Kopan Nunnery

Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche founded the Nunnery, from the Khumbu region in Nepal and Lama Thubten Yeshe, a Tibetan Lama who fled from Tibet in 1959.  They met in a Tibetan refugee camp in India.   Lama Yeshe passed away in 1984, and his incarnation, Lama Osel, a Spanish boy, is living and studying in Sera Monastery in South India. 

In 1975 Lama Yeshe brought the first nuns to Kopan from Solo Khumbu, where they were staying after having fled Tibet for a life that allowed them to practice their religious beliefs openly and freely.  In the beginning, the nuns, around 25 in number, stayed at the Kopan Monastery. 

In 1980 Lama Zopa Rinpoche asked one of the nuns, Ven. Tsenla, to start fund raising for a nunnery, and in 1993 the nuns finally moved into their own building.                                       

Now there are about 160 nuns living there.  The nuns come from various areas of Nepal, as well as Tibet, India and Mongolia.  They receive the same education as the monks, including all philosophical studies as well as training in Buddhist rituals.  They are fully trained in the art of sand mandala construction, and in their prayer hall there are the mandala on display of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion.  The nuns are also well know for their beautiful chanting, and they have published cassettes of their chants. Recently a special building was completed with all the facilities for a three-year retreat. 

At present there are no facilities for visitors at the nunnery, but there are plans to build a small guesthouse sometime in the future.

Address:          

Khachoe Ghaky Ling Nunnery

P.O. Box 817,

Kathmandu, Nepal

Phone:481268

Fax: (1 977) 481 591  (Daytime hours)

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