Sangchen Rabten Norbuling (Great Secret, Absolutely Firm, and Precious Location) monastery is located deep in the Himalaya mountains in an incredibly beautiful valley called Kyimolung (Valley of Happiness), near the Nepal-Tibetan border in the central Himalayas. It is known by Tibetan Buddhist spiritual practitioners as a Beyul or “hidden valley”.

Long ago, Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, the ninth-century Buddhist master who was believed to be a manifestation of Shakyamuni Buddha and was instrumental in establishing Buddhism in Tibet, blessed Kyimolung with his presence. Several centuries later, Jetsun Milarepa, the legendary yogi from Tibet who shot to fame by his fierce diligence in meditation which led him to attain Buddhahood in one single lifetime, also came and did his practice here in the 12th century.

Sangchen Rabten Norbuling is a place of retreat, contemplation, and meditation, with many holy sites which are visited by Buddhists to receive blessings. Although the monastery is small, its untouched beauty and serenity provides an undisturbed environment for the practice of Dharma. The monastery itself is on a small and idyllic plateau, with wild flowers, rhododendrons, holy junipers and other pines. Wild animals roam around in a small meadow in front of it.

We therefore request that all visitors who travel here to be mindful so as to preserve the natural environment and spirituality of this sacred ‘hidden valley’ and the monastery.

Top: Mountain goat and other wildlife are a common sight in front of the monastery. Bottom: Wild flowers in full bloom around the monastery.