Namgyal Monastery, Ithaca

Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies serves as the North American Seat of Namgyal Monastery and a Tibetan Buddhist theological seminary. Located in Ithaca, it operates as an extension of the Dalai Lama’s monastery, which historically resided within the Potala Palace before relocating to Dharamsala in 1959 alongside the Tibetan government-in-exile. As a branch of the Gelugpa monastic tradition, Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca follows the spiritual lineage and ritual practices associated with Tibetan Buddhism.

The monastery’s patron and highest authority is the Dalai Lama, while the seminary benefits from his guidance as a consultant. Monks from Dharamsala rotate in and out of Ithaca, typically maintaining a small resident group of about five at a time. The monastery is also known for sending teams of Tibetan monks on tour to construct intricate sand mandalas, an ancient Buddhist practice.

Founded in 1992 on the Dalai Lama’s advice, Namgyal Institute was led by Sidney Piburn, with the late Pema Losang Chogyen as an early inspiration. It offers a three-year program in Tibetan language, Buddhist philosophy, and meditation, designed partly by the Dalai Lama for Western dharma practitioners. While non-degree granting, it provides intensive Gelugpa-based study open to other lineages.

Instruction at Namgyal is provided by resident monks as well as visiting scholars, and the institute hosts a variety of dharma-related activities, including pujas, retreats, workshops, and dharma talks. Originally housed in a Victorian building on Aurora Street, the monastery has since moved into a Tibetan-style temple complex, Du Khor Choe Ling (Kalachakra Center).

Through its spiritual and educational programs, Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca remains a significant center for Tibetan Buddhist studies in North America.