Tibet Institute Rikon, Buddhist monastery in Rikon, Switzerland
Tibet Institute Rikon is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Rikon, a hamlet of Zell in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. It consists of several buildings, including a temple, a monks' residence and administrative spaces, designed by architect Ueli Flück.
The institute was founded in 1968, when Swiss industrialists Jacques and Henri Kuhn provided land and resources for Tibetan refugees to establish a community center. The Dalai Lama himself formally inaugurated the monastery, giving it a lasting connection to the Tibetan diaspora in Europe.
The monastery serves as a gathering place where visitors encounter Tibetan Buddhist traditions through its spaces, ceremonies, and daily life on the grounds. People from the region and beyond come to participate in teachings and deepen their understanding of this spiritual path.
The grounds are open to visitors, but it is worth checking opening times in advance as ceremonies or teaching sessions can occasionally limit access. Respectful behavior toward the monks and the space is expected throughout the visit.
This is the only Tibetan Buddhist monastery outside Asia to have been founded by the Dalai Lama in person. Monks from all four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism live here together permanently, which is unusual even within Tibet itself.
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