Staying for a Course
Welcome to one of the courses at Kopan Monastery.
The courses are structured to give a balance of teaching, meditation and group discussion. The goal is to assist the students to integrate the Buddhist teachings and make them meaningful for their daily life.
Starting and finishing time of courses:
Most courses start in the late afternoon, with a 3 pm check- in time on the first day. The afternoon arrival allows most people to arrive on the first day. Please check the starting time of your chosen course in case it differs. You are welcome to arrive a few days before the start of the course or stay on at the end. Please indicate this in your registration form in the arrival and departure date section. The courses finish in general with lunch on the last day.
You are requested to arrive for the course on time, as your attendance at the introductory session is important. If your flight schedule does not allow you to be here by 3 pm on arrival day, please contact us. Be aware that arrivals later than 9 am the next morning are not acceptable.
During courses free laundry service is offered. Please read the messages on the notice board regarding the laundry schedule.
Here are some recommendations to prepare for the course.
- Settle all outside communication before the course begins. Tell friends and family in advance that you will be out of contact for the duration of the course. Sticking by that decision reduces distraction from exploring your inner landscape, your own mind!
- Likewise, please settle your travel arrangements etc. before you come.
- We ask you to stay inside the monastery grounds for the duration of the course. It is best to allow a day or more before or after the course for shopping or sightseeing trips.
- Be prepared to check your mobile (or at a minimum the sim card) and computer in at the reception for the duration of the course. This helps to help to keep your mind focused on the course, instead of it rushing off to more familiar problems and gossip.
When checking in you will be required to complete a booking form in which we ask you to confirm that you have understood the conditions of stay and agree to abide by them. Please read the general guest guidelines here
The monastery reserves the right to ask course participants to leave if they do not abide by the general rules or show behavior not in accordance with a monastic environment.