Establishment

TheNgagyur Nyingma Institute (Shedra) was founded on the 17th of February 1978 by H.H. Drubwang Penor Rinpoche as a charitable center of learning. Its mission is to benefit all beings by preserving and propagating the teachings of Buddha in general and the unique Nyingma Tradition in particular. It forms an integral part of Namdröling Monastery, the mother Palyul monastery in India. Since its establishment in 1978 as a small center of learning, NNI has developed fast, making swift progress both in academic and administrative aspects.

Through the indomitable will and unwavering, selfless effort of H.H. Penor Rinpoche and the service rendered by its industrious members, NNI has eventually surged to rank among the premier Buddhist centers of learning in the world. It is at present the largest Tibetan monastic center of Buddhist education administered as a regular college. Due to its growing reputation as an up­to­date and lively school of advanced Buddhist studies and Tibetan literature, the Institute is attracting hundreds of scholars from many Buddhist countries every year.

H.H. Dalai Lama also blesses NNI with occasional visits when he comes to Bylakuppe. During his past visits, he graciously consented to witness the display of Dharma discourses, debates, and compositions written by the students. H.H. Dalai Lama highly appreciated the performance of NNI and thanked Penor Rinpoche for his unflinching enterprise and dedication to bring the Institute up to its present form. His compliments here and elsewhere have helped the Institute earn much popularity among the Tibetan communities.

Enactment of the Institution

The enactment of the written ordinance of the Institute took place in January, 1987, during the Convention of Nyingma Lamas, Khenpos, and scholars held in Namdröling Monastery. Presided by H.H. Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche and H.H. Penor Rinpoche, the Convention discussed and drafted the above mentioned rules and regulations regarding academic course, administration, discipline, routine etc. They have sought hard to establish an institution that is up­to­date, practicable, lively, constructive and yet perfectly complying with the age­old Buddhist ethics. The meeting and its deliberations have thus become a milestone in the history of the Institute rendering a great impetus to the swift progress that NNI has seen so far and sees today. The following are some of the distinguished participants of the Convention:

H.H. Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche (The then Supreme Head of Nyingma Tradition) H.H. Penor Rinpoche (The then only Head of Palyul Tradition) Khenpo Pema Sherab,NNI Khenpo Namdröl, NNI Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso, NNI Khentrul Gyelse Rinpoche, Mindrölling Monastery. Khenpo Rigzin, CIHTS, Varanasi. Acharya Ugyen Tenzin, CIHTS, Varanasi. Acharya Choewang, Nyingma College, Gongtok, Sikkim. Lama Jamgye, Namdröling Monastery. Acharya Ugyen Dorjee, Namdröling Monastery. Acharya Perna Odsel, Namdröling Monastery. Acharya Drakpa, Namdröling Monastery.

Every new development that has cropped up since 1987 pertaining to the Institute and its regulations are herein augmented to make the Prospectus book from which this sitelet was created up-to-date. All information written in this website correspond to the facts and figures prevailing during mid of the 1995 session.

May this school overflow with the holy congregation, Of spiritualized saints and savants. May the light of Dharma pervade and shine, Through the pursuit of learning and practice.