GOMDE UKBuddhist Retreat Centre in Yorkshire, England
Gomde UK was founded in 2009 by Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. Gomde’s home, Lindholme Hall, is a 180-acre estate that’s also home to over 5,500 specifies of wildlife. From small beginnings our volunteer led team we now welcome over 1500 visitors each year. Committed to nurturing personal growth and living in harmony with nature, our story reflects the growing needs of our community and the environment.
Our Story
In the summer of 2009, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche said, “Now is the time to search and find a Gomde in England.” At the time, there were only a small handful of Rinpoche’s students in the UK. The idea of establishing a centre seemed bold, even improbable but with Rinpoche’s encouragement, the search began immediately. Miraculously, just 12 days later, Lindholme Hall was found—an otherworldly, beautiful and tranquil place. It felt right. We agreed to purchase it without hesitation. It was an act of trust, inspired by Rinpoche’s vision.
“This place is a jewel. You cannot find a place superior to this.”
Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche
Learn MoreEthos: Our Purpose
At Gomde UK, we strive to live what we learn—connecting Buddhist wisdom with environmental science to inform meaningful action. Whether through meditation and study, caring for the land, or showing up for one another with presence and compassion, our ethos is rooted in creating the conditions for a calmer, kinder, and more sustainable world. This commitment is grounded in three core and mutually supportive pillars: dharma, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.Dharma
To preserve, study, practise, and share authentic Buddhist wisdom and contemplative practices, offering practical tools to help all who seek peace, growth and connection to discover the mind’s innate potential to live well and benefit others.Learn More
Environmental Stewardship
To protect, restore and nurture the rare habitat of the Lindholme Hall Estate, support the regeneration of the wider peatlands, and proactively contribute to alleviate our present-day environmental challenges.Learn More
Community
We aim to create a place where traditions, knowledge, understanding and community are embraced and change is realised through shared vision and group endeavour. A beacon of hope and inspiration to all who seek to make a positive change in their hearts, minds and the natural world.Learn More
A Heartfelt Vision for Positive Change
Our vision is to create a place of refuge that inspires calm, kindness, and clarity—a living sanctuary where people, community, and nature are cared for in equal measure. With a temple at its heart, Gomde UK will stand as a beacon of peace and hope, nurturing hearts, minds, and the land and helping shape a calmer, kinder, and more sustainable future for generations to come.Learn More
Meet our Growing Team!
At the heart of Gomde UK lies a vibrant and diverse community, each contributing uniquely to our shared mission. Led by the profound guidance of Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, our Spiritual Director, and Lama Öser, our resident teacher, our team is further enriched by visiting Buddhist teachers from our wider Shedrub Mandala community. This wisdom is supported by the strategic and daily oversight of our Trustee Group and Directors, alongside the dedicated efforts of over one hundred volunteers and our consultant group of ecological specialists.As a rich mandala of many backgrounds and talents united by a shared purpose, we collectively strive to provide a peaceful and nurturing sanctuary that supports spiritual growth, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.
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“Guided by the Buddha’s teachings of wisdom and compassion, we strive to contribute to a calmer, kinder and more sustainable future through shared knowledge and meaningful action.”
Key Initiatives Shaping our Future
Thubten Chökor Ling
Born from the heartfelt vision of our spiritual director, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Gomde UK is embarking on its most transformative project yet: the creation of a 21st-century Buddhist monastery, with an extraordinary temple at its heart named Thubten Chökor Ling. It will be a permanent home where authentic Buddhist teachings of wisdom and compassion can unfold, offering refuge, guidance, and inspiration for people from all backgrounds to cultivate greater calm, kindness, and clarity in their lives.
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The MIRE Emergency Project
The MIRE Emergency Project is a critical ecological initiative led by Lindholme Hall Old Moor Management Group, aimed at restoring the carbon-sequestering bog on Hatfield Moors. Made possible by volunteers and supported by expert ecological consultation, this project helps to rebuild biodiversity, combat climate change, and mitigate flood risks. As a model of environmental stewardship, it reflects our deep commitment to caring for our planet.
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Library of International Standing
Gomde UK’s library is envisioned as a hub of Buddhist scholarship and cultural preservation alongside a rich Local Studies section covering, geology, ecology and heritage. The library currently operates from a temporary location near our dining hall with over 5,000 texts and several hundred digital publications. Over the last year we have made a significant start of the local studies section.
It is planned that the permanent library will be housed on the first floor of the temple building . This future library will house up to 50,000 texts in multiple languages, serving as a resource for practitioners, scholars, and the general public, fostering learning and global collaboration.
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Peatland Retreat Wing
The Peatland Retreat Wing at Gomde UK supports the growing needs of our community providing comfortable and supportive retreat spaces, a monastic wing as needed and accommodation for conferences and seminars. This new addition includes 10 studio rooms tailored for both practitioners and visitors involved in environmental efforts, from conferences to conservation work. Each room is built sustainably with high insulation and solar panels, and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, providing a serene environment conducive to spiritual and ecological engagement.
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