The Nekhor Mission

Our mission is to revitalize and restore the great holy places of Buddha Shakyamuni, Guru Padmasambhava, and other great masters, by providing online resources, print publications, and on-the-ground expertise — so that today’s practitioners can follow in the footsteps of the past masters and bring their blessings onto the path.

An initiative of Samye Translations, Nekhor was formed in 2014 with a simple purpose in mind: to connect today’s practitioners with the extraordinary life and accomplishments of Buddha Shakyamuni, Guru Padmasambhava, and other masters who have followed their path. From this, there grew an interest in the actual places where these awakened guides have practiced, and a wish to make them more widely known — both to long-term practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism and to newcomers alike.

With this goal in mind, and under the guidance of Neten Chokling Rinpoche and Phakchok Rinpoche, we have researched the sacred sites of Guru Padmasambhava over the last ten years, holding the further advice of masters such as Kyabjé Domang Yangthang Rinpoché, Kyabjé Chatral Rinpoché and Orgyen Topgyal Rinpoché close to our hearts.

With Following In Your Footsteps: The Lotus-Born Guru in Nepal published in 2019, The Lotus-Born Guru in India published in 2021, and finally The Lotus-Born Guru in Tibet published in 2023, along with this accompanying website, we begin to fulfill this goal. As we continue to expand our research and offerings, we hope that more practitioners will take up the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of these masters and bring their blessings onto their path.

What We Do

• We research the holy sites connected to Buddhist masters. This includes collecting stories, prayers, and guides related to their lives and activities, as well as the physical sites.

• We translate the most relevant material for the benefit of those who would like to learn more about their lives.

• We publish this information online, in print, and on social media.

• We guide devoted pilgrims who would like to connect with these sites.

• We connect volunteers, translators, and others who are inspired by their legacy.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

Please consider supporting us with a one-time donation to Samye Translations via our donation page, PayPal (donations@lhaseylotsawa.org), or with as little as $2 per month on Patreon.

We rely on the generosity of donors to continue making authentic resources on the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and Guru Rinpoché available to all.

Our Partners

Nekhor benefits from the guidance and support of many organizations and kind teachers, including:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would first and foremost like to offer our deep gratitude to all the lineage masters of the past who have made this project possible. We are also deeply grateful to all of our precious teachers who constantly guide us and connect us with Buddha Shakyamuni and Guru Rinpoché. We would especially like to thank Kyapjé Domang Yangthang Rinpoché, Neten Chokling Rinpoché, Phakchok Rinpoché, and Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoché—all of whom have initiated, inspired, supported, and guided this project with great care and wisdom. We are truly appreciative of Kyapjé Chatral Rinpoché who, through his written guides and his recognition of sacred Mahaguru sites and pilgrimages in Nepal and beyond, has in myriad ways created the pathway for this project to manifest.

This project continues to bear the results of the generous contributions of many Dharma brothers and sisters. Nekhor thanks all of you for your support.

Site Image Credits: The paintings depicting each of the sacred sites were painted by Tenzin Gyurmé Dorjé. The photographs of the sacred sites of Nepal were taken by the talented Emily Polar. The "Looks Like Me" image of Guru Padmasambhava, taken by the late Queen Mother of Sikkim, the pictures of Amitayus, Avalokiteshvara, Guru Padmasambhava, Mawé Sengé, Dükyi Shechen, Kyechok Tsulzang, Kyepar Phakpé Rigdzin, Vajrakilaya, and all the paintings from the life of the Buddha are courtesy of the Tertön Sogyal Trust.

This website is maintained by Samye Translations’ Peter Woods, Robert Offner and Stefan Mang.