Tergar Monastery in Bodhgaya

Tergar Institute was founded by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche to provide interested individuals with an opportunity to deepen their understanding and experience of the Buddhist teachings. He envisioned the institute as a place to study the classic subjects of the Buddhist tradition, to learn and practice meditation, and to study the Tibetan language.

At the Heart of the Buddhist World

The institute is located at Tergar Monastery in Bodhgaya, India, just minutes away from the spot where the Buddha attained enlightenment. In addition to its role as the home of the Tergar Institute, Tergar monastery is also headquarters of the Kagyu Monlam, which ends just before the institute's classes begin. On a rotating basis, Tergar Monastery is also home to the Kagyu Winter Debate, the Karma Gön Chö.

Uniting Theory & Practice

The institute’s programs focus on the integration of theory and practice. Each session includes both theory based classes and teachings on meditation that enable students to transform theory into living experience. Ample time is allotted for study and discussion, as well as group and individual meditation practice. For those interested in learning the Tibetan language, the institute also offers a unique opportunity to study classical Tibetan with experienced translators and teachers.

17th Gwalwang Karmapa arrives Tergar Temple in Bodhgaya

After a one week stay in Sarnath, His Holiness arrived at Tergar Monastery in Bodhgaya on November 17 at 2PM. Waiting for nearly two and a half hours in the midday sun without shade was no easy task. But a chance to receive the Gwalwang Karmapa for the 25th Kagyu Monlam in Bodhgaya is a significant event.

As the narrow and dusty road was watered down in preparation for his arrival, the 600 monks who are staying at Tergar for Karma Guncho prepared to receive His Holiness with ritual ceremony. As the cavalcade of SUV jeeps drove up the road one after another, white katas cascaded down from red robed monks, nuns and the lay devotees.

As his jeep drove up, His Holiness looked to his left at all the monastics lined up to greet him and when he arrived in front of the monastery, the Gwalwang Karmapa got out, walked up the steps into the shrinehall and offered a kata and prostrations to the Buddha before him. The crowd of people waiting everywhere swarmed to get a closer glimpse. When His Holiness disappeared into private quarters for lunch, the question was visible on many faces: when can we see His Holiness again?

Kagyu Winter Debatesn in Tergar Temple

This year, Tergar Monastery will host His Holiness the 17^thKarmapa as he presides over a meeting of many khenpos and shedra students of the Karma Kagyu lineage, who will participate in the Annual Kagyu Winter Debate (Karma Gön Chö). This gathering will be held in December of 2008. For one month, monks and khenpos from many Kagyu shedras will debate one another, prior to the Kagyu Monlam.