Founding triten norbutse Monastery in nepal

Nearly a decade passed. Then, in 1986, as Rinpoche prepared to return to Tibet for the first time since his exile in the early 1960s, he stopped in Kathmandu. During this visit, he stayed at the home of Norbu Lama and engaged with the local Tibetan community. The refugees, many from the Himalayan regions of Dolpo and Mustang, would visit Rinpoche and share their struggles, particularly their difficulty in finding a dedicated place for prayer and practice. At that time, there was still no such space in the capital. Hearing and reflecting on the communities’ struggles, Rinpoche's old aspiration from 1977 came back with a sense of clarity, strength and determination: Now was the time. 

Although the seed for the monastery was planted ten years prior, sparked by a spontaneous desire in Rinpoche’s heart, its vision had always been rooted in his unwavering commitment to the education and preservation of the Bön tradition. Having witnessed the hardships faced by Tibetan refugee communities and young Bönpo, especially those from remote Himalayan regions such as Dolpa and Mustang, in accessing proper training and practice, Rinpoche envisioned a place where comprehensive spiritual and academic education could be offered in one integrated setting. 

Yongdzin Rinpoche founded Triten Norbutse Monastery in Kathmandu in 1987 on a hill overlooking the great Stupa of Swayambhu — a sacred site believed to have been miraculously blessed by Buddha Tönpa Shenrab. Though he did not have financial means, Rinpoche asked his friends in the Kathmandu Bönpo community to search for land near Swayambhu, with the intention of purchasing it upon his return.

It was a bold and improbable plan, and few believed it could succeed under such uncertain conditions. Yet when Rinpoche returned from Tibet, he received unexpected news: an advance had been paid on a plot of land, thanks to loans taken by the local Bönpo community. 

The initial acquisition of the land marked a significant turning point in Rinpoche’s vision for establishing a lasting foundation for the Bön tradition. However, the process unfolded in unexpected ways. Financial difficulties led to delays in the repayment of the loan, putting the entire project at risk. At one point, the original owner even attempted to reclaim the land.

Eventually, a large portion of the loan was repaid using offerings and donations that Rinpoche had received while teaching in Tibet. The acquisition was ultimately finalised thanks to the generous contribution of a devotee, who provided the remaining amount needed to complete the purchase.

This marked a critical step in turning his vision into reality. But when Rinpoche visited the land, another layer of complexity revealed itself. There was no proper access road from the Ring Road, and the site sat on the steep side of a mountain, overgrown with jungle and thick vegetation. The dream of building a monastery here would clearly require more effort, time, resources.

In 1987, Rinpoche returned to India and entrusted Norbu Lama with the next phase: beginning construction on the newly acquired land. With the generous support of Professor Lin Yun from the University of California, Berkeley, work began on building the first three rooms. 

In the early days, building relationships with the local community proved challenging. The sudden appearance of monks and the start of construction brought unease and uncertainty. But over time — through patience, mutual respect, and sincere intentions — a relationship of trust slowly took root between the monastery and its neighbors. This spirit of cooperation continues to this day, making Triten Norbutse not only a respected center of Bön learning, but also a leading example of community-centred spiritual development — both in Nepal and internationally.

Construction continued steadily, and in December 1988, Yongdzin Rinpoche returned to Kathmandu with two Geshes. Eager to bring life to the emerging monastery, they made a bold decision: to move into the newly built three rooms — even though they had no household items and very few basic necessities. Shortly after, they were joined by four young Bönpo monks, recently arrived from Tibet as refugees. Together, they began shaping not just a physical space, but the spiritual and communal foundations of the monastery.

By 1989, three additional rooms, a library, and a basic space of temple were completed. Over the next three years, with the support of the French organisation Association L’Étape, which sent volunteers and materials, the monastery expanded to include a kitchen, dining hall, sleeping quarters, toilets, and a guest reception room.

In 1991, under the personal supervision of Yongdzin Rinpoche, construction of a new and more complete Gompa began, marking the transition from a simple beginning to the fuller realisation of his long-held vision.

Rinpoche also foresaw the growing global interest in the Bön tradition and understood that the monastery needed to be structured in a way that would welcome and support future students, scholars, and practitioners from around the world.

Throughout his own journey of mastering the Bön teachings, Rinpoche immersed himself in the full spectrum of the tradition, from the practical arts to the most esoteric dimensions. These extensive and multifaceted transmissions from earlier masters deeply informed the foundation of Triten Norbutse, which he conceived not only as a place of rigorous study and spiritual practice but also as a cultural and spiritual hub dedicated to the preservation and revitalisation of the religious, artistic, and social heritage of Yungdrung Bön.

Rinpoche’s futuristic and far-sighted vision continues to guide Triten Norbutse and its affiliated centres worldwide.