Kopan Monastery

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Kopan Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Boudhanath, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal. It was founded by Lamas Thubten Yeshe and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, who bought the property from Nepal's royal astrologer in 1969. Its name comes from the name of the hill on which it was built. Kopan is currently one of the FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) centers in the world.

The name Kopan Monastery is generally used to refer to two separate institutions - the Monastery itself on top of Kopan hill and the Khachoe Ghakyi Ling Nunnery which is located nearby.

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[edit] FPMT Buddhism courses for foreigners

Though monastic life at Kopan resembles that of other Tibetan monasteries in many ways, it has become especially famous for teaching Buddhism to visiting Western foreigners. The first of what would become annual month-long (November-December) meditation courses was held in 1971, although Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa had been teaching Westerners since at least 1965. These courses generally combine traditional Lam Rim teachings with informal discussion, several periods of guided meditation, and a vegetarian diet.

Over the decades Kopan Monastery has become somewhat less important in the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, the organization of which it now forms part (though predating it by several years), as the FPMT has grown to encompass centers in numerous other countries. For example, Kopan no longer serves as its administrative headquarters. At the same time, various building projects have transformed Kopan's appearance. The gold roofs of its central temple have come to be used as an orienting landmark by pilots landing at Kathmandu's airport.

[edit] Courses taught at Kopan

Kopan Monastery has been famous for its teachings held routinely, especially for it's "November Course" taught in November by Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.

[edit] Discovering Buddhism

[edit] One Month Lam Rim Meditation Course (November Course)

[edit] Ultimate healing with Wisdom and Compassion Medicine Buddha Retreat

[edit] The Compassionate and Wishfulfilling Mother 7-day Green Tara Retreat

[edit] Introductory Reiki Courses

[edit] External links

[edit] See Also

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