LNA Newsletter - Winter 2002

Dear friends, Julley,      

Merry Christmas, and greetings from all of us here, nestled in the heart of the Himalayan Mountains. We are happy to report to you that the sixth year of our existence is coming to an end among many inspiring and satisfying moments. It is important for us to keep you informed on all that has happened and also to let you know of our future plans. We wish you a happy and prosperous new year.

All the students passed their annual exams with good marks and we are very grateful to all the sponsors for their very kind support. All the students send their love and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you!

His Holiness The Dalai Lama visited Ladakh: 

His Holiness The Dalai Lama visited Ladakh on 7th of August 2002 as scheduled. The whole of Leh town, up to Jevetsal, (Choglamsar, Leh) was decorated with colourful prayer flags and welcome gates. All Sangha members of different monasteries, and people from all walks of life in colourful traditional dress, paid an unprecedented reception to His Holiness The Dalai Lama. There was a festive look on everybody's face when H.H The Dalai Lama passed by the devotees standing both sides of road leading to Choglamsar in a motorcade. People from all communities were jubilant to have a glimpse of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

Herbs collection:

The trainees of the traditional Amchi medicine system went for the collection of herbs at Khardongla Pass organised by the LNA, from 8th to 14th August accompanied by their teachers.

Dharma teachings:

On 16th to 18th August 2002, His Holiness The Dalai Lama administered teachings of "37 practices of Bodhisattva" and "Changchub Lamdon" composed by Lama Atisha.  More than twenty thousand devotees participated in the Dharma gathering for three consecutive days.  On the final day H.H. The Dalai Lama conferred Upasaka vows to the lay devotees.

General Body meeting:

A general body meeting of all members of LNA was held on 17th of August in the conference Hall of the "Central Institute of Buddhist Studies", Choglamsar, under the chairmanship of Mr. Tashi Paljor, the principal.  More than 70 nuns from various nunneries participated.  Ven T.Palmo recounted progress of the LNA, in the field of education and other matters over the past seven years.  Some complications experienced by the nuns, at their respective nunneries, came to light during interaction and a solution to their problems was discussed in length.

With the initiative of Ven. Rita a familiarization was arranged so that they could fully adapt the mode of functioning of the office of the Tibetan Nuns Project, Dharamsala, to enable them to follow the same pattern for running the LNA in an appropriate manner. The LNA is highly thankful to Rinchen Khando la, Elisabeth Napper and all staff members for providing such a valuable opportunity to the LNA. The LNA is also indebted to the Director of the Tibetan nuns' project for granting admission to five LNA students in their nunnery at Dharamsala.

Peace rally at Leh:

Jill Jameson, a member of the International Buddhist Peace Fellowship, organized a peace march on 8th of June 2002 with the co-operation of all sections of the society, especially the various religious organizations of Leh, Ladakh. This march was started from Devi Mandir and culminated at the Polo Ground. A large number of people from all walks of life, and students from different Schools participated. Shri T. Samphel (President, Ladakh Buddhist Association), Ven Angchok (President, Ladakh Gonpa Association), and all heads of religious associations addressed the gathering for instant stoppage of the war between India and Pakistan keeping in view the present heightened border tension between the two countries.

LNA team tour to historical monuments in Purig area of Kargil.

After the barbaric act of the Taliban in Afghanistan of destroying the world's largest rock carved statue of Lord Buddha in the year 2001, the importance to preserve and protect such ancient and invaluable, sacred sculptures drew worldwide attention. These sculptures are known as Ghandara Arts, which are about 1500 to 2000 years old, a heritage of human civilization. Human civilization received a setback in the year 2000 when the Muslim fundamentalist Taliban callously destroyed the statue despite worldwide pleas not to blemish such a valued figure of the Buddha. No doubt it was a lamentable and condemnable action and an incursion on civilization, and the future generation of civilization can hardly forgive such deeds of stupidity as faiths and sentiments of millions all over the globe shattered.

In the month of June, a team of the LNA visited the Purig area of Kargil to assess on the spot the present condition of invaluable figures of enlightened ones, carved on rocks and felt an urgency as to how best such hitherto neglected and undervalued monuments of Buddhist art can be protected in the years to come.

A week’s teaching on Gyalden Lhagyma & a three-day Tara Puja was organised at Thekchen Chatsan ling, Thiksay Nunnery in May 2002 during the Buddha Janti. Ven Geshe Tsulrtim Tharchen gave the teachings to the nuns and the laywomen. It was sponsored by Ven Tenzin Chodron and her friends (Chomo) from Netherland. The Tara Puja was organized for the longevity of sponsors, and for the prevailing of peace and harmony in this mundane world, to develop compassion and love for all sentient beings. At the end of the puja the nuns decided to build a nunnery of their own to lead a peaceful life in future.

With this view they approached Most Ven. Khenpo Rinpoche (Thiksay) for donation of a piece of land for the construction of a nunnery.  Rinpoche has been kind enough to allot a piece of land from a place known as YARMA (Thiksay) which happened to be an ancient and sanctified site, with many old clay stupas in dilapidated conditions dating back to Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo, a great spiritual and divine person. It is a peaceful and calm location, and is an ideal place for seeking a harmonious life for nuns.

Book on Bki.Palmo:-  A book in Tibetan on the life of Bki. Palmo, a great yogini, was printed and  will soon be distributed to all the nunneries. Richard and Carol Weingarten from USA sponsored the printing of the books.  

Nana from Germany has been kind to the LNA as she printed about more than three thousand postcards depicting various pictures of nuns for sale. The proceeds will go towards the overall welfare of the nuns in Leh. May she accrue a lot of merits by this kind and altruistic gesture. 

Longevity Puja in honour of Rgal Rtsas Bakula Rinpoche

A one day Tara Mantra Puja (Rtansjuks) for the long life of H.H. Bakula Rinpoche was organized on behalf of all the nuns of Ladakh, in which about 100 nuns participated coming from different nunneries at the newly completed Fotang of Bakula Rinpoche, Samker. The audience was also blessed by the presence of Most Ven. Jangtse Chojay Sras Rinpoche. At the end of the devotional function, a Tsogs offering was presented to accumulate merits and sending love and compassion to all sentient beings in this mundane world, particularly in view of the prevalent animosity faced by the innocent ones due to a lack of humane warmth.