Additional Expenses
In addition to tuition and fees you can roughly plan the following expenses:
- Flight: between 800€ and 1500€, depending on timely booking, distance & airline
- Visa for four months: 160€. 100$ for the first 90 days visa to be imperatively done at the airport when you first arrive. After the first 90 days, each 30 days extensions costs 60$
- Mandatory Insurance: up to 350€, see medical disclaimer
- Extras: between 500€ and 1000€, depending on your life style. This includes 150€ for Tsok and other offerings.
Languages
The main class each day is either held in English directly or translated live from Tibetan into English. All other classes and activities are held in English.
Comfort
Most foreigners find life very pleasant and easy in Nepal and Nepalese people are on average very welcoming and kind. Yet anyone coming to the Shedra must be aware that Nepal is a developing country among the poorest in the world. This has consequences in terms of comfort, hygiene, power shortage, water shortage, quality of internet, roads and so on. Nevertheless, to the best of our capacities within this environment, the Rigpa Shedra offers comfort conditions that are suitable to Westerners and conducive to study (accommodation in single rooms with shared bathrooms, vegetarian meals under hygienic conditions, batteries for power outage, etc.), keeping in mind that it is a retreat and monastic environment, and not in any case a holiday resort. Since its inception in 2006, the Rigpa Shedra has welcomed more than 130 different students from all over the globe for several months (many of which have been returning every year) and most – if not all – have had a pleasant experience despite the differences with the Western comfort.
Medical Disclaimer
The Rigpa Shedra cannot be held responsible for any loss, theft or damage to personal property or bodily injury or death during the period of the Rigpa Shedra East. We cannot provide medical or psychological care, medication, hospitalization or transportation. Please ensure that you are adequately covered. Proof of medical insurance is required to attend the Shedra East program. There are neither medical staff nor medical facilities on-site. The Shedra East is a place for studying Tibetan Buddhist teachings which are not intended as a substitute for psychotherapy. If you have a psychological or psychiatric problem, we recommend that you inform your therapist before coming, and you need to notify us prior to your registration. If you are taking medication prescribed by your doctor, do not discontinue it during your stay. If you disregard this advice we regret that The Rigpa Shedra cannot be held responsible.
Natural Disaster Disclaimer
Nepal is part of the Himalayan region and is subject to unpredictable natural disasters such as earthquakes. Coming to Nepal involves taking a risk. Safety measures and facilities in this country do not always comply with Western standards. The Rigpa Shedra cannot be held responsible for damage to personal property, bodily injury or death during the period of the Rigpa Shedra East. For your information, the earthquakes which happened in 2015 haven’t damaged the Shedra buildings and everybody was safe.
Behaviour
Traditionally a shedra takes place in a monastic environment where a strict set of rules is implemented, permeating all levels of everyday life (for an example of these rules please visit the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute website). Khen Rinpoche Namdrol and other masters have advised to apply similar sets of rules to the Rigpa Shedra East since it is a proven fact that these are a great support for one’s study. It is not easy to transfer a system of rules designed for a Tibetan monastic environment to a group of western students, nevertheless a frame of rules will be proposed to the shedra students so that they will be able to make the best of their precious time.