Lotus Sutra Center

A nonprofit Zen meditation community in Taulihawa, Kapilavastu district, Nepal, beside the ancient ruins of Tilaurakot and 27 kilometres from Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha.

Our Mission

This sacred Zen Meditation Project in the vicinity of Tilaurakot Kapilavastu, the sacred land of the Buddhas, is managed by Lotus Sutra, a local grassroots NGO dedicated to creating an enabling environment for individual and community efforts toward cultivating peace, prosperity, harmony and holistic living through meditation, cultural and spiritual tourism, and the conservation and promotion of local cultural and spiritual heritage.

About Lotus Sutra

A sanctuary nestled in Taulihawa, near the ancient ruins of Tilaurakot, the palace city where Prince Siddhartha spent 29 years before his journey toward enlightenment. Lotus Sutra is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the practice of Zen meditation, community education, and the preservation of Buddhist cultural sites.

Lotus Sutra Meditation Center is currently under development. Donations are welcome; please contact us to support the work.

Our Founder

Swami Chaitanya (Ram Achal Yadav) was born and raised in Taulihawa, surrounded by the ruins of Tilaurakot, the ancient palace city of King Suddhodana. His vision is to build a Zen meditation center and garden at the eastern gate of Tilaurakot, a living sanctuary where visitors and local people can practice meditation and reconnect with the teachings of the Buddha.

The Sacred Heritage of Tilaurakot

Ancient Kapilavastu: Tilaurakot is identified as the ancient city of Kapilavastu, capital of the Shakya kingdom, where Siddhartha Gautama lived as a prince for 29 years.
Sacred Geography: 27 km from Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Nepal's Terai plains in the Kapilavastu district.
Living Archaeology: Excavations led by Durham University with UNESCO and Nepal's Department of Archaeology have revealed fortifications, monasteries, stupas and artifacts dating back to the 8th century BCE.
The Eastern Gate: By tradition, Prince Siddhartha left the palace for the last time through the eastern gate of Kapilavastu.
A UNESCO Tentative Site: The fortified city covers more than 5 hectares, with walls, moats, stupas and monastery ruins still visible.

Practices and Programs

Weekend sesshin retreats with sitting meditation, walking meditation (kinhin) and dharma talks.
Community outreach: free meditation workshops for local schools and heritage education.
Heritage preservation and documentation of Tilaurakot's archaeological sites.
Accommodation for up to 15 days every six months, not exceeding 30 days per year.
Three vegetarian meals a day with daily fresh milk.
Three guided meditations daily: morning, midday and evening.
Curated visits to the archaeological, cultural and spiritual sites of the Shakya Kingdom.
Zen Laboratory: Zen in Living, a living experiment in mindful practice.
Grassroots community development initiatives in the local region.

Sacred Places Nearby

Lotus Sutra Center, Taulihawa: our meditation center.
Tilaurakot: ancient Shakya capital where Prince Siddhartha spent his early princely life.
Lumbini: the birthplace of Lord Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage site.
Kudan, the Ancient Nyigrodharama (27.528020, 83.041111): the sacred grove where the Buddha returned to meet his father, King Suddhodana, after his enlightenment.

Visit and Contact

Lotus Sutra Center, Taulihawa, Kapilavastu district, Lumbini Province, Nepal. Open Sunday to Friday, 6:00 to 18:00.

"In the mud of adversity, the lotus of compassion blooms."