Some insights on Kapan Gompa

Kapan Gompa (Kapan Monastery) is situated on the outskirts of Kathmandu, near Boudhanath. It is a constituent of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a network of Gelungpa Dharma centers. Kopan Gompa also served as its headquarters once upon the timeline.

The foundation stone of this Gompa was placed by FPMT’s founders. The property was bought from Nepal’s royal astrologer in 1969 by Lamas Thubten Zopa Rinpoche and Thubten Yeshe. Since it was build on the hill of Kapan, it was also named Kapan Gompa.

This place has especially been famous because of the teaching of Buddhism that it delivers. It has been more famous amongst Western seekers. A month long meditation course was held at Kapan Gompa which was the first meditation course provided in the November of 1971. Courses as such generally is the combination of Lam Rim teaching, several sessions of guided meditation and informal discussion along with vegetarian diet.

Kapan Monastery now extends to Khachoe Gjakyii Link Nunnery (also called Kopan Nunnery). It was built by Lama Yeshe in 1979 to deliver practical and spiritual education modelled on the attainment of the monks themselves.

Kapan Monastery also has become popular amongst the tourists and the residents of Kathmandu alongside as a recreational destination. A sealed road extends directly to the monastery. However you can take a hike from Boudha if you want. The provision of formal schooling has enabled many young boys and girls who become monks get time-suited education. Science, Mathematics and other contemporary subject matters are taught in the monastery just like conventional schooling.

Kapan Gompa was open to visitors all the week once, but because of the overwhelming number of the visitors that visit the monastery, there has been some restrictions to the the entry. The monastery consists of a library where you will find Dharma related books. It also has a restaurant serving good food viewing the Kathmandu Valley and a beautiful garden with solar lamps for the evening. During special events and Pujas, large number of devotees go up to the monastery to pay homage and receive homage.

You might want to take a stroll along the ridge to visit Phulhari Gompa which is another monatery nearby sitting up on a higher hill next to Kapan Monastary. It is less than an hour’s hike. Between these two monastery there is Vajrayan Monastery. If you admire Thanka Paintings, Phulhari Gompa is worth a visit. The entire facade and interior halls are covered with magnificient Thanka Paintings. The structure of Fullari Gompa was designed by an American architect who was also a Buddhist monk who has mix mactched the eastern and western architecture to give a magnificient and sound feel to it.