Triten Norbutse Monastery

The Triten-Norbutse-monastery in Kathmandu/Nepal is one of the two most important Yungdrung-Bon monastic seats in exile.

Here monks are provided with a complete education in Bon theory and practise. On completion a geshe title is awarded. Spiritual head is H. E. Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche. The monastery is also a base for many social and caritative activities for the benefit of Bonpos in Tibet and in exile and constitutes one of the most important institutions to safeguard the teachings of this tradition. Activities in Europe and academic projects are also located here.

We are in need of donations for:

• a medical inhouse ambulance
• medical care for around 200 monks
• improvement of nutrition
• improvement of sanitary facilities
• construction of a guest house
• sponsorship of monks (80 monks 200 are younger than 19 years)
• the establishment of a Bon thanka art school

The original Triten Norbutse monastery was founded in the 14th century A.D In the province of Tsang in central Tibet by Nyame Sherab Gyaltsen. The monastery was supported by various honorable Bonpo village neighbours and remained for many centuries, famed for the study and practise of the mother tantra.
In the 20th century Triten Norbutse monastery was totally destroyed by the Chinese army.

In 1977 history of the present Triten Norbutse monastery began when Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche of Menri monastery in India travelled to Swayambhu near Kathmandu to find suitable land for a monastery which could serve the Bönpo community in Nepal.

Triten Norbutse Kloster
The construction of a Bön monastery in Nepal was necessary for three main reasons:

1. The Bönpo culture and religion outside Tibet had to be maintained at a time during which it could not be practised inside Tibet because of the Chinese occupation.

2. The precedence to build the monastery near the Swayambu-Stupa, in such a wounderful way blessed by Tönpa Shenrab and

3. To offer the Bönpos of Dolpo and Mustang, outer regions of Nepal, the possibility to obtain a training in their religion. Although there existed more than 20 small Bön monasteries in these areas, none of them could offer this possibility.

The precedence to build the monastery near the swayambu-Stupa, in such a wounderful way blessed by Tonpa Shenrab and To offer the Bonpos of Dolpo and Mustang, outer regions of Nepal, the possibility to obtain training in their religion. Although more than 20 small Bon monasteries existed in these areas, none of them could offer zhis possibility.