H.H. Rigzin Dorje Rinpoche founded Nyingma Institute-Thekgue Lekeshei Ling (Higher Buddhist Studies and Research Centre) on June 4th 1988 to assure the preservation and promulgation of Buddhist doctrine in general and the Nyingma tradition in particular. While the primary sponsor for the Institute was Tartang Tulku Rinpoche, H.H. Rigzin Dorje Rinpoche has for many years single-handedly run the higher education institute. It is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) dedicated to men’s spiritual education and striving to ensure a solid moral foundation for the community.

With 20 years of pioneering commitment to its field, the Nyingma Institute, Taktse is a centre for providing quality education in Higher Buddhist Studies and Philosophy. The course includes Philosophy, Literature, Metaphysics, Logic, Tantric Studies, Ritual Prayers, Meditation Practices and English, and is dedicated to providing a wholesome education. Its education system encompasses the whole spectrum of education right up to the research level. A nine year-course is equivalent to an M.A. in secular studies. After completing the nine year-course on these diverse subjects, students will receive an M.A in Philosophy. To obtain a PhD students may elect to complete three more years of research. After this, conferral of the highest degree of Khenpo will be bestowed to candidates with outstanding personal qualities and teaching ability. While this monastic college offers courses according to the Nyingma tradition, it resembles the ancient monastic University of Nalanda. Monks have to master several religious texts before they graduate.

The institute is fully residential and provides free accommodation, clothing and stationery. Its purpose is to spread Lord Buddha’s message of peace and non-violence in the world. It strives to provide not only academic training but also an all-round education through physical, practical, intellectual and moral training. Since it is a residential institute, all the khenpos and loppons stay with the students so that they may receive a closely supervised monastic education.

Moreover, the students have the option to take English lessons as an additional subject to facilitate better communication when conducting classes and interacting with others in the future.

Since it is a renowned study centre and produces scholars and teachers of high calibre, Nyingma Institute, Taktse attracts hundreds of students from the South-East Asian region (from countries such as Taiwan, Burma, India, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet), and also from Europe. The renowned philosopher and Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile, Samdong Rinpoche, told his western audiences: “Nyingma has two expert institutes for higher Buddhist Studies: one in South India and one in Gangtok, Sikkim, which are both highly regarded.”

Through the noble guidance and prophecy of Root Guru Kyabje Jadral Rinpoche, who also bestowed the name Ngagyur Tholop Thekgue Lekshei Ling, the Institute was shifted to Sikkim in 1996. The Dharma King Wangchuk Namgyal of Sikkim invited and sponsored the establishment of the Nyingma Institute in Taktse with the goal of preserving and disseminating the holy Dharma in general, and particularly for the benefit of the people of Sikkim. During the last ten to twelve years many scholars from Sikkim have graduated from this institute. It is because the monks from this institute cater to the various spiritual needs of the people that the institute has received much praise and admiration.

All the working committees are composed of volunteers. It is a result of their hard work and dedication that we have fruitful academic sessions and a smooth-running administrative system. The institution emphasizes the importance of selecting teachers that are highly qualified both in terms of knowledge and personal morality.