LNA Newsletter - Winter 2003

Visit to Thailand;- In February 2003, Venerable Palmo visited Thailand, organized by the International Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice (IWP). For five days, she took part in the annual “Think Sangha”, in an international group of ordained and lay engaged Buddhists. This year’s theme was “Buddhist responses to global violence”, and Venerable Palmo shared insights into gender violence and the situation for nuns in Ladakh. Following the Think Sangha, she gave several talks and teachings in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Ouyporn Khuankaew of IWP and the Thai Inter-religious Commission for Development (TICD) organized several Dharma teachings and talks on health care, as well as several days of personal medical consultancies for more than 70 ordained and lay practitioners. Thanks are due to Ouyporn, and to Venerable Sansani of Bangkok, who hosted the teachings. Nong and all members of TICD are due thanks also. Donations raised during the teachings were used for the construction of the meditation hall at the LNA training centre, as well as for an ordination ceremony for eighteen new nuns.

 Meeting with nuns of different nunneries; - In March, the LNA hosted a meeting with nuns of different nunneries coming from various parts of Ladakh. This meeting gave the LNA the opportunity to meet many nuns from Zanskar and Chanthang and to transmit a message from H.H The Dalai Lama, advising creation of an institute for Ladakhi nuns so that they may be Dharma teachers and active social workers in future. Also in the meeting were highlighted several urgent needs. A committee of eight nuns was formed with Venerable Tenzin Lhadron of LNA as co-ordinator, to help and guide the nuns studying in different institutions in Dharamsala in the future. During the teachings of H.H The Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, the Dutch CHOMO Foundation members held a meeting and decided to continue financial support for the teachings at Thiksay Nunnery and also to help purchase and distribute of free medicines to all the nunneries.

Gifts received;- Venerable Rita Riniker donated a TV and video player to the LNA to enable nuns and villagers, particularly those living in remote areas, to have a deeper understanding of the Dharma through videos. LNA is deeply thankful to Ven.Rita for her generosity. Our thanks are also for the monetary donation we received recently from her. We received a beautiful thangka of Lord Buddha which was offered by Madam Giny Ten Brummelhuis (The Netherlands) for our mediation hall. We also received a statue of Lord Buddha from Thailand for our hostel which was generously given by Ms Ouyporn Khankaew.

Survey of Nunneries in Central Ladakh;- In May, LNA staff conducted a survey of two nunneries, Rezong and Temisgam, and presented a progress report about their needs to the LNA committee. The LNA met with nuns from different nunneries during teachings of H.H The Dalai Lama in July in Choglamsar, Ladakh.

Volunteer English Teachers;- In June, four English volunteers from Mondo Challenge, a UK based organisation, came to teach voluntarily in Ladakh following a site visit from the Nepal Mondo Challenge office. The LNA decided their placements in different nunneries, monasteries and public schools. We are encouraged by their hard work and patience in challenging situations. Ms. Willamin from the Netherlands led a workshop for nuns on how to teach young nuns through art and games, which was thoroughly enjoyed by our staff who found the workshop very stimulating. She also donated lots of teaching materials.

Filming :- In July, three film teams from America, Belgium and The Netherlands came to Ladakh to document the conditions of nuns and nunneries. The Dutch Foundation for Ladakhi Nuns (DFLN) visited LNA, and offered training in leadership, conflict resolution, article writing, and communication. After the trainings, they visited four nunneries to see the progress that had been made (Shargol, Whaka, Rezong and Timisgam nunneries).

Construction begins at Thiksay Nunnery:- The nuns from Thiksay nunnery invited DFLN members for a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the building. Dr. Jan Willis, President of DFLN, laid the stone. The construction up to the plinth area was completed this year which will comprise fifteen rooms, dinning hall, kitchen, storeroom and bathrooms.

Sponsors visit :- Dr. Corinne Wacker and Dr. Markus Wolf visited the LNA centre and also met all the students at the Hostel. She expressed her contentment over all the performance of LNA. They assured full support morally as well as finding new sponsors for all the students. They are already sponsoring many of our students, More than fifty nuns are studying outside of Ladakh and have been since 1999. The LNA are highly indebted to Dr. Corinne Wacker, her relatives and friends. Nong (TICD), Tu and her friends, all from Thailand, also visited Ladakh. They gave training for more than five days on accountancy to our staff, which was very beneficial. They also visited a few nunneries in Ladakh and met the nuns in the Hostel.

BIOLOGO support for LNA:- The LNA is extremely grateful to BIOLOGO of Switzerland for its very kind gesture of providing funds for our students studying Tibetan medicine, all of whom are doing very well in their studies. There is also a great need to hold workshops, training on health workers, seminars, surveys on medicinal spring water and collecting experiences from senior physicians. Despite many constraints and problems, BIOLOGO has always been at the forefront in helping the students and the LNA.

Teachings organised :- In August, the LNA invited Venerable Geshe Topgyal-La, the former abbot of Galden Choling Nunnery in Dharamsala, to perform the mantra of Chenrezig (Om ma ni Padme hum) for the long life of H.H Dalai Lama and for world peace. It was sponsored by the Ladakh Women’s Alliance, Leh for five days. The opening and closing ceremonies were sponsored by the LNA. Ven. Geshe-la gave teachings on Lama Chopa, Jorcho, and oral transmission on Monlam Namgedma. He also gave Upasika vows to new nuns. Ven Geshe Rinpoche-la blessed the opening ceremony of the meditation hall at the LNA centre.

Ven. Geshe-la was also invited to Thekchen Choling nunnery at Temisgam village. He gave Medicine Buddha initiation and guidance to the nuns on how to practice for about two days. Ven. Geshe-la met with the LNA committee, who requested him to visit for two to three months next year, 2004.

In October, Venerable Lobzang Tsephel gave teaching on mind training to all the staff for two weeks. A ten days discourse on mind training was arranged at Ney Monastery, sponsored by Mr. Dorjay Namgail, attended by more than twenty-one nuns.

Inauguration of the meditation Hall:- The inauguration of the mediation hall was done by Madam Elisabeth Gardener, from Switzerland, despite her hectic schedule over here. All LNA students, the President of The All Ladakh Gonpa Association, Phandeling nunnery nuns, the director of the Women’s Alliance and their working committee members, all committee members of LNA, Skara women and all staff and the students and friends of LNA participated in the opening ceremony which, though simple, was impressive. The LNA working committee members pay their heartfelt gratitude to Elisabeth Gardener. She also donated Rs 30,000 to LNA. Dr. Palmo (President of LNA) highlighted the activities of the LNA before the audience.

Study Tour and Workshop: - In December, two LNA members visited Darjeeling to meet our medical students during their winter holidays. They will give a four day workshop to the students about communication, skill building and conflict resolution. They will also collect all the information of their training and also of the Medical Institute, and in addition will meet the director of the Chakpori Medical Institute. From 29 th December, teachings on the five paths and ten stages will be held for about ten days. The LNA requested Dr. Lobzang Tsewang, a scholar of Buddhist Philosophy at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies to give teachings. After that Dr. Jamyang Gyaltsan will also give teachings on Duptha, organised by the Ladakh Buddhist Association, for ten days.

Students’ exams and results:- This year all the junior students obtained high marks in their exams. We sent two students Jigmat Lahazee and Tsering Lhadol to Lamdon School in Leh. The senior students recently finished their exams, their results will be declared in March 2004. The other senior students (studying out of Ladakh), all passed their exams with high marks and are sending their thanks to their sponsors for their very kind support in their studies. All educational institutions close for two months winter holidays starting from mid December. This year we will give training for all our students on basic health care and prevention of disease for about one month. After that, free tuition will be given for all the students for the rest of the month.