Sharing the Merit

Volunteerism, community, and service can nurture and sustain us in times of personal and societal challenge. Discover the many ways to connect with SINI's unique bridge between tradition and modernity.

SINI's Tibetan Language program celebrated the launch of Volume 3 of The Heart of Tibetan Language textbook series by Franziska Oertle, with an online ceremony bringing together students, alumni, and friends from around the world.

SINI hosted its second Three Cups Monastic Teacher Training, bringing together 38 monastics from four Tibetan Buddhist traditions across India, Nepal, and Bhutan for five days of teachings and practical training in contemporary pedagogical methods.

SINI celebrated the graduation of its latest EDP cohort. After three years of dedicated study, monastics are now prepared to translate Tibetan texts and share the Dharma with the world.

SINI continues to grow as an international hub for Classical and Colloquial Tibetan learning. We offer multiple course levels both online and in-person at our Sarnath campus, including Classical Tibetan with Dr. Tenzin Ghegay (from Introduction through Advanced...

As we begin the new year, SINI looks forward to expanding its programs and welcoming new students to Sarnath.

Here at Sarnath International Nyingma Institute, we started the celebration with the Vice Chancellor of Centre Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS) Varanasi, Prof. Wangchuk Dorji Negi, joining us as the Chief Guest for the first session of the program. We also...

Dear Friend, On October 10th, we celebrated Rinpoche’s 90th birthday! I asked him before his birthday what would be a nice way to celebrate and he replied with kind eyes and silence.

FINDING BEAUTY IN MONSOON SEASON This year’s monsoon season carried both challenges and quiet joys to SINI’s EDP Program. With the rains came frequent power outages, unstable internet and cell service, and delayed travel after the conclusion of the summer session. But...

Next week, SINI’s English for Dharma Purposes summer program in Manali will be coming to an end. Students are now in the process of preparing for their final exams. It’s been a rich summer of learning and teaching.

The Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International has recently been identified as a key partner with the Indian government to revitalize Buddhist heritage at sacred sites in Odisha through annual prayer ceremonies and enhanced visitor facilities.

In March, our dear friends Drs. Mary Catherine and Richard Frazier returned to SINI to conduct their annual Science and English for Monastics workshop.

Our Four Noble Truths and Pilgrimage Program offers a two-week transformative program and pilgrimage. Walking in the Buddha’s footsteps, studying ancient teachings in the places where they first flourished...

Finding Home in the Foothills The SINI group packed everything up and headed to Manali in mid-April to escape the Sarnath heat. From 5th May the classes officially began for the summer program in Manali.

Bridges of Goodness is a heartfelt initiative that builds spiritual and cultural bridges between East and West. It is rooted in the aspiration to share wisdom teachings in accessible, authentic, and compassionate ways.

“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.”

“Just as the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt, so as this teaching and discipline has one taste, the taste of liberation.” Shakyamuni Buddha

A ceremony dedicated to peace in Tibet, continuing SINI’s commitment to preserving and honoring Tibetan heritage and spiritual traditions.

“Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise one, gathering it little by little, fills oneself with good.” Dhammapada, Verse 122.

Destinations: Sarnath, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda. A transformative journey following in the footsteps of the Buddha.

SINI welcomes Sengé Catherine as the new Monastic Education Coordinator, bringing fresh energy and dedication to our educational programs.

A colorful celebration of Holi at the SINI campus, strengthening bonds between our international community and local Indian colleagues.

An update on SINI’s Dharmachakra Program, dedicated to turning the wheel of Dharma through study and practice.

We invite you to join us again next year; please reserve the second half of January 2026 for our next Four Noble Truths Pilgrimage and Seminar.

The creation of the Kangyur Karchag emerges from Tarthang Rinpoche’s sincere and deep aspiration to make the vast collection of the Buddha’s teachings more appreciated and accessible.

The teacher-training event was also filmed and will be the focus of an upcoming documentary exploring the lives of monastics, entitled The Field of Merit.

A reflection on SINI’s mission of building bridges of goodness between East and West.

The Nyingma Monlam Chenmo World Peace Ceremony was founded by Tarthang Tulku in 1989 to support the gathering of prayer for the Nyingma sangha and Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world.

Khenpo Kunga Dakpa (SINI Bridges Fellow) will lead the second European Bridges of Goodness program this May 2025.

Reflections on SINI and its impact from Manju Von Rospatt, sharing her experience with the institute.

Enjoy Patricia Mathews’ recent interview with Gen Franziska and learn more about her love of teaching colloquial Tibetan.

I wish you a joyful and relaxing holiday season. Thank you for your continued interest in and support of our programs.

What happens when SINI students complete the three-year EDP program? One transition begins in the second year when students join the Translation Program.

After a productive summer in Manali, EDP classes prepare to return to the SINI campus in Sarnath.

I invite you to join us in our continued journey of learning and caring, whether through volunteer opportunities, study, or community engagement.

Our joy soon turned into concern as we faced the challenge of obtaining a U.S. visa. Fortunately, I secured the visa on June 25th and arrived in Boston on August 18th.

SINI has been collaborating with our Nyingma Centers in Amsterdam and Cologne with retreats and programs led by Khenpo Kunga Dakpa.

Eden Merritt presents SINI’s English for Dharma Purposes program to an international audience.

The goal of this training is to share insights and teaching methods from a blend of traditional Tibetan teachers and Western educators.

Melanie Fraga kindly organized a donation of microscopes to SINI from the American Embassy School in Delhi. Many students used a microscope for the first time.

Tanner McAlister, Lopon Tenzin Sherpa, and Khenpo Kalsang working on a translation.

After its first year of IELTS preparation, SINI identified its top candidates to take the exam in Lucknow.

A heartfelt personal account of the transformative Four Noble Truths Seminar and Pilgrimage experience.

Strengthening the English for Dharma Purposes program with new resources and approaches for the coming year.

A couple of months ago, SINI formally celebrated its 10th anniversary online and produced a series of photo montages and interviews to share with you.

SINI opens registration for a new Beginning Classical Tibetan course.

The teachings the Great Being gave at Sarnath can be said to constitute the very roots of the Buddhadharma.

Ten years ago on this day, I was helping to prepare SINI’s ground to receive the Bodhi Tree sapling that had been carefully carried by the monks of the Anuradhapura Temple in Sri Lanka.

An in-depth interview with Tsering Palmo Gellek about her vision and work at SINI.

SINI releases a new brochure for the Four Noble Truths Seminar and Pilgrimage program.

NEW! Yogi Option: Immerse yourself in the seminar’s profound teachings and travel as a fellow pilgrim with this budget-friendly option.

We are delighted to share SINI’s latest brochure, which provides an overview of our ongoing efforts in Building Bridges of Goodness.

Courses start on Saturday October 28th, 2023 with an Opening Ceremony on Sunday October 22nd.

We recently had the pleasure to interview Franziska Oertle about her newly published book.

September 3, 2023 — November 5, 2023. A new course offering from SINI’s language programs.

Please join us for this special program, an interview with Patrick Dowd (aka Mr. Sloth) and the author of The Heart of Tibetan Language.

We are pleased to announce our new program, Advanced Classical Tibetan.

At the instigation of the first Dharma King, Songtsen Gampo, the great 7th-century polymath Thonmi Sambhota traveled to India to study Sanskrit and develop Tibet’s first written script.

H.E. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, along with 2000 of his disciples from the Himalayas reached SINI on January 2, 2023.

The Twelfth Throne Holder of Palyul Lineage enthroned 210 Khenpos, 73 Khenmos and 12 Dorje Lopons on 22nd April 2023.

The curriculum spanned concepts in biology, ecology, physics and geometry during an intensive in-person program.

SINI builds connections with leading Western academic institutions to further its bridge-building mission.

Namdroling Monastery Confers 300 Khenpo and Khenmo Buddhist Degrees in a Historic Accomplishment.

SINI hosts the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives’ science workshop for monastics.

Students are gathering in Manali for an intensive summer English language and philosophy session.

You are invited to SINI’s virtual book launch of The Heart of Tibetan Language Volume 2, by Franziska Oertle.

Established in 2014 at the Nyingma World Peace Ceremony in Bodhgaya.

A fresh start for SINI’s flagship English program, with new approaches and expanded curriculum.

Lopon Tsering Nyima, the Assistant Director of the Kagyur Karchag Project, updated us on the team’s progress.

Welcoming new students to SINI’s growing community of Tibetan language learners.

If you are interested in getting involved in this program and have expertise in teacher-training, please reach out.

These summary-introductions provide the history of the sutra, an introduction to its path or vehicle, and its philosophical school.

Sun Jul 3, 2022 — Sun Aug 28, 2022. A new practice course for Classical Tibetan students.

February 12th marked the successful conclusion of the 33rd Nyingma Monlam World Peace Ceremony, founded by Tarthang Tulku.

The rare and precious collection of 108 prayers to Tara, many of which have never before been published, was typeset from an original ancient manuscript.

SINI is expanding the Tibetan Language Online Program with classical Tibetan language classes starting March 2022.

New dates for Manjushri Namasangiti Global Sanskrit Chanting program and The Four Noble Truths Online Seminar.