Bhutan

Inspired by the Kālacakra empowerment 2025 in Bhutan, and other activities of HH 70th Je Khenpo on the full ordination of the nuns, this section of the website is dedicated to articles about or connected to the sacred Buddhist country of Bhutan.

Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia, in the Eastern Himalayas between China and Tibetan areas to the north and northwest, and India to the south and southeast. With a population of over 727,145 and a territory of 38,394 square kilometres (14,824 sq mi), Bhutan ranks 133rd in land area and 160th in population. Bhutan is a democratic constitutional monarchy with a King as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. The Je Khenpo is the head of the state religion, Vajrayana Buddhism.

First, I would recommend people read my historical article on the founding of Bhutan Remembering the Roots of Bhutan (2024), grounded in the violent and forceful Mongolian army takeover of Tibet, and their placing of a new political tulku institution (the Dalai Lamas: a Mongolian name) as both the spiritual and (seeming) political leader of Tibet for the first time in Tibet’s long history. The Mongolian-Gelug persecution (and destruction) of other main lineages, like Drukpa Kagyu in both Tibet and Ladakh, led to the Drukpa Kagyu fleeing into the area that is now called Bhutan.

Bhutan November 2025: Kālacakra, Vajravārāhi, Dorje Phagmo Rinpoche and eating animals and veganism

FULL ORDINATION OF NUNS IN BHUTAN 2025: Report on full ordination of nuns in Bhutan by 70th Je Khenpo, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa’s previous initiatives, meeting Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo in Bhutan, and why it is so important for the “health” and future of the Buddhist community (Bhutan Part V)

ARE ANIMALS PROTECTED IN BUDDHIST BHUTAN? Report on veganism and protecting animals and the environment in Bhutan, the outsourcing of slaughter to India, and the remarkable activities of Chatrel Rinpoche’s student, Lama Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche with the first vegan monastery in Bhutan, and the Jangsa Animal Saving Trust (Bhutan IV)

BUDDHA’S BONE RELICS IN BHUTAN: A Buddhist “friendship” loan from India to Bhutan, the historical background of the relics, and a personal report of visiting the stunning exhibit at Tashichodzong, Thimphu 2025 (Bhutan Part III)

SEEING VAJRAVĀRĀHI IN KĀLACAKRA (BHUTAN 2025: PART I): The first mass Kālacakra empowerment in Bhutan by HH Je Khenpo, the Vajravārāhi/Abhayākaragupta tradition of the Vajrāvalī (Dorje Threngwa, Vajra Garland) Kālacakra, and spontaneous meeting, blessings and auspicious gifts from Dorje Phagmo Khandro tulku in Bhutan 2025

“AS HUGE AS A UNIVERSE AND AS SMALL AS AN ATOM”: THE MAGNIFICENT KĀLĀCAKRA DEITY IN BHUTAN 2025 (PART II): A symbol of global peace, but also a divine message from Kālacakra deity and restoring it to non-sectarianism and original lineages, personal experiences/travels from Loy Krathong, Bangkok to Thimphu, and excerpts and transcript of HH Je Khenpo’s profound instructions on Kālacakra, Secret Mantra and more (Day One)

BUDDHA’S BONE RELICS IN BHUTAN: A Buddhist “friendship” loan from India to Bhutan, the historical background of the relics, and a personal report of visiting the stunning exhibit at Tashichodzong, Thimphu 2025 (Bhutan Part III)

Animal Liberation/Vegetarianism 

ARE ANIMALS PROTECTED IN BUDDHIST BHUTAN? Report on veganism and protecting animals and the environment in Bhutan, the outsourcing of slaughter to India, and the remarkable activities of Chatrel Rinpoche’s student, Lama Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche with the first vegan monastery in Bhutan, and the Jangsa Animal Saving Trust (Bhutan III)

Vegetarianism in Buddhist Bhutan: Karma Dendup interviewed by Adele Tomlin (Dakini Conversations video/podcast Ep.1)

Vajrayana Conference Bhutan 2022

GOING BACK TO THE FEMALE ROOTS OF VAJRAYĀNA: A 21st Century review of the female and yogic roots of Vajrayāna, monastic vows and tantric practice, and the invisible, silent female consort

Tiger’s Nest/Tag-tsang

NOT A MOUNTED TIGRESS BUT A POWERFUL COUGAR? YESHE TSOGYEL AT TIGER’S NEST (PARO TAGTSANG) WITH HER YOUNG MALE CONSORTS. Yeshe Tsogyel’s connection to Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, her young male consorts, contemporary research on her life-stories and a 21st Century interpretation of her experiences as a woman (Bhutan 2022))