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Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Light of the Path, Black Mountain, North Carolina, US, September 2017. Photo by Kalleen Mortensen.
This year’s Light of the Path Retreat (LOP) at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, will take place from December 20–30, 2026, and will be led by Geshe Tenzin Namdak, offering students a precious opportunity to come together in meditation and practice, and to honor the extraordinary legacy of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The retreat will take place shortly after the grand inauguration ceremonies of the Memorial Stupas of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lhundrup Rigsel.
On December 11, 2026, the Stupa of Complete Victory, enshrining the sacred relics of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, will be consecrated at Kopan Monastery.
On December14, 2026, the Mahabodhi Memorial Stupa at Kopan Nunnery will be inaugurated to honour both Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup.
These profoundly auspicious events provide a powerful context for students to then gather for the Light of the Path Retreat, strengthening our connection with Rinpoche’s blessings through collective practice and reflection.
Geshe Tenzin Namdak teaching at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, UK. Photo courtesy Jamyang Buddhist Centre.
This year’s LOP retreat will focus on the teachings of the middle-capable being, supporting participants in deepening their understanding of the Lamrim and cultivating the sincere wish to be free from samsara. This follows the previous Light of the Path retreat, which emphasized the topics of the lower-capable being. Under the guidance of Geshe Tenzin Namdak, the retreat will offer a structured environment for steady meditation, reflection, and purification.
The daily schedule will be as follows: Mornings will begin with prostrations, preliminary practices, and Lama Chopa before breakfast. The day will continue with Lamrim sessions, including short explanations and guided meditations in both the morning and afternoon. Evenings will include Vajrasattva purification practice, followed by dedications.
This retreat was originally planned years ago, and it is very joyful that the conditions have finally come together for it to take place in 2026. It will be a meaningful opportunity for students to gather as a community, to practice together in a supportive environment, and to continue integrating Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings into daily life.
Teachings of Lama Zopa Rinpoche shown on the big screen to participants of the 2023 Light of the Path retreat. Photo by Kira Dane.
Kopan Monastery will continue offering Light of the Path Retreats in the coming years in order to fulfill Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes and provide an opportunity for students to practice together as a loving and supportive FPMT family, keeping Rinpoche’s vast kindness and inspiration alive in our hearts.
For more information and to register, please visit the Light of the Path Retreat page on the Kopan Monastery website.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.