FOUNDATION OF SAMDRUP GOEN OLD AGE NURSING HOME

Established in 1971, Samdrup Goen Old Age Nursing Home was founded alongside Samdrup Dargyeling Monastery in Begana under the compassionate guidance of the late Samtrul Rinpoche. The home was created as a sanctuary for elderly practitioners, many of whom had followed Rinpoche from eastern Bhutan, while others arrived from different parts of the country over the years.

Rinpoche personally cared for these devoted practitioners, providing them with shelter, nourishment, and spiritual guidance. Some remained in his care for a few years, while others spent decades at the home, finding comfort and purpose in their spiritual practice. Since its inception, the home has cared for more than 100 elderly individuals, offering them a place of peace and dignity in their later years.

Today, Samdrup Dargyeling Monastery continues to uphold Samtrul Rinpoche’s compassionate legacy by providing for the 17 residents currently living at the home. They receive basic necessities, medical support, and spiritual resources, ensuring they can live their final years in a nurturing and sacred environment.

Although it was unnamed in its early years, this sanctuary is now recognized as “Samdrup Goen Old Age Nursing Home” —a reflection of its mission to honor and support those who have dedicated their lives to spiritual practice. For Rinpoche, these elderly practitioners were not just residents; they were family.