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Monday 08:00 - 16:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 16:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 16:00 Thursday 08:00 - 16:00 Friday 08:00 - 16:00

Rangjung Yeshe Institute

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Rangjung Yeshe Institute, located in Kathmandu Nepal, is a center for higher learning specializing in Buddhist Studies and Language immersion programs

This page is for current, previous, and prospective students of the Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Boudha, Kathmandu and for our online learning students, alumni, supporters and friends worldwide.

25/09/2026

Join us on Wednesday, September 30th for “Interpreting Intention: Vasubandhu's Hermeneutics in the Vyākhyāyukti” by Jae Pi Seung

In this talk, Jae Pi examines Buddhist hermeneutics through Vasubandhu’s Vyākhyāyukti. By analyzing the text’s hermeneutic methods and sample interpretations, she reconstructs Vasubandhu’s theoretical framework, which posits that understanding the Buddha’s intention requires both the proper application of exegetical methods and the cultivation of intellectual virtues. Ultimately, she explores how Vasubandhu’s account of hermeneutics illuminates the concept of the “scholar-practitioner.”

Jae Pi is a Ph.D. candidate in Religion at Princeton University and a Visiting Scholar at both Haverford College and the Rangjung Yeshe Institute (RYI). Her research focuses on hermeneutics, examining the methods and conditions required to understand others, whether they be texts or people. She holds an M.A. in Buddhist Studies from RYI and remains a longtime friend of the institution.

𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐄:
Wednesday 30th September
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM NPT
(On-Campus & Online)
Classroom 103

𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐃:
Zoom ID: 431 318 1117
Passcode: 108108

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Full details available here: https://ryi.org/news/pl-interpreting-intention-vasubandhus-hermeneutics-in-the-vyakhyayukti

24/09/2026

In Memoriam: Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma (1940 – 2026)

It is with deep sorrow that the Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute mourns the passing of Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma, founding Vice-Chancellor of Kathmandu University, on 23 September 2026 in Kathmandu, at the age of 86.

We remember Prof. Sharma with the deepest gratitude for his foresight, his generosity, and his lifelong conviction that quality education could transform our nation. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, to the rest of the Kathmandu University community, to all whose lives he has touched.

22/09/2026

Fall'26 Public Lecture Series at Rangjung Yeshe Institute!

Join scholars and researchers for a series of public lectures, a workshop, and a short course exploring Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and the study of consciousness.

Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates. Please note that schedule changes may occur; kindly check the news section of our website for the latest information.

18/09/2026

Check out our Spring ’27 Course Offerings!

The Spring 2027 semester runs from January 18 to April 30, 2027, with courses offered on campus, online, and asynchronously.

Have questions? Reach out to us at [email protected].

11/09/2026

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

As a student of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and a recipient of a Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK) Fellowship, studying at RYI was an unforgettable experience. Being surrounded by the language made a tremendous difference to my confidence and fluency. What makes RYI truly special is its vibrant learning community.

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09/09/2026

Join us on Wednesday, September 23rd for “The Unconscious Construction of our Collective Worlds: the Ālaya-vijñāna—bhājana-loka Nexus in Classical Yogācāra Buddhism” by Prof. William Waldron

We live in collective realities, such as cultures, religions, languages, or even species-specific worlds (loka)—think of bats, gnats, and hungry ghosts. Yet it is difficult to see just how thoroughly our experiences are constructed since most of these constructive processes occur unconsciously—think of ‘street smarts,’ how automatically and unreflectively we parse the world around us. Building on analyses in early Buddhism and Abhidharma, the Yogācāra school of Indian Mahāyāna Buddhism explored how the unconscious cognitive schemas (vāsanā, bīja, saṃskāra) that comprise the store-house consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna) help construct the way our collective worlds (bhājana-loka) are pre-configured, especially at the subliminal level. These analyses help us uncover and free ourselves from our pernicious collective illusions.

William Waldron has been teaching courses on Buddhism, Hinduism, and the Study of Religion at Middlebury College since 1996. He received a Ph. D. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Wisconsin, after working with native scholars in India, Nepal and Japan. His research in Indian Buddhism primarily focuses on Yogācāra Buddhism. He has published an introduction to Yogācāra (Making Sense of Mind-Only: Why Yogācāra Matters, 2023), a monograph on the ‘store-house consciousness’ (ālaya-vijñāna) (The Buddhist Unconscious, 2003) and numerous articles comparing Buddhist and modern theories of mind from evolutionary biology, cognitive science, and sociology.

𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐄:
Wednesday 23rd September
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM NPT
(On-Campus & Online)
Classroom 103

𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐃:
Zoom ID: 431 318 1117
Passcode: 108108

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Full details available here: https://ryi.org/news/pl-the-unconscious-construction-of-our-collective-worlds

04/09/2026

Today, the Rangjung Yeshe Institute (RYI) family comes together with heartfelt gratitude to celebrate the 75th birthday of our founder, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche.

Since its founding, RYI has been shaped by Rinpoche's vision and continued guidance, bringing together generations of students and scholars in the study of Buddhist philosophy and Himalayan languages.

On this special occasion, we offer our deepest wishes for Rinpoche's continued health, happiness, and long life.
Happy Birthday, Rinpoche! 🙏
Happy Founders Day!

02/09/2026

"There were moments when I questioned whether I would ever be able to master this language. Yet learning rarely follows a straight line. Gradually, as I progressed into the second semester, I began to recognize the internal logic and structure underlying Sanskrit grammar. The language slowly transformed from a collection of isolated rules into a coherent system.

This did not mean that Sanskrit suddenly became easy for me. I still make mistakes, forget forms, and encounter difficulties. However, the difference is that I am no longer lost or confused. More importantly, I have gained confidence in my ability to overcome obstacles and continue learning, even when the process feels slow and demanding."

To read Qian Gao full article “ Learning Is Not an Easy Journey ”

Please click the link below:
https://studentblog.ryi.org/2026/08/07/learning-is-not-an-easy-journey/

27/08/2026

A Message from Our Principal, Dr. Thomas Doctor

24/08/2026

Join Us for Weekly Meditation – Fall 2026

The weekly meditation class begins Friday, September 4, 2026. Lopon Karma Jangchup Gyaltsen will teach calm abiding meditation (śamatha in Sanskrit or Shi-ne in Tibetan). During the fifty-minute long sessions we will alternate between receiving instructions and applying them in practice. Join us in person (room 104) or online with the links below. This class is FREE and all are welcome.

Address

Kathmandu

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 16:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 16:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 16:00
Thursday	08:00 - 16:00
Friday	08:00 - 16:00

Telephone

+97714915975

Website

https://linktr.ee/rangjungyesheinstitute

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