ABOUT THE Project
The Heart of the Gelephu Maitreya Temple
The Gelephu Maitreya Temple is not just a feat of architecture. It is a story of a King’s vision, and one monk’s quiet, decades-long devotion to the Buddha of Loving-Kindness.
A Promise Across Time
A story recounts the final days of Jamgon Ngawang Gyeltshen, one of Bhutan’s most eminent figures. On his deathbed, his disciples Sacha Rinchen and Ngawang Thinley implored him to return for the benefit of all sentient beings. Jamgon assured them he would, on the condition that they build two-storied statues of Buddha Maitreya. Following this instruction, Ngawang Thinley constructed Seula Monastery —the place where a young Rinpoche would eventually find his calling.
The Hiding Place of a Young Monk
Before he was a renowned teacher, Rinpoche was a “mischievous and tough” boy. When he wanted to escape the scoldings of his teachers, he didn’t run to the woods; he ran to the Seula Chokor Gonpa. There, he would hide in the shadows of the massive, two-story Maitreya statue.
What began as a childhood hiding place became his spiritual home. By age seven, those moments of play had turned into hours of deep prayer. Even today, Rinpoche speaks of how his body would tremble and tears would fall whenever he recited the Maitreya Bodhisattva’s Vow King Verse. That childhood connection never faded; it only grew into a disciplined mastery of the Dharma.
Ten Years of Obstacles
The road to Gelephu was not easy. Years ago, Rinpoche took seventy grams of gold—a gift from his students—and used it to repaint the face of the Seula Maitreya statue. That small act of service sparked a dream: he wanted to build a sanctuary of his own.
But for nearly a decade, the doors remained closed. Land was offered in Paro, but policies were unfavourable to building it. Other times, he had the land but lacked the funds, or had the funds but no place to build. Many would have given up, and Rinpoche eventually set the dream aside—though he kept it tucked away in his heart, waiting for the right moment.
A Royal Mandate
That moment arrived with the birth of the Gelephu Mindfulness City. In a profound gesture of trust, His Majesty the King of Bhutan issued a Royal Edict on October 17, 2025, entrusting Rinpoche with the responsibility of constructing the temple. Rinpoche describes his joy as being like “a peacock responding to the first roll of monsoon thunder”—a sudden, vibrant awakening of a lifelong goal.
A Sanctuary for Every Living Being
Today, this “Pure Land” is taking shape as a circular Mandala. At its center will stand a 35 to 40-foot statue of Maitreya, surrounded by a thousand smaller images of the Future Buddha.
This is more than a monument; it is a refuge for everyone. It includes:
The Temple of Longevity: Dedicated to the Three Longevity Deities (Tse Lha Nam Sum), this temple offers a space for healing and renewal, acting as a spiritual shield against untimely death and fostering the gift of a long life.
The Temple of Prosperity: To help practitioners achieve economic stability and abundance, a temple dedicated to the wealth deities will be built.
The Abode of Amitabha: A space to prepare for the ultimate journey and ensure a favourable rebirth.
This sanctuary is built for the future. It is a place where even the smallest insect might hear a prayer and find merit, and where every visitor can plant a seed of wisdom. In a world often filled with distraction, the Gelephu Maitreya Temple stands as an invitation to reconnect with Jampa—the simple, transformative power of loving-kindness.