What we offer
Nitartha Institute courses are modeled on the Tibetan shedra (monastic college) system. Students combine the study of key texts and commentaries with thorough training in debate and analytical meditation.
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New Art Course At The Summer Institute
This summer marks the debut of our creativity track. The new course, "Lineage Essence & Expression: the Golden Rosary" will be held during the first session of the Summer Institute, July 13-27. Click on the link below to see more information about this new course:
ART 510 Lineage Essence & Expression: the Golden Rosary
JUMP IN! Add Your Drop To The Pool Of Merit
We've made some progress, but still have a long way to go to meet our Spring fundraising goal of $50,000. Please consider making a donation to Nitartha Institute. Click on the link below to see our 2013 Spring News & Appeal:
2013 Summer Institute Registration Extended To May 31st
The 2013 Summer Institute will take place from July 13– August 10 at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.
Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche will teach at the first session (July 13–July 27). We have also invited a special guest, Venerable Hin Hung from the University of Hong Kong, to be with us for the first session. Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen and Mitra Karl Brunnhölzl will teach during both sessions.
Registration has been extended to May 31st. Register now for Summer Institute, either for one session or for both sessions.
Click for more information about Summer Institute and to register.
Spring 2013 courses
We are pleased to announce our Spring 2013 courses:
BUD 704.3 Chatuhshataka: The Four Hundred Verses on the Yogic Conduct of a Bodhisattva, Part 3
Instructor: Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen. Boulder, CO. Live inclass and live streaming online. Semester format. January 16 – May 8, 2013.
Click for details.
Online Courses
All the courses of our Foundation and Intermediate curriculum are now available online, which will be appealing to those who wish to progress through our curriculum more quickly.
We continue to offer our flagship summer program and our regional programs, which can be mixed with the online courses in any combination. The online courses can be taken either as self-paced courses or as live streaming courses based on the summer or regional inclass programs.
Find out more about the self-paced online courses
See all our current and upcoming programs
See our 2013 Course Catalog
Recent Publications

THE KARMAPA'S MIDDLE WAY
Feast for the Fortunate
by the Ninth Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje
trans. by Tyler Dewar
Published by Snow Lion

LUMINOUS HEART
The Third Karmapa on Consciousness, Wisdom, and Buddha Nature
trans. and intro. by Karl Brunnhölzl
Published by Snow Lion
See Other Publications from Nitartha
See More Publications from Snow Lion
Check out Nitartha's online programs
Recent News
- BUD 630 Buddha Nature: Luminous Heart of the Tathāgata now available as a self-paced online course
- Nitartha Institute Online Campus launched
- Courses conducted in Spanish
- Nitartha on Facebook
Support Nitartha Institute
You can help Nitartha Institute realize Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche's vision to transplant Buddhism to the West and to train Western students in the full depth of the scholastic tradition.