By Kai Johnson, Director of Operations, Tergar Schools
In April, I traveled with the Tergar Schools construction team into the heart of the Himalayas, where our Yolmo Campus is slowly taking shape. This was my first time seeing the land in person—and it left me in awe.
Tergar Schools has always aimed to nurture kind and resilient human beings through a unique model that weaves together Buddhist principles and modern education. But standing on the Yolmo site, surrounded by the snow-touched peaks and deep stillness of the valley, it became viscerally clear that this place isn’t just another school site. It’s a rare and sacred space.
A Site Steeped in Practice
Yolmo has long been a place of deep spiritual significance. For centuries, meditators have come here seeking solitude, awakening, and transformation. The caves of Yolmo—where great masters like Milarepa practiced—are not far from where we’re building. There’s a palpable sense of devotion in the land itself.
As we walked the site, prayer flags danced in the breeze and the early spring sun lit up the ridgelines. Construction has moved steadily forward. The retaining walls are now completed, and the site has both electricity and water—major milestones in such a remote location.
Next up: the gompa (meditation hall) and quarters for monks and teachers, which will form the heart of the campus.
Building with Intention
Our approach to construction, like our approach to education, is deliberately slow and steady. Every decision is made with care: Is this action skillful? Is it rooted in wisdom and compassion? Will it create happiness and benefit for as many beings as possible?
This mindset has shaped not just the design of the campus, but how we work with the local community and construction team. Relationships are central. We’re building with the people of Yolmo, not just for them.
I met with our construction partners and shared meals with local workers. Their commitment and generosity are humbling. There’s a shared sense of purpose here—of creating something beautiful and lasting for future generations.
A Feeling of Awe
More than anything, I left the visit with a feeling of awe. It’s hard to put into words what it means to be creating a school in a place like this. The vision is ambitious: to offer an education that is academically strong, deeply rooted in meditation and ethical living, and grounded in the very soil of a sacred valley.
We still have a long way to go. But each stone set, each wire laid, and each wall raised is a step toward a school that will embody awareness, love, compassion, wisdom, and joy.
And if the land itself is any indication, we are building on a foundation that has held those values for centuries.
