Founded in 1996 by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, under the guidance of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Nitartha Institute was initiated as a joint undertaking of Nitartha International and Gampo Abbey. Its goal is to transplant intact the teachings of the shedras (monastic colleges) of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, and to then transform the tradition for Western minds.
The long-range objectives of Nitartha Institute are twofold:
• First, to create a year-round educational institute that teaches the full range of Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana teachings. Training begins with either the two year Core Program or the four year Comprehensive Program, depending on the level of interest of the student. These programs provide all students with a systematic grounding in Buddhist philosophy. Students who have graduated from the Comprehensive Program can then continue into the Advanced Program to further developing their studies. At this time they can also enter the Teacher Training Program, with a course of study that will ultimately train Western acharyas (senior teachers) authorized to teach and represent the tradition. • Second, to publish definitive translations of the body of eight key Indian and Tibetan Buddhist texts and their commentaries, along with other related treatises of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions for use by students, practitioners, and scholars everywhere.
