As a first post, I wanted to quickly share about the Rangjung Yeshe Institute’s (RYI) library. Located within the institute, this library is a unique treasure that I have not seen anywhere else, as it houses an extensive collection of books on Buddhism. The collection includes everything from Pali Buddhism-related literature texts to Mahayana works on Madhyamaka, Yogฤcฤra, and Buddha nature. It also covers various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, including Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Jonang, and Gelug, along with resources on Chinese and Japanese Buddhism.
The library has both classical/traditional texts as well as academic works, presenting insights from both emic and etic perspectives. Additionally, it holds the master’s theses of the institute’s own students.
I strongly recommend that if you find yourself in Kathmandu, you should visit Boudha and check out Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, also known as The White Monastery (Nepali: Seto Gumba). Make sure to stop by the Rangjung Yeshe’s building and explore the library. Take some time to browse the books, sit down, and enjoy the silence while immersing yourself in texts that offer meaningful concepts to ponder. The library is usually open from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday, during the semesters, as RYI follows the American education system.
To be continued…