Root Institute for Wisdom Culture

Root Institute for Wisdom Culture Root Institute is a socially-engaged Buddhist Dharma centre in Bodhgaya, India.

Root Institute for Wisdom Culture is a beautiful oasis of tranquility located near Bodhgaya in the north Indian state of Bihar. Each year our season runs from September through April, in which we offer Buddhist introductory and intermediate courses and retreats, as well as pilgrimages, in addition to more extensive studies of Buddhist philosophy in the FPMT Basic Programme. Because of our vicinity to the Mahabodhi Stupa, where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, Root Institute is a unique place for practice, contemplation and blessings. Many other sites where the Buddha meditated, taught, and resided are found throughout the local landscape, making Bodhgaya the most blessed place in the Buddhist world. We have a separate, secluded area ideal for individual and group retreats: our Stupa Garden of Compassion. People are also most welcome to come and stay with us just to enjoy a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere to unwind and rest.

Full moon day at the stupa. The 111,111 water bowl offerings have been completed and today was the last day of prayers t...
03/03/2026

Full moon day at the stupa. The 111,111 water bowl offerings have been completed and today was the last day of prayers to remove obstacles from the new incarnation of our precious Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s next incarnation. We made offerings and dedications and recited some chapters of the Sutra of Golden Light for world peace. Thank you to everyone who joined and supported us from around the world.. ✨🙏🏽✨

HAPPY DAY OF MIRACLES!Join us tonight at 5pm Indian time for the final session of our Losar Prayers to remove any obstac...
02/03/2026

HAPPY DAY OF MIRACLES!

Join us tonight at 5pm Indian time for the final session of our Losar Prayers to remove any obstacles for our precious Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s new incarnation.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqBPgpB4_xb062Zm6_H1n-WlTRciaOiCc&si=c00hc0TDWfv_BR-3hgjnul ov

A free copy of the text can be downloaded here:

https://www.rootinstitute.ngo/images/spiritual-programme/special-events/kzr-swift-return-losar-2026/From-the-Seat-of-Enlightenment-2026-Losar-Prayer-Booklet.pdf

Join us tonight and the next two evenings at 5pm Indian time for the final three sessions of our Losar Prayers for Kyabj...
01/03/2026

Join us tonight and the next two evenings at 5pm Indian time for the final three sessions of our Losar Prayers for Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche’s next incarnation.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqBPgpB4_xb062Zm6_H1n-WlTRciaOiCc&si=c00hc0TDWfv_BR-3hgjnul ov

A free copy of the text can be downloaded here:

https://www.rootinstitute.ngo/images/spiritual-programme/special-events/kzr-swift-return-losar-2026/From-the-Seat-of-Enlightenment-2026-Losar-Prayer-Booklet.pdf

We are sad to see Miguel leave us after 5 months of service at Root—such a sweet, kind presence. Thank you so much Migue...
27/02/2026

We are sad to see Miguel leave us after 5 months of service at Root—such a sweet, kind presence. Thank you so much Miguel 🫶 We will miss you—come back soon 🙏🏽

There are now just four sessions left of our Losar Prayers for Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche’s next incarnation.

Join us tomorrow online under the Bodhi at 5pm Indian time

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqBPgpB4_xb062Zm6_H1n-WlTRciaOiCc&si=c00hc0TDWfv_BR-3hgjnul ov

A free copy of the text can be downloaded here:

https://www.rootinstitute.ngo/images/spiritual-programme/special-events/kzr-swift-return-losar-2026/From-the-Seat-of-Enlightenment-2026-Losar-Prayer-Booklet.pdf

Photo: Miguel with Ven Dekyong our supercharged Root Institute resident nun.

Today Root Institute offered Tara puja at Namgyal Monastery on behalf of all the sponsors of the Festival of Lights and ...
25/02/2026

Today Root Institute offered Tara puja at Namgyal Monastery on behalf of all the sponsors of the Festival of Lights and Merits. ✨🙏🏾✨ Still one week to go.

We are grateful to all our sponsors and the money raised will support the clinic, school and other charitable and Dharma activities that are Rinpoche’s wish for Root Institute.

Learn more here: https://www.rootinstitute.ngo/spiritual-programme/12543/ch%C3%B6tr%C3%BCl-d%C3%BCchen-losar-and-lord-buddha-s-14-days-of-miracles

Rejoicing in the amazing efforts of the team making daily water bowl offerings at the Mahabodhi Temple. Through such ded...
24/02/2026

Rejoicing in the amazing efforts of the team making daily water bowl offerings at the Mahabodhi Temple. Through such dedicated and joyful effort, the team, led by Felix, is well on its way to completing the goal of one hundred thousand by the end of Losar 🙏🙏🙏

Urgyen Shola, our director, making offering to His Holiness Dalai Lama and Namgyal Monks during the Festival of Lights a...
24/02/2026

Urgyen Shola, our director, making offering to His Holiness Dalai Lama and Namgyal Monks during the Festival of Lights and Merits sponsored Guru Puja and protector prayers this morning in beautiful Namgyal monastery next to the Mahabodhi stupa.

Thank you to all our sponsors! Your donations help us run charitable projects throughout the year benefitting the poor in our community as well as our Dharme programs.

https://www.rootinstitute.ngo/spiritual-programme/12543/ch%C3%B6tr%C3%BCl-d%C3%BCchen-losar-and-lord-buddha-s-14-days-of-miracles

Our friend and senior student Owen Cole from Hayagriva Center in Perth, Australia, has been joining us for a few session...
23/02/2026

Our friend and senior student Owen Cole from Hayagriva Center in Perth, Australia, has been joining us for a few sessions of the Losar Prayers for Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche’s next incarnation.

We are grateful to everyone who gets involved. This is such a special time for prayers and practice.

Join us tomorrow for losar prayers under the Bodhi tree for Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche Indian time.

Please download a free copy of the text

https://www.rootinstitute.ngo/images/spiritual-programme/special-events/kzr-swift-return-losar-2026/From-the-Seat-of-Enlightenment-2026-Losar-Prayer-Booklet.pdf

And join our livestream

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqBPgpB4_xb062Zm6_H1n-WlTRciaOiCc&si=c00hc0TDWfv_BR-3hgjnul ov

Tonight we were very blessed that Geshe Damdul Dorje from Tibet House in Delhi joined us in making prayers for the swift...
22/02/2026

Tonight we were very blessed that Geshe Damdul Dorje from Tibet House in Delhi joined us in making prayers for the swift return of Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche at the stupa.

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Join us tomorrow for losar prayers under the Bodhi tree for Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche Indian time.

Please download a free copy of the text

https://www.rootinstitute.ngo/images/spiritual-programme/special-events/kzr-swift-return-losar-2026/From-the-Seat-of-Enlightenment-2026-Losar-Prayer-Booklet.pdf

And join our livestream

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqBPgpB4_xb062Zm6_H1n-WlTRciaOiCc&si=c00hc0TDWfv_BR-3hgj

Address

Saxena Road, Bodhgaya, Gaya District
Bodh Gaya
824231

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+919931518858

Website

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Celebrating 30 Years!

1987-2017

Root Institute for Wisdom Culture is located in the holy land of Bodhgaya, where Gautama Buddha attained Enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. We received our name in 1984 from our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe, a highly qualified teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Since Bodhgaya is where the Buddha became enlightened, Lama Yeshe considered this place to be the Root from which the branches emerged to the rest of the world as depicted in our logo above. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the heart disciple of Lama Yeshe and current Spiritual Director of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), added the term Wisdom Culture. Root Institute is part of the FPMT, which comprises of a network of over 160 meditation centres and projects in more than 30 countries.

It was the aspiration of Root Institute's founder, Lama Yeshe, that the institute 'return the historic kindness of the Indian people'. As part of this ideal, we run various social service projects which give immediate benefit to those who are impoverished.

Each year, from September to April, we offer a series of courses and retreats on Tibetan Buddhist Meditation and Philosophy in English. These courses cover a wide range of Buddhist topics and are designed to complement each other. Taught by experienced western and Tibetan teachers, all of our courses and retreats emphasize practical application of the Buddha’s teachings in order to increase wisdom, compassion, peace and happiness in one’s daily life.