LNA Newsletter - 1999 

Leadership Training Program

This year, many of our activities had to be cancelled due to the Indo-Pak war in Kargil. As the war calmed down, we went ahead with our activities. In the months of July and August, the Ladakh Nuns Association in cooperation with the International Network of Engaged Buddhist (INEB), Thailand, conducted two 4-day basic leadership and community building workshops for nuns and NGOs and a 4-day special project management course for the Ladakh Nuns Association's staff members. This leadership and project management course was the outcome of the workshop conducted during the study tour that was organized by INEB in Sri Lanka prior to the conference this year in March. The leadership and project management courses were very beneficial both for the nuns and other members of NGOs. The Ladakh Nuns Association hopes to conduct similar courses every year in order to bring about leadership quality so that these leaders with can help preserve, promote and revive the interest of nuns in Ladakh. 

Survey of Nunneries

One of the important objectives of LNA is to survey the nunneries that are in remote parts of Ladakh and to study their conditions and problems. 

This year, the LNA visited some of the remote nunneries which are in quite severe conditions. The LNA members headed by the President, Ven. Dr. T. Palmo, visited and surveyed seven nunneries this year. Of all the nunneries that were surveyed, the nunneries in Wakha, Mulbek and Shargol in Kargil District situated near the Indo-Pak boarder, are the most remote ones with almost no facilities at all. Their living conditions, education, rooms, etc., are in really bad shape. The LNA hopes to renovate the nunnery building and also help some of the nuns to pursue their studies. 

Visit to a Nuns School

The LNA also visited a primary school run by the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Choglamsar, at Shargol. Here 23 young nuns from various remote villages get education under one monk.  

Visit to Changthang

The LNA also surveyed a nunnery in Changthang on the Indo-China boarder. This is a place where the nomads live. The nunnery here is about fifteen years old. There are 30 nuns who are mainly nomads. Here one cannot imagine their living conditions. Their rooms are small and ill-ventilated, there are no proper heating facilities, and they have to go a long way to collect firewood both for cooking and heating. The LNA, with the generous support from all individuals and organizations, hopes to build better and well ventilated rooms. 

LNA General Body

On September 19, under the guidance of Most Ven. Rizong Sras Rinpoche, Patron of the Association, the general body of the LNA was held, and duly conducted an election of the working committee, under advice from the Registrar of Societies, J&K Government.

Dharma Discourse

In September this year, the LNA organized a 17-day Dharma discourse at Deachan Choling Nunnery at Skitmang Village in Changthang area. Venerable Khenpo Tholdol, an eminent Yogi and scholar of Drekhung Kargyue sect, very compassionately conducted it bestowing teachings on the well-known, holy text, called "37 practices of Bodhisattva". Thirty nuns from Changthang region attended the discourse. This discourse proved to be highly beneficial to all the nuns and devotees who attended the teaching.  

H.H. The Dalai Lama Supports LNA

From its inception, the LNA has been progressing steadily. Thanks are extended to the noble generosity of our friends, well wishers and supporters without whose support the LNA would not have been able to go on with its noble projects. We have good news for all our well-wishers, supporters and donors. To better facilitate the nuns with proper teaching and training courses, the LNA training center in Ladakh has been planned. H.H. The Dalai Lama, during his 10-day visit to Ladakh, expressed the need for a nuns' training center in Ladakh, and also donated Rs.200,000.

The villagers of Saboo have donated 7.5 hectares of land to the LNA for building the proposed permanent training center where nuns from all over Ladakh would get an opportunity to study and practice Dharma. The center also plans to have training programs, workshops, etc. on a regular basis. So far the LNA has been carrying out its activities in a rented office in Leh. We hope and pray that with the kind help and support from all our well wishers and supporters from all over the world, this project will soon materialize.

On Aug 23rd, at our request, presidents of the Ladakh Gonpa Association and the Ladakh Buddhist Association, the two premier Buddhist organizations of Ladakh, along with the members of the LNA, visited the area and found it highly suitable. Subsequently, on November 20th, the LNA working committee members headed by our President, Ven. Dr. T. Palmo and Mr Nawang Tsering, Ladakh Youth wing joint secretary, and Mr Wangyal Tsering, Junior Engineer, Ladakh Public Works Department, inspected the site.

Long-Term Dharma Study Program

The LNA has selected 16 new nuns who will be sent to different institutions in Dharamsala, Nepal and Dehradun for further studies. This summer, our President, Ven. Dr. T. Palmo, visited Dharamsala and also contacted Dehradun and Kathmandu to arrange accomodation for the selected Ladakhi nuns who will be trained in secular and monastic education. The necessary accommodations have been arranged and soon these 16 nuns will be leaving in Jan 2000 for their studies. The LNA will bear all traveling expenses including air fare from Leh to Delhi, train fare and also the cost of stationery and robes.

Message from Ven. Dr. T. Palmo

"I, on behalf of the LNA, would like to thank all our well wishers and donors for your kind help and support. May whatever merits you accrue from these noble deeds be shared by all sentient beings. May you progress on the onward path to spiritual liberation. I hope you will continue your support in the next millennium too and help us to help the needy nuns of Ladakh."