LNA Newsletter - November 2001

Tibetan Medicines

 Recently the LNA has started a new project that provides "Tibetan Medicine" training to nuns.  Five nuns and two girls are currently participating in the medical training programme, which will benefit both the nuns and laity by providing future medical care, especially for those living in remote places. BIOLOGI of Switzerland has pioneered the medical training program undertaken by the LNA.  The LNA is deeply thankful to BIOLOGI for such a benevolent gesture.

CHANGE OF VENUE FOR THE LNA OFFICE

Recently, a portion of the new LNA administrative/office complex has been completed. The LNA office is now located on G.H Airport road, Lower Skara. Most Ven. Changtse Choje Sras Rinpoche of Rizong Monastery blessed the complex on 15th of October.  The inauguration will be held in the month of May 2002.

This winter, Tim from the U.S.A will give English lessons to the senior students of the LNA, studying in the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, to teachers who have been teaching in the nunneries, and to the LNA staff members.  The medical students passed the exams with good marks, and during the wintertime they will be studying the preparation of the medicines.        

The LNA wish to thank the following:

The LNA is profoundly thankful to Elizabeth Gardener and Ruth Hofer of Switzerland who have been a great source of inspiration and encouragement to the LNA since its inception. The LNA has made remarkable progress in improving the previously neglected conditions of nuns in terms of providing education facilities at various places for nunneries throughout this region. Elizabeth Gardener and Ruth Hofer have been always at the forefront in fund raising for the LNA by continuously offering moral and financial support.

Marlies Bosch from the Netherlands and Nana from Germany are planning to print postcards depicting LNA activities.  The proceeds from the sale of the postcards will go towards the welfare of the Ladakh nuns. Marlies and her friends are presently developing plans to make it possible for the LNA to find the funds for the education programme for the nuns of Ladakh.  In 2002 she will  establish the "Ladakh Nuns Sponsor Foundation" in the Netherlands. 

The LNA is very grateful to David Lilly White of England for sponsoring Dr. T.Palmo, President of the LNA, to attend an English speaking and writing course for a period of seven weeks at Swan School, Oxford last year, and extending support and guidance to her during her stay abroad.  She had a comfortable stay and benefited much, for which all members of the LNA are highly indebted to him.

Giny Ten Broumulen from Holland kindly aided the LNA last summer, especially for conducting English speaking and writing courses to nuns at Rizong Nunnery.  The nuns are grateful to her. She also helped to find sponsors for our students.

We are also very thankful to Nel Willekens for her donations to fund an excellent assistant for the LNA.  Nel and Ven Tenzin Chodron and her friends worked very hard to raise funds to build the Tashi Choling nunnery and to have teachings in the Thiksay Nunnery. All the nuns and the people of Ladakh are very thankful to all of them for the great support. They are still working very hard in supporting the LNA activities.

 The LNA deeply appreciates the much-needed assistance of Corne Wacker.  Mrs Wacker is an avid supporter of the LNA who has located sponsors for six LNA nuns, moreover, she is currently searching for donors to fund an LNA initiative aimed at informing regional women about the plight of Ladakhi nuns. The LNA thanks Mrs.Wacker for her effort.

The LNA is grateful to Anne Renken of Germany for visiting the Skidmang Nunnery and for donating Rs. 15,000 to LNA hostel students for general activities.  She is also sponsoring Rev. T. Dolma studying in the Deachen Choling Nunnery at Skidmang.  Rev. Dolma is attending the English Language course during the winter-time here in the LNA Centre. Then they will go to Dharamsala for office management training in the Dolma Ling Nunnery.

Isodol of Germany and Barbara Stamine from Switzerland have been so kind to visit various nunneries, and for donating winter clothes for the LNA students.  The students of the LNA are very grateful to both of them and their friends.

The LNA is thankful to Cynthia Hunt, MSC Director of Health Environment and Literacy in the Himalayas, who has been working with Ven. T. Palmo on numerous issues and projects over the past thirteen years.  Cynthia's organisation and the LNA have been supporting the same approach to publishing women's, children's, and minority's rights and to provide services in remote communities of this region.  Furthermore, the Association's programmes are cost-effective and a wise investment of scarce international funds.  She has the greatest respect for Dr. Palmo, her organisation and co-workers, and the projects she undertakes.  Having worked with Ani-la, she can personally attest to the success of her programmes and the integrity behind every aspect of the Nuns Association’s work.

Ven Rita Raniker from Dharamsala has been a great source of inspiration to the LNA since the establishment of LNA.  She wrote an encouraging letter saying: "Ven. Palmo may not be the greatest of administrators, but her commitment to the nuns is as unshaken as ever.  Visiting nunneries myself, and together with her, shows clearly, that in just those few years, a lot of progress has been made in terms of building to improve the living conditions of the nuns, and especially learning opportunities, be it on very down to earth subjects or Dharma teachings.  The nuns really owe thanks to her, and it is very touching to see how devoted they are to Ven. Palmo, and how happy they are when she turns up in person, or just talking about her.  If the nuns do not have a strong voice and commitment like Ven. Palmo's, effort and progress that has been made until now will have been in vain".

Ven Rita Raniker participated in the chanting of the Tara Puja last summer in which all the Ladakhi nuns assembled.  The 100,000 Tara Puja chanted for the long life of H.H.The Dalai Lama, for all the donors, and for world peace. The LNA is thankful to Ven Rita for having contributed Rs.10,000 to students studying at Dolma Ling Nunnery Dharamsala (HP).

Chris Haskett, from Liker Monastery, along with Jill Jameson have made a remarkable effort explaining the misunderstandings and resolving the doubts of the Singaporean coordinators. They assured them of the LNA's commitment in fulfilling its obligations as an organisation committed to Buddhist principles.  He writes: "In our lineage, the Boddhisattva vows mandate that one must try to explain oneself to others, that one must not fail to try to get along with others, and that one must try to put to a stop any untrue rumours that may or may not be circulating about oneself."  The LNA is thankful to him for his untiring effort to encourage LNA activities and his constant moral support.

Jill Jameson of Australia, an international administrator with vast experience in the field of development of local NGO's and a well-wisher of the LNA, had been invited by Ven. Palmo, the founder of the LNA, to visit Ladakh to do a survey of some of the many remote and inaccessible nunneries located throughout the regions of Ladakh and Zangskar. She visited Skidmang, Zangskar, Mulbek and Shargol Nunneries during 2001 in order to conduct a survey of the nuns and the nunneries.

She also organised budgeting and organisational training for LNA staff at Leh, besides holding such training for other nuns at the Nunneries that she visited, which no doubt proved quite profitable to the LNA because it enables them to work in a more efficient and well ordered manner.  The LNA is thankful to her.