Teaching Buddhist monks in Nepal is one of the wonderful opportunity. You will have to opportunity to learn their culture and lifestyle. Most of them are Tibetan monasteries opened by Tibetan refugees that fled the Chinese occupation. These monasteries house hundred of monks enrolled in the life of a monkhood from early in their lives. They study and live in the monastery. They mostly use Tibetan language only during their study and their chances of learning English are very limited.
The tremendous Buddhist presence has lead to Buddhist monastery being established in all region of Nepal. Many of these historically significant monasteries are open to the public and located within the Kathmandu valley and surrounding area. In this project you will be educating or caring Buddhist monks in the age range of approximately 5-16 years old. In the monastery at any given time there around 30 to 40 monks, of which there will be 2 classes, one for seniors and one for junior students. A unique opportunities of this placement is the volunteer will have a rare opportunities to witness and participate in traditional Buddhist rituals.
Recently, the Rinpoche or the high lama of the monastery have realized that the monks need to learn English if they are to spread the teaching of Buddhist and communicate effectively with outside people. Hence the monasteries are looking for volunteers to teach English to Buddhist monks. Teaching English to Buddhist monks is an excellent opportunity for volunteers who are interested in Buddhism and culture. In the monastery, volunteers will also have wonderful opportunity to learn Vajrayana from of Buddhism and witness colorful rituals and prayers.
Your responsibilities as a Volunteer:- Volunteers will primarily work as English instructors either in the schools of the Tibetan children’s village or children home. The monastery are usually very spacious they have several ceremony around the year however if they have ceremony or puja going on in the monastery volunteer should not to expect teaching class and we heartily to tell the volunteer to respect their culture However during the ceremony you will also help to them for in the kitchen or any rituals activities. A central building will house prayer room and the main altar. There will be other building for accommodation, eating and staying. During the teaching you will be encouraged to converse with monks to improve their speech you can talk about things back home and ask them about their childhood and life as monks
Note: Monastery have a lot of ceremony in the year and there will not be the teaching class which volunteers can not expect teach to children however you can still play with children (Monks) and help in the ceremony in any circumstances. However in the ceremony Monastery can still open for volunteer and tourist to stay in the Monastery. You can find the ceremony or vacation or examination where the Monastery listed
August: Summer retreat for 2 to 5 days during retreat no teaching class
September: Monthly examination and gagye (Yarney holiday) it will be for 7 to 10 days
October : Mid Exam and National holidays (daishain festival 20 days holidays )
November: Tihar Festival (5 days holidays)
December: Christmas and English New year eve
January: English New year, Makar sakranti
February: Basantapanchami
March: Final Exam
April: Final Exam
April: 14th April (Nepali New year celebration)
May: Buddha jayanti (Big Celebration in the Monastery ) Ceremony for few days depending on the Monastery who big they doing celebration.
July: 1st term exam
