LNA Newsletter - 2000

Events in Brief

Feb

Ven. Dr. T. Palmo and Ven. Wangmo visited Singapore on the kind invitation of a Buddhist nun, Ven. Sik Mun Cheng, co-sponsored by Dave and Rona Teo. They stayed at Khoon Chee Vihara,  and were well taken care of. Talks were held there covering both holistic health-related issues as well as highlighting the Ladakh nun's plight and their present appalling situation.

May

The Ladakh Nuns Association (LNA) organized its second seminar in Leh, Ladakh, discussing various issues affecting the nuns and ways of helping to address their needs. A Tara Puja ceremony was also held for the benefits of all sponsors and benefactors in Singapore as well as all sentient beings.

Jun

On the 3rd/4th, Ven. Dr. Palmo returned to Singapore for the Y2000 Global Conference on Buddhism. This time she was able to spend more time with the kind sponsors and benefactors. A tea gathering organized by the friends of LNA was held at Khoon Chee Vihara.

Jul

On the 1st, LNA acquired a 4-wheel drive jeep generously sponsored by the Buddhist people of Singapore. It was received with deep appreciation as the vehicle is of enormous help and can be used for many tasks. Transportation by jeep taxi in Ladakh is expensive especially to the remote areas where transportation is almost non-existent. It also enhances operational activities, as the LNA is now more self-reliant and able to plan their schedule more efficiently to benefit both the nuns and the lay people.

Ven. Dr. Palmo also attended the Ariya Vinaya (Buddhist monastic disciplinary rules) seminar in Thailand. This was a very interesting and educational occasion with the opportunity to meet monks, nuns and lay people from different countries and Buddhist schools. They learnt and exchanged experiences and created a fine network for the future.

Aug

The LNA was proud to receive the application from the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi, after many years of waiting, the status of a non-profit, charitable association for the welfare of the nuns in Ladakh.

Sep

The LNA organized a 3 week teaching program on Lama Choepa and Jorcho in Leh for a group of nuns, conducted by Ven. Kachen Lobsang Tseple. A Tara Puja was also conducted to benefit all, especially the benefactors of LNA.

Oct

Towards the end of the training, the LNA Executive Committee members held a meeting to discuss and plan activities for the coming year.

A ten-day workshop on basic education for the nuns was also organized to benefit the nuns in the month of October. The LNA sponsored the first ordination of 37 nuns conducted by Ven. Taklung Tsetul Rinpoche at the Shadup Choskor Ling Monastery in Choglamsar. The nuns came from three different nunneries in Ladakh, namely Deachen Choling Nunnery at Skidmang, Samdup Choling Nunnery at Rongo, Changthang and Khachot Choling Nunnery at Shargol. Before the ordination, the LNA organized a five-day training program about the Vinaya (Buddhist monastic rules for the nuns), conducted by Ven. Bku. Geshe Lobsang Tsetan, Ven. Bku. Thubten Palden, Ven. Dr. Thubten Dolma, and Ven. Dr. Tsering Palmo.

Nov

In the month of November, the LNA executive committee held a meeting with our Patron, Most Ven. Jangtse Choje Redzong Rinpoche, to present him with a report on this year's activities.

Also in Nov, the LNA with the villagers of Saboo finalised the granting of land for the future site of the Ladakh Nuns Institute. Next summer, we will be honoured by His Holiness the Dalai Lama's presence in Ladakh. He will lay the foundation stone for our future institute.

Dec

On 17th December, volunteer women did the fencing of the administrative office site in Leh. This was sponsored by Geok-Cheng Tan from Singapore.