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Root Institute is a Socially Engaged
Buddhist Meditation Centre in Bodhgaya, India.

Root Institute provides an ideal location for the study and practice of Buddhist meditation and philosophy. We are located in Bodhgaya, India, where the Buddha attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree.

Buddhist Meditation and Study

At Root Institute people of any nationality and any religion can study and meditate on the Buddha's teachings as they are explained in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition. Each winter (October to March) we offer a series of introductory and intermediate-level courses and retreats covering a wide range of Buddhist topics. These meditation and philosophy courses are designed to complement each other and emphasize practical application of Buddhism in order to increase compassion, wisdom, peace and happiness in one’s daily life. Read more...

Charitable Health Programme

The central Indian state of Bihar is the poorest state in this country of more than one billion people. Our Charitable Health Programme originated in 1991 when a destitute man was found lying in the road close to death.    At the suggestion of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, this man was brought to Root Institute where he was cared for and nurtured during a period of six months, after which he died peacefully in our facility.  

The health programme operates six days weekly on-site and in remote rural villages. Poverty, illiteracy and hopelessness are at the root of many problems we encounter. The most common illnesses we see are tuberculosis, malnutrition, HIV infection and AIDS, and polio and its complications.

Health education is an integral part of all of our work. Looking at the causes and conditions that support health or contribute to disease is essential if we are to impact positively on the communities we serve. Enabling people to care for their own health is our ultimate goal. Read more...

Root Institute is affiliated with the FPMT