepal in 1977.
From 1977 until 1995, the center was based in Boudhanath, Kathmandu. In 1995, the present monastery and shedra were established in the peaceful village of Sundarijal, on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, surrounded by the foothills of the Himalayas.
Today, Pal Ngagyur Shedrup Dojoling is home to more than sixty monks and several ngakpas under the spiritual leadership of Tulku Jigme Norbu Rinpoche, the grandson and Dharma heir of Venerable Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche.
The monastery is generously supported by The Khetsun Foundation, a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to preserving the Dudjom lineage and supporting Buddhist education and practice.
The Monastery and Shedra
As its name suggests, Pal Ngagyur Shedrup Dojoling serves as both a shedra Buddhist institute of higher learning and a monastery devoted to contemplative practice. The monastery complex consists of five principal buildings that provide an ideal environment for both rigorous study and spiritual cultivation.
Students receive comprehensive training in:
* Buddhist Sutra and Tantra
* Buddhist philosophy
* Meditation and contemplative practice
* Tibetan language, literature, and poetry
* Tibetan Buddhist history
* Tibetan medicine
* Tibetan astrology
* Sacred ritual dance Cham
* Mandala construction and ritual arts
Although the monastery embraces the nonsectarian Rimé spirit of Tibetan Buddhism, its primary curriculum focuses on the teachings of the Nyingma School, particularly the profound traditions of the Dudjom Tersar New Treasure Cycle and the Longchen Nyingtik \(Heart\-Essence of the Vast Expanse\).
Traditional Monastic Education
The shedra provides a comprehensive three-stage educational program:
Pre-Shedra Program
Young novice monks receive foundational training that prepares them for formal Buddhist studies.
Nine-Year Shedra Program
Students undertake an intensive curriculum in Buddhist philosophy, scriptures, logic, debate, and practice, leading to full monastic ordination and scholastic certification within the Nyingma tradition.
Khenpo Program
Outstanding graduates may continue advanced studies leading to the prestigious Khenpo degree, recognizing exceptional scholarship.
Alongside traditional Buddhist education, monks also study English and, when appropriate, other modern academic subjects to support their ability to share the Dharma internationally.
Daily Practice
Study and practice are inseparable within the Nyingma tradition. Every monk and ngakpa at Pal Ngagyur Shedrup Dojoling maintains a daily discipline of meditation, and ritual activities.
The monastery conducts daily morning and evening pujas in the main temple, while special monthly ceremonies include:
* Guru Rinpoche Tsok — 10th day of each Tibetan lunar month
* Dakini Tsok — 25th day of each Tibetan lunar month
Sponsors and devotees are warmly invited to participate by making offerings dedicated to these monthly tsok ceremonies through The Khetsun Foundation.
Guest House
Pal Ngagyur Shedrup Dojoling welcomes sincere Dharma students and practitioners who wish to deepen their study and meditation.
The monastery guest house offers simple, comfortable private rooms with shared bathrooms providing hot and cold running water on each floor. Guests are invited to join the monastic community for three daily vegetarian meals and afternoon tea in the communal dining hall.
For information regarding room availability and long-term stays, please contact the guest house supervisor:
Ngodrup Gyatso
Email: dudjom_institute@yahoo.com
