Registration: Please call (510) 809-1000 or email to preregister for programs. In order to ensure your place in retreats, classes, and workshops, send in a 20% deposit. Make checks payable to the Nyingma Institute or call (510) 809-1000 with your credit card information. The Nyingma Institute accepts Visa and MasterCard.

For online registration, please call the Front Desk to set up your account. Thereafter, you will be able to log-in and sign up for classes online. You can also register by calling the Front Desk at (510) 809-1000 or emailing

Scholarships: Scholarships are offered for selected classes and workshops. Call or email to request an application form. You will receive notification of your status prior to 1 week before the start date of the class or retreat that you have applied for. Scholarships are granted per class or retreat, not on an ongoing basis.

Payment Policy: Full payment for classes, workshops, and retreats is due at the first session. Exceptions will be made in the following cases:

  • Drop-in class: Friday morning Kum Nye, $18 and Sunday morning Kum Nye, $15, are drop-in classes that may be paid class by class.
  • Installment plans: Students who apply and are accepted for a financial aid contract of installments. Please ask at the front desk for your financial aid contract.
  • Class audit: Students may audit one session of each class they wish to sample. Class audit fee is $20.

Refunds: If a class, workshop, or retreat is cancelled by the Institute, a full refund will be made.

For courses, if a student drops before the third session, a prorated refund will be made if requested.

For retreats and workshops:

  • If you cancel more than 4 weeks before your retreat or workshop, you’ll receive a full refund.
  • If you cancel more than 2 weeks before your retreat or workshop, we will be happy to refund you minus a cancellation fee of $50.
  • If you cancel less than 2 weeks before your retreat date or workshop, there is a cancellation fee of 50% of the total contribution of your stay.
  • If you cancel on or after your retreat date or workshop, there is no refund.

Prerequisites: An open mind and a commitment to positive change are the primary prerequisites for Institute programs. Specific prerequisites are noted in individual descriptions.

Contributions: The Nyingma Institute is a nonprofit organization. The generous support of friends and students allows us to offer scholarships to needy students and to fund Tibetan art and text preservation projects. To make a donation, send your check made out to the Nyingma Institute to 1815 Highland Place, Berkeley, CA 94709.

Continuing Education Credit:  

Non-discrimination policy: The Nyingma Institute welcomes students of any race, color, sex, national, and ethnic origin. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational and admissions policies or any other programs that it administers.