- Oct 06, 2026
- by Ashley Chen
- 208
Bhutan Opens First Dedicated Language Institute for Monks
Bhutan’s Central Monastic Body has opened a language institute teaching English and Chinese to monks through a two-year programme.
Bhutan’s Central Monastic Body has opened a dedicated language institute in Wangdue Phodrang to prepare monks for international communication, translation and engagement with Buddhist communities outside the country.
The Monastic Institute for Language Studies is teaching English and Chinese to an initial group of seven monks through a two-year programme. The students come from different monastic backgrounds and were selected through interviews.
The institute was formally inaugurated in Gase Tshogom Gewog, a subdistrict of Wangdue Phodrang in central Bhutan. It is the first programme within the Central Monastic Body created specifically for language and communication studies.
From Principal to Language Student
Among the first students is 37-year-old Dendup Dorji, who previously served for three years as principal of Talo Sangngag Chholing Shedra in Punakha.
A shedra is a monastic college where monks undertake advanced studies in Buddhist philosophy, scripture and related disciplines.
Dendup stepped down from his leadership position to enrol as a student. He hopes that learning English and Chinese will allow him to contribute to the Central Monastic Body in new ways and communicate Bhutanese Buddhist knowledge to a wider audience.
He also sees language education as relevant to the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City, an autonomous economic region taking shape in southern Bhutan with spirituality among its principal areas of development.
The first batch also includes two monks with previous teaching experience. Their studies are intended to build upon their existing monastic education rather than replace it.
Connecting Buddhist Learning With Wider Audiences
English and Chinese were selected as the programme’s initial languages because of their importance in international communication and their potential value in accessing religious and academic literature.
For monks, proficiency in these languages could support several areas of work. These include interpreting during religious events, translating Buddhist teachings, communicating with international practitioners and participating in academic exchanges.
Language skills may also enable monks to present Bhutanese Buddhist traditions directly, reducing their dependence on outside interpreters who may not have the same depth of religious training.
Sherub Namgyal, another member of the first group, sees the programme as a way to connect Bhutan’s established monastic knowledge with contemporary international audiences.
The students are being taught by Sean Weatherall, an American educator who has several years of teaching experience and has previously lived and worked in Bhutan. As director of studies, Weatherall is responsible for helping the monks develop practical communication skills while drawing upon the knowledge they have already gained through monastic education.
Supporting Gelephu’s Spiritual Development
The institute’s president, Kuenley Tenzin, said its longer-term purpose includes preparing younger monks to communicate in several languages.
This is expected to become increasingly relevant as spiritual and educational institutions are developed within Gelephu Mindfulness City, commonly known as GMC.
Several spiritual projects are planned for Gelephu Mindfulness City, including a Vajrayana Buddhist centre led by the Central Monastic Body. Other initiatives include temples, meditation facilities and centres for Buddhist study.
If these projects attract teachers, students and practitioners from different countries, monks with strong language and interpretation skills could play an important role in their operation.
However, the language institute’s relevance extends beyond GMC. Monks increasingly interact with visitors, researchers and Buddhist communities overseas. Digital communication has also made religious teachings accessible to audiences far beyond the monasteries where they originate.
Expanding Monastic Education
Bhutan’s monastic education system traditionally concentrates on Buddhist philosophy, scripture, ritual practices, meditation, debate and classical languages used in religious texts.
The new institute introduces another specialised area of learning without changing that traditional foundation. Its approach recognises that religious knowledge and the ability to communicate that knowledge require different skills.
The institute will focus on spoken and written communication, interpretation and translation. These skills can help monks explain complex Buddhist concepts accurately to people who do not speak Dzongkha or understand the specialised vocabulary used in monastic institutions.
Local leaders in Gase Tshogom have welcomed the programme as an opportunity for Bhutanese practitioners to represent their own religious traditions internationally.
The institute plans to admit more students and add further language programmes. Its expansion will depend on available funding, teachers and other resources.
For the seven monks in the first batch, the programme begins on a small scale. Its wider purpose is to give members of one of Bhutan’s oldest institutions the communication skills needed to participate more directly in an increasingly connected Buddhist world.