“SINI taught me that beauty often reveals itself in silence, and peace sometimes comes wrapped in sunshine and fruit. It is not just a place—it is an experience, a gentle teacher, and a quiet friend during the warmest months of the year.”
Ugen Tsering, SINI’s Manager.
Stepping Into a World of Wisdom
It was mid-April 2022 when I first arrived at SINI. I had graduated a year earlier and had been working with an NGO based in Jaipur for over a year. Coming from Jaipur, I was already familiar with the dry, scorching summers, so the heat in Varanasi didn’t feel very different. But what awaited me at SINI was far more than just weather—it was a deeply enriching experience that I could have never imagined.
I was both excited and nervous. SINI is a space where most people around are monks—many of them are Khenpos and Geshes, titles given to those who have spent more than over 20 years studying the vast teachings of Buddhism in their monasteries. These are not just scholars but vessels of ancient wisdom. The presence of monks and many foreigners made the atmosphere feel peaceful yet unique—something I had never been part of before. I knew deep down that this place was going to change me in ways I couldn’t yet see.
A Lush Sanctuary
By the time I arrived, the winter semester had just ended. It was a tradition for everyone to head off to the cooler mountains of Himachal during this time. The campus slowly emptied out, and soon, I was among the few who stayed back for the summer. What surprised me, though, was how the campus changed in their absence.
Contrary to the dry heat, the entire SINI campus began to transform into a vibrant, green sanctuary. The lawns turned lush, and bright flowers started to bloom across the gardens. The silence was soothing, interrupted only by the chirping of birds. Every afternoon, sprinklers would spray water over the sun-soaked grass, and in that moment, a beautiful sight would unfold—groups of peacocks would march slowly toward the sprinklers, enjoying the cool mist in the hot summer air. It felt magical, like nature revealing a secret show just for a few of us who stayed behind.
Beneath the Mango Trees
Another gift of this season is the fruit. At SINI, many types of fruits grow during the summer, but none as special as the mangoes. There are few varieties that grow on campus, but one particular type stands out above the rest. These mangoes have a taste so distinct and rich that I can still feel it on my tongue whenever I think about them. The trees of these special mangoes stand right across from my apartment window—three beautiful trees that yield fruit like no other.
Since very few people stay on campus during the summer, we often have more mangoes than we could finish. It feels almost unreal—plucking ripe mangoes from the tree, sharing them with friends, and sometimes just eating them alone in quiet gratitude. That mango, its taste, and its presence became a part of my memory, one that returns with every thought of SINI. Khenpo Choephel’s daily 5 PM prayer serves as a quiet note of peace that gently settles over the campus, adding a sense of rhythm and calm to the day.
Spending my summers at SINI for the next three years became something I looked forward to. While the world has rushed to cooler places, I find here a different kind of coolness in the calm, green, and spiritual space that SINI offers. The stillness of the environment, the wisdom in the air, and the joy of simple things—like birdsong, blooming flowers, and sweet mangoes—makes my summers unforgettable.
Khenpo Choephel and Lama Ugen Tashi Praying during Puja on 22nd May, 2025