From Butter Tea to Tofu Dreams: A Shift in Monastic Living  

In a heartwarming and groundbreaking change, the monks of Pema Yoedling Monastery took on a challenge: going fully vegan—and it worked out better than anyone expected.

Led by Jangsa Animal Save, this month-long Vegan Challenge wasn’t just a food swap. With support from the Animal Climate and Health Save Foundation (ACHSF) and Vegan Travel Asia & VegVoyages Foundation, the project brought together Buddhist compassion and vegan living in a practical, everyday way.

The goal: Replace traditional monastic meals with tasty, nourishing vegan dishes while promoting kindness, sustainability, and health. It became a real learning journey—mixing cultural values, nutrition know-how, and some serious tofu creativity.

This also wasn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Each participant received personalized, one-on-one guidance from dietitian Shweta Giridhar Bhajbhuje, helping make the transition smooth, balanced, and suited to individual health needs. With the team’s support, the monks showed that vegan living can be simple, affordable, and realistic, even in remote monastic settings.

The result: A major success. The monks enjoyed the change so much they chose to stay vegan permanently. To support the new routine, the VegVoyages Foundation donated a tofu-making machine, making it easier to produce vegan staples on-site.

Now the monastery is making its own tofu and soy milk, and they’re preparing to share these foods with the wider community. With a new vegan food production setup, they’re also planning a small local business—selling tofu in nearby areas to help sustain production, support the monastery, and spread awareness about compassionate eating.

The ripple effect is already growing:

The head monastic leader in Gelephu wants tofu supplied to monasteries across the region.

The local hotel association plans to introduce a monthly “Vegan Day” in member hotels.

Schools (principals and teachers) are beginning to buy tofu for their institutions.

What began as a change in meals has turned into a bigger mindset shift, showing how compassionate choices can support not only individuals but also communities and local systems.

This is a story of tradition meeting innovation and of one monastery’s decisions that potentially helps spark a wider vegan future. 

Recent developments (Nov 2025):
Another monastery, under the aegis of Lama Kunzang Dorjee, has also taken steps toward a more peaceful, vegan direction. Partners Jangsa Animal Save and Animal Climate Health Save Foundation visited in November 2025 to raise awareness about vegan eating, conduct health check-ups, connect food choices with non-violence, and train kitchen staff to run a vegan kitchen.

If you’d like the detailed report, you can reach out to rucha@vegvoyages.com.