Few people will ever associate the Cape Breton Highlands with a Buddhist Monastery, but there is one just 8 km north of Pleasant Bay.

 

Gampo Abbey was founded in 1983 by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the famous Tibetan Buddhist, inventor and teacher of the Shambhala Training.

 

The monastery provides monastic training and offers half-year residency for would-be munks and nuns. Tucked away cabins for solitary retreats are also available.

 

A Stupa of Enlightenment was erected in 2001, containing relics of the founder of the monastery. A stupa is supposed to radiate the mind of the Buddha.

 

Gampo Abbey is well connected in the local community and one of the highlights is the annual ceremonial lobster release of the season's last catch from Pleasant Bay.

 

When we visited here in September 2017 the guided Abbey Tour was closed for the season but we could stroll around the premises and admire the stupa.