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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...

Experience Buddhism at the Root Courses

"Bodhgaya is the place where Shakyamuni Buddha and three previous Buddhas have shown holy deeds and achieved enlightenment. In all, 1000 Buddhas will descend there, showing the holy deeds, achieving enlightenment. That’s great.

Bodhgaya is a great place -  it’s the most holy place in the world. So whatever practice, prostrations or whatever you do there increases eight times, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama mentioned. In that holy place, if you do one prostration, it becomes eight prostrations; if you do one mantra, it becomes eight mantras. It is a great holy place."            

     — Lama Zopa Rinpoche —

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 malnutrition, diabetes, HIV infection and AIDS, and cerebral palsy in children. Besides treating illnesses, we emphasize awareness and preventative education. Read more...

Root Institute is affiliated with the FPMT