Nalanda Monastery

What Nalanda Monastery does

Nalanda Monastery is a non-profit Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Gelug tradition, located in Labastide-Saint-Georges, southern France (Tarn department), founded in 1981 by Lama Yeshe and operating under the spiritual direction of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It is an affiliated center of the FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) and serves lay Buddhist practitioners, monastic Sangha, and FPMT students worldwide. Core offerings are structured around two flagship residential-and-online educational programs — the FPMT Basic Program (5-year, launched September 2023, taught by Geshe Jamphel) and the FPMT Masters Program (7-year, launched February 2024, taught by Geshe Gyaltsen) — supplemented by an intensive calendar of retreats (Vipassana, Yamāntaka, Hayagriva, Nyung-Nä, Mahamudra, Calm Abiding/Lamrim), teachings by visiting high-ranking lamas, ordinations, collective worship (Guru Puja/Lama Chopa), animal liberation ceremonies, and ancillary initiatives such as Nalanda EcoDharma and a Sacred Art Workshop.

The monastery's "technology" stack is the traditional Gelug curriculum and monastic discipline, delivered through a multilingual website (English, French, Spanish), Zoom remote participation, YouTube live streaming, and a student learning management system (courses.nalanda-monastery.eu). Operational scale is small, with a reported headcount of 6 and a main gompa (prayer hall) limited to 119 seats. Distribution combines direct in-person attendance at the French campus, remote self-serve online access, YouTube free broadcasts, and referral through the global FPMT center network.

Revenue is generated primarily through donations and offerings (the monastery's stated dependency) and unit-priced fees for retreats, seminars, and teachings. Retreat pricing ranges from roughly €150 (ordained Sangha discount) to €1,137 (premium suite, full-board programs); seminars are priced at €120; teachings carry suggested minimum contributions of €15–€35 per session, with Sangha participation typically free. Multi-year program fees are not publicly disclosed. Ancillary support is provided by "Friends of Nalanda" (Netherlands), which facilitates tax-deductible donations. The go-to-market motion is community-led, leveraging the FPMT network, affiliated Buddhist centers, and active social media presence (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, Telegram) to drive event registrations, program enrollment, and donor engagement.

Name

Nalanda Monastery

Legal name

Nalanda Monastery

Website

https://nalanda-monastery.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nalanda Monastery is a non-profit Tibetan Buddhist monastery in southern France, affiliated with the FPMT, offering Gelug-tradition philosophy programs (5-year Basic, 7-year Masters), retreats, and teachings to lay practitioners and monastics globally via residential and online formats, funded by donations and program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Buddhist education
• Meditation retreats
• Tibetan Buddhist monastery
• Buddhist philosophy programs
• Spiritual community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Labastide-Saint-Georges

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Offerings: The monastery operates primarily on a donation-based model where supporters make monetary offerings to support monastic activities. Donors can contribute through the monastery's website with options to direct funds to specific purposes (retreats, teachings, animal liberation, etc.). The website emphasizes that 'Nalanda Monastery depends on your generosity to support its activities.'
2. Retreat and Accommodation Fees: The monastery generates revenue through fees for retreat participation and accommodation. For retreats, pricing varies by accommodation type (individual rooms, double rooms, tent camping, dormitory) and includes both accommodation and meal costs. Example: Vipassana retreat pricing ranged from €150 (ordained Sangha) to €500 (single room) for the full 10-day program. These fees cover the monastery's operational costs while maintaining accessibility.
3. Program Fees: Fees for attending educational programs and seminars. For example, the Dr. Lobsang seminar on 'Two Truths' was priced at €120 for either in-person or online attendance. Additional charges applied for optional lunch meals at €12 per meal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nalanda Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in southern France offering structured Buddhist philosophy education through the FPMT Basic Program (5-year) and FPMT Masters Program (7-year), available in both residential and online formats. The monastery also hosts a calendar of meditation retreats, teachings by visiting high-ranking lamas, monastic ordination guidance, and collective worship ceremonies. Operations are funded primarily through donations, offerings, and participation fees for retreats and programs.

Product overview

Nalanda Monastery offers a structured educational portfolio centered on Tibetan Gelug Buddhist philosophy studies, comprising two flagship programs: the FPMT Basic Program (5-year PÉBA) and FPMT Masters Program (7-year advanced studies), both available in residential and online formats. These core programs are supplemented by intensive retreat experiences (Vipassana, Yamāntaka, Hayagriva, Nyung-Nä, Mahamudra, Calm Abiding/Lamrim), collective worship ceremonies (Guru Puja/Lama Chopa with tsog), animal liberation ceremonies, sacred art workshops, and an EcoDharma environmental initiative. The monastery provides remote participation via live streaming and Zoom for teachings and events. The offering operates as a monastic education and spiritual practice center, not a traditional software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FPMT Basic Program (Programme d'Etudes Bouddhiques Approfondies - PÉBA) A 5-year residential and online Tibetan Buddhist philosophy study program affiliated with the FPMT, taught by Geshe Jamphel. Covers foundational Buddhist studies including Lamrim, Madhyamaka philosophy, and tantric preliminaries, designed for general public practitioners seeking deep Buddhist studies.
• FPMT Masters Program A 7-year residential and online advanced Tibetan Buddhist philosophy program affiliated with the FPMT, taught by Geshe Gyaltsen. Covers advanced sutra and tantra studies for mastery-level practitioners.
• Retreat Programs Various meditation and practice retreats including Vipassana, Yamāntaka, Nyung-Nä, Hayagriva, Mahamudra, Calm Abiding, and Lamrim retreats, typically ranging from several days to several weeks. Held on-site with accommodation and meals, with some available online.
• Ordination Programs Monastic ordination guidance and preparation programs for those seeking to take Buddhist vows (getsul and gelong ordinations) under qualified teachers at the monastery.
• Sacred Art Workshop Educational workshop focused on traditional Tibetan Buddhist sacred art practices, including the Liberation Box project for creating merit through art.
• Student Learning Management System Online learning platform for Basic Program and Masters Program students to access course materials, assignments, and resources. Requires registration and administrator approval.

Quantifiable outcome

• FPMT Basic Program (5-year) and Masters Program (7-year) provide structured education leading to recognized certification within the FPMT tradition

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kopan MonasterycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2025Nalanda Monastery and Kopan Monastery (Nepal) collaborate on the Gelug Monlam tradition. Kopan's Abbot, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi, participated in the 2025 Monlam festival at Nalanda. Both monasteries follow Lama Zopa Rinpoche's guidance to establish Monlam traditions in the West.
• Sera Je MonasterycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2024Sera Je Monastery in India is the source monastery for many teachers at Nalanda. Geshe Thubten Sonam and other Sera Je monks participate in Nalanda events, bringing authentic lineage teachings. The monasteries share the Gelug tradition.
• FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNalanda Monastery is an affiliated center of the FPMT, an international organization founded by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche dedicated to preserving the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. The affiliation provides access to FPMT educational materials, teacher training, organizational support, and integration with the global FPMT center network. The monastery follows FPMT guidelines and offers official FPMT study programs.
• UBF (Union Bouddhiste de France)minorOthersAffiliated with the French Buddhist Union, the national Buddhist coordination body in France. The affiliation connects Nalanda with the broader French Buddhist community and interfaith dialogue activities.
• EBU (European Buddhist Union)minorOthersAffiliated with the European Buddhist Union, connecting the monastery with Buddhist organizations across Europe and supporting pan-European Buddhist activities.
• Maitreya Institute AmsterdamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNalanda participated in the FPMT Planetary Crisis Summit 2025, organized by Maitreya Institute in Amsterdam under a hybrid format where European centers joined together for the two-day event.
• Friends of Nalanda (Netherlands)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerA support organization based in the Netherlands that raises tax-deductible donations for Nalanda Monastery. Provides financial support and facilitates donor engagement for the monastery.
• Gyuto Tantric MonasterycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGyuto Monastery (founded 1474 in Tibet, re-established in India) is a prestigious tantric monastery specializing in advanced Buddhist philosophy and ritual practices. Gyuto monks visited Nalanda in October 2025 for sand mandala creation and tantric chant concerts.
• Vajra Yogini InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA nearby FPMT center in France with close ties to Nalanda. Venerable Charles, who leads Nyung-Nä retreats, is based there. The institutes collaborate on retreats and teachings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kopan Monastery: Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, is a fellow FPMT-affiliated Gelug monastery. Nalanda explicitly collaborates with Kopan on the Gelug Monlam tradition, and Kopan's abbot has participated in Nalanda's 2025 Monlam festival, making it the closest operational and lineage peer.
• Kurukulla Center: Kurukulla Center in Massachusetts, USA, is an FPMT-affiliated center offering Basic Program study, retreats, and teachings. It is a directly comparable FPMT peer in a different geography, useful as a benchmark for FPMT center operations in the West.
• Vajra Yogini Institute: Vajra Yogini Institute is a nearby FPMT-affiliated center in southern France. The two institutions collaborate directly on Nyung-Nä retreats and shared faculty (e.g., Venerable Charles), making it the closest geographic and operational peer within the FPMT network.
• Tara Institute: Tara Institute in Melbourne, Australia, is an FPMT-affiliated center offering Buddhist study programs, meditation retreats, and visiting-teacher events. It serves a similar lay-and-resident practitioner mix and is a directly comparable FPMT peer in a different region.
• Land of Medicine Buddha: Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel, California, is an FPMT-affiliated retreat center offering Basic Program, retreats, and visiting-teacher events. It is functionally comparable to Nalanda as a Western FPMT center with structured programs and accommodation-based retreats.
• Maitreya Institute Amsterdam: Maitreya Institute is an FPMT-affiliated center in the Netherlands that co-organizes the FPMT Planetary Crisis Summit with Nalanda. As a European FPMT educational hub offering comparable study programs, it is a directly comparable peer.
• Gyuto Tantric Monastery: Gyuto Tantric Monastery (originally founded 1474 in Tibet, re-established in India) is a prestigious Gelug tantric monastery that has visited Nalanda for sand mandala creation and chant concerts in October 2025. It operates in the same tantric Gelug space as Nalanda's most advanced retreats.
• Lama Tzong Khapa Institute: Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Italy is a longstanding FPMT monastic and study center offering Basic and Masters Programs similar to Nalanda. It is one of Nalanda's principal European FPMT peers in the Gelug study ecosystem.
• Sera Je Monastery: Sera Je Monastery in Bylakuppe, India, is a major Gelug monastic university that serves as the source monastery for many Nalanda teachers (e.g., Geshe Thubten Sonam). Sharing the Gelug tradition and direct teacher pipelines, it is a foundational peer for Nalanda's educational authority.

Broad incumbents

• Drepung Loseling Monastery: Drepung Loseling Monastery in Karnataka, India, is one of the great Gelug monastic universities re-established in exile. While not FPMT-affiliated, it represents the broader Gelug institutional landscape in which Nalanda operates and from which it draws lineage legitimacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FPMT_Nalanda
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@monasteryNalanda
• Facebookfacebook.com/Nalanda.Monastery
• Instagraminstagram.com/nalanda.monastery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nalanda-monastery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nalanda Monastery