Gampo Abbey

Gampo Abbey Review

Strangely enough, Nova Scotia is a center of Shambhala Buddhism (Shambala International is actually headquartered in Halifax) and this abbey is its spiritual heart. Finding the zenlike site high above the sea, however, requires more than soul searching. From Pleasant Bay, a spur road creeps along the cliffs to Red River; beyond that a gravel road twists and turns for some 3 km (2 mi) before reaching the broad, flat bench of land upon which the monastery sits. In July and August, tours are usually conducted on weekdays between 1:30 and 3:30. You can also wander through some of the abbey's 230 acres to visit a small shrine and grotto. If the abbey is closed for a retreat, continue down the road for about ½ km (¼ mi) to see the Stupa of Enlightenment, a large and elaborate shrine dedicated to world peace.