Discover Buddhism

From a scholarly perspective

Welcome to the Buddhist Studies Institute

An online educational platform for the study of Buddhist philosophy and practice – from the scholars perspective. Join us for the study of Buddhism at the intersections of tradition and historical context, in conversation with the profound intellectual developments of psychology, technology, medicine and science. Study Buddhism from classical source texts. Learn about Buddhist practices and train in the full range of Tibetan Buddhist contemplative studies from preliminaries to Dzogchen. Join a learning community that celebrates diversity, gender-equality and ethics as the basis for genuine learning and rigorous inquiry.

Listen In

On conversations with Pema Khandro, Geshe Sonam, Jan Willis, Ven. Thubten Chodron and so many more

Enjoy In-Depth Study

In live online courses, on-demand education and at-home retreats online

  • Vajrayana Training

    A bi-monthly study of the classic texts, rituals, vows and practices

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Foundations

Buddhist Foundations

Freedom from suffering and the big questions in life from the Buddhist point of view. Start here and return again and again to firm up your foundations.
Buddhist Meditation

Buddhist Meditation

Study the practice, meditation and its context in the Buddhist way of understanding mind, body, emotions and relationships.
Vajrayana Training

Vajrayana Training

A course to support the in-depth study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. Live and self-paced classes.
Ngakpa Seminary

Ngakpa Seminary

A Buddhist philosophical college to support advanced study of Buddhist Classics in Tibetan Tantra and Dzogchen.

Study – Practice – Thrive

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Find Support

For whole-hearted, vigorous engagement with Buddhism and its diverse interpretations


Join the Conversation

New to Buddhism? Start by Exploring our Open Teachings

Take Live Classes

Every week, learn meditation with Janak, study ancient texts with Pema Khandro, practice White Tara meditation with Satya, discuss Vajrayana with Buddhist Studies scholars and more

Study Buddhist Classics with Pema Khandro

Pema Khandro is a scholar and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. Ordained in the Nyingma lineage, enthroned as a tulku, and trained as an academic, her teachings celebrate the dynamic coalescence of tradition and the post-modern context.

Pema Khandro is an authorized Lama and lineage holder of the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and she was enthroned to carry on the lineage of a Tibetan Yogini who lived and taught in the late nineteenth and the early twentieth century. As a scholar-practitioner, her approach to teaching is to frame Buddhist study and practice within its historical, philosophical and intercultural context. For more information visit www.PemaKhandro.org

Join Pema Khandro Online every Wednesday 6pm PST/ 9pm EST

1st Weds  – Vajrayana Training

2nd Weds – Vajrayana Training

3rd Weds – Ngakpa Training Shedra Class by Invitation

4th Weds – Open Teaching: Excellent Path to Enlightenment

4th Weds – Umdze Training

Become a Member to join live and receive access to recordings.

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Study Valid Cognition with Geshe Sonam

Valid Cognition & Ways of Knowing

Study Buddhist logic and epistemology to understand how mind knows, (in Sanskrit, Pramana or in Tibetan, tshad ma) and identify how wrong knowledge causes cyclic suffering. This is the study of a classic text on Valid Cognition the Pramanavaritika, translated into English by Geshe Sonam.

These classes are part of the shedra classes in our Ngakpa Training, but are also open to students with previous Buddhist studies experience. To inquire about joining – email info@buddhiststudiesinstitute.org

Geshe Sonam
Following his more than twenty years of intensive monastic studies on the five major treatises of Buddhism, and upon clearing all the six successive years of examination, in Jan 2019, Geshe Ngawang Sonam was formally conferred the highest degree of Geshe Lharampa [Traditional degree equivalent to PhD in Buddhism] by Gelugpa Monastic Seat of Learning [Gelugpa Monastic University]. In Nov. 2016, His Holiness the Dalai Lama called him to work in His Office, and presently he works there as a translator and a Buddhist scholar. Geshe Ngawang Sonam’s first book ‘In the Footsteps of Siddhartha’ was published in 2010. His translation of Shantideva’s work Bodhisattvacharyaavatara is going to print very soon. Alongside his office work, he also finds time to teach and attend conferences with modern scholars and scientists as a speaker.

Learn to Meditate with Janak

Meditation Mondays Online

Experience the power of Tibetan Buddhist Meditation.

Meditation Mondays are online classes, so you have accessible instruction wherever you are.

These meditation classes focus on instruction in the methods of Calm Abiding, known as Zhine (Tib. གཞི་གནས། gzhi gnas). This is a classical Buddhist meditation which uses concentration techniques and  a posture of stillness to allow the mind to become serene.

New members are welcome!

All members have access to meditation classes online! 

Meditation Mondays are led by Janak Kimmel, who is also the Vajrayana Training Coordinator.  Janak will teach you meditation, answer your questions and support you in establishing a daily practice.

Practice White Tara with Satya

A prayer and meditation practice for promoting peace and pacifying obstacles.

White Tara is the female bodhisattva who represents the resilience, serenity and compassion. The White Tara practice is traditionally used to promote longevity, end natural disasters and appease individual and society-wide obstacles.

Join Dr. Satya as she leads the prayer, mudras, mantra and meditation of White Tara.

Satya is a doctor of Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Practitioner, certified meditation instructor and director of Ngakpa Intl.

All members have access to meditation classes online!

New members are welcome!

Become a Member

Get Access to Shedra Studies Classes, Meditation Mondays and Member-Only Classes

Group Chod Meditation

The world has turned to Buddhism for its wealth of insight into meditation, sciences of mind, regulation of emotions, and models of peaceful living.

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For those who seek access to in-depth Buddhist study however, there have been many challenges that have limited such studies to a few people – including the need to learn another language, live in Asia, or leave behind family or work commitments.The Buddhist Studies institute meets the need for an in-depth study which is highly accessible and available in English. In fulfillment of this goal, we have facilitated study with Buddhist scholars from around the world.  As a tradition dedicated to cultivating wisdom, compassion, self-awareness and interpersonal peace, Buddhism offers rich resources for investigating mind, body, self, others and reality. However, the study of Buddhism is historically rooted and has changed from culture to culture, from one era to another, from the point of view of one lineage to another, yielding a dynamic, diverse tradition. Foregrounding this diversity creates a fertile ground for exploring Buddhism within the challenges of the post-modern world. The Buddhist Studies Institute’s mission is to provide opportunities for accessible in-depth study of Buddhist philosophy and practice, while highlighting its historical contexts and numerous interpretations.

Our Affiliations

BSI is a project of Ngakpa International a non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining the traditions of householder Yogis of Tibet. Although our project is sponsored by a Nyingma Lama and focuses on Nyingma materials for weekly shedra classes, we also provide many Buddhist classes with a non-sectarian focus led by Lamas, Khenpos, Geshes and Scholars of various traditions in order to celebrate the beautiful diversity of Buddhist thought. Our goal is to present Buddhist philosophy and meditation in its full splendor, as a resource for rigorous inquiry and development of self-awareness. We aim to offer this while providing abundant resources focusing on the core texts of the Nyingma shedra, the traditional Tibetan Buddhist Philosophical college and the gomdra, the Buddhist meditation retreat training.

The Yogic Medicine Institute

Learn About Our Sister Project

Let the ancient knowledge of Himalayan medicine restore vibrant well-being in your body and mind.

Enjoy the detoxification and longevity practices of Ayurveda, Tibetan Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In Panchakarma Radiance Retreats you will enjoy 3 to 35 days of therapies, massage, nutrition, cleansing, and rejuvenation in a small group setting or private retreat. Protect your body while allowing it to remove toxins safely, efficiently, and thoroughly.

Ayurvedic Panchakarma helps your body let go of layers of undigested material. Each body is different, so your cleansing program is tailored just for you. Enjoy luxurious integrative therapies, bliss yoga, shirodhara and so much more. Panchakarma Radiance Retreats are led by Dr. Satya Shiva and Aruna Rigdzin. Benefit from their decades of training, warm hospitality and extraordinary guidance. Learn more here