RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IN MONASTIC TRAINING

We invite you to apply to come to Gampo Abbey to practice, study and participate in our monastic community life.  The Shambhala teachings on enlightened warriorship form the backbone of Abbey monastic life. We ask that prior to coming to the Abbey, you be well grounded in Buddhism generally, and have at least six months of well-established sitting meditation experience. Familiarity with the Shambhala teachings while not required is an asset. We ask for a minimum commitment of nine months to allow you to fully experience Abbey life. Preference will be given to those who have an interest in taking temporary monastic vows. There are a limited number of entry dates each year, due to a series of teachings being given by Gampo Acharya Ani Pema Chödrön entry dates for spring of 2010 are Feb 26th and March 26th. The summer and fall entry dates for 2010 have not yet been determined. Final entry dates will be provided during the interview process. (The Application Form can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.)

Life at the Abbey

Discipline is the foundation of monastic life which provides a simplified environment conducive to waking up. Therefore, all residents are required to live by the five Buddhist precepts and adhere fully to the Abbey schedule. The five precepts are: refraining from taking life, refraining from stealing, refraining from sexual activity, refraining from lying, and refraining from intoxicants.  The schedule includes up to four hours of meditation daily, observing silence before noon and after 8 in the evening, attending morning and evening chants and other liturgical ceremonies.  Each resident also has house chores, dish clean-up, and a four-hour work period five to six days per week. Life at the Abbey is rigorous, you should be in good health if you want to consider applying to be a resident.

Meditation Practice at the Abbey

Gampo Abbey follows the view and the meditation practices as taught by our founder, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.  The Abbey follows the forms and traditions of the Shambhala and Karma Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism.  Shamatha/vipashyana meditation as taught by the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is the meditation technique shared by all Abbey residents.  Residents are expected to learn and practice this technique while at the Abbey.  There is also time available in the daily schedule for the preparatory practices of ngondro or other advanced practices (such as yidam practice) for those who are authorized to practice these.  Other Buddhist practices can be done during free time.  Central to the practice life of the Abbey are various liturgical ceremonies, such as taking the daily precepts, as well as offering chants and supplications to protectors. All community members are expected to participate fully in these.  Each Abbey resident meets regularly with a Meditation Instructor.

Community Life

The Abbey is a vibrant community, living and working in close quarters. Community life can be joyful as well as challenging.  It is necessary that you are willing to meet and work with these challenges. We ask that prior to coming to the Abbey, you be well grounded in Buddhism generally, and have at least six months of well-established sitting meditation experience. In order to maintain continuity in the community and to deepen the experience of contemplative life, residents are asked not to leave the Abbey for the first six months of their stay.

Cost of Staying at the Abbey

Abbey residents are asked to pay $7.50 CDN per day or $225 per month towards their stay at Gampo Abbey. This resident's fee only covers a small portion of the actual costs of life at the Abbey. We rely on the generosity of our donors to cover most of the operating costs of the Abbey and to help us to keep the resident's fee low enough so that the fee not become a barrier to those who wish to explore monastic life at the Abbey.

Suggested Readings

If you are not very familiar with Tibetan Buddhism or the teachings of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, or Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, we ask you to have read at least the first two books on this list below

Health and Well-Being

The diet at the Abbey is vegetarian. Special diets are not provided. For medicinal purposes canned tuna is available once a week on open days. Evening meals are "non-chew" consisting of rice conge or soups. Alcohol and smoking are forbidden.  The daily schedule provides one and a half hours for mind\body work including hiking, yoga, tai chi. While the discipline and schedule at the Abbey are extremely enriching, they are also rigorous and demanding. Therefore, it is important that you are in good mental, emotional and physical condition for your time at the Abbey

Daily schedule

Generally, we work Monday through Friday; Saturday is an open day (no schedule) and Sunday is nyinthün (all day practice and silence). Although the schedule may vary occasionally, here is a sample schedule to give you an idea of the daily routine:

How to apply

If you would like to apply, please complete the application form.  Also, please provide two references, one from your current Meditation Instructor or dharma teacher and one from an employer or personal reference. Feel free to call, write, e-mail or fax us with any questions or concerns. If you would like to apply, please select one of these two application forms. The contents of the forms are identical the first is a Word document that can be filled out and emailed, the second is in rtf format and can be printed out and mailed or emailed back to us.

Resident's Application Form MS Word document, please fill out and email

Resident's Application form rtf format document, please fill out and mail or email to us.

Formulaire de demande de residence