Support Tibetan Nuns in the Himalayas
Tibetan nuns are some of the brightest, humblest and wisest humans on our planet. They are still fighting for their equal rights within the Tibetan Buddhist Culture to be Teachers & Leaders, but have definitely come a long way. They always need support for their nunneries for education, food & accommodation, teacher's salaries, nun sponsorship and much more.
​
Another way one can support, if they're ever in Northern India or Nepal is to offer quality english teaching to the nuns. I had the privelage of being taught by many Geshemas this year and let me tell you, they blew my mind. Many of them are still very shy and not confident about their english, but the world NEEDS TO HEAR THEM SPEAK. The world NEEDS THEIR WISDOM & TEACHINGS OF THE DHARMA. So if you're an english teacher and dharma practitioner, it is definitely something to look into as an amazing service offering that will not only impact the nuns, but also humanity.
“A donation to this cause benefits beyond helping just the nuns… it benefits the Tibetan culture, it benefits refugees from Tibet, it benefits education for women, it benefits the Buddhist religion and community and all of this spreads like a ripple of compassion for others beyond that community. This is not charity; it is an investment in humanity.” Elen B., donor
​
The Tibetan Nuns Project is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 1987. Our mission is:
-
To educate and empower nuns of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as teachers and leaders; and
-
To establish, strengthen, and support educational institutions to sustain Tibetan religion and culture.
​
In 1987, many nuns began escaping from Tibet in search of religious and educational freedom. The majority of the nuns were destitute and illiterate, and they arrived in a refugee community already struggling to survive. These dedicated women wanted to live, study, practice, and teach in accordance with their spiritual beliefs.
​
Traditionally, Buddhist nuns have not had the same access to education as monks. The Tibetan Nuns Project aims to elevate the educational standards and the position of women. We created a groundbreaking education system aimed at both preserving Tibetan culture and empowering the nuns to live and become leaders in the modern world.
​
Currently, the Tibetan Nuns Project supports over 800 nuns and seven nunneries in northern India from all Tibetan Buddhist traditions, as well as nuns living on their own and in retreat.
​
Click above to see how you can support the nuns. They also have a wonderful online shop with lovely products handmade by the nuns. The incents are amazing, made by the nuns at Kopan Nunnery in Kathmandu.
Founded by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo for Himalayan women in the Drukpa Kagyu Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
​
At the request of her Teacher, the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Jetsunma’s vision was to found a Nunnery to give young nuns of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage the opportunity to realise their intellectual and spiritual potential after so many centuries of neglect, and also to reinstate at the nunnery the Togdenma (yogini) tradition.
​
There are 114 nuns currently living, studying and practising at Dongyu Gatsal Ling. They are from the Himalayan regions, mainly Tibet, Lahaul, Ladakh, Kinnaur, Bhutan, Arunachal and Nepal.
​
In Dongyu Gatsal Ling the nuns take on a Buddhist philosphy study program, follow their daily and monthly rituals and practices, and are in retreat for at least 2 months of the year.
​
To find out more on how you can support the nuns at DGL, click above.
Khachoe Ghakyil Ling, Kopan's Nunnery in Kathmandu, has been able to take care of its resident nuns, improve continuously the education program and upgrade its facilities due to the kindness of benefactors and concerned sponsors who are holding the nunnery at their heart.
​
At the same time, the nunnery has very few sources of reliable income, an essential ingredient for financial security.
​
Donations for prayers and pujas is growing. There are always many requests for Tara pujas, the recitation of the 21 Tara praises, the reading of sutras sutras for the local as well as the international community.
The Pure Land Incense factory, established in 1997, is increasingly successful and is now contributing towards the general expenses of the nunnery. The Tibetan-style incense is hand-made by the nuns and has become very popular. It is available in a variety of fragrances and presentation, and sold internationally as well as through the Monastery Shop, an online shop associated with Kopan and the Nunnery.
​
International tours arranged on a yearly basis by centers and benefactors all over the world also help to pay the bills.
The income received is not enough to cover all expenses . Running cost are very high - there is maintenance of the buildings and facilities, electricity, water, administration, simple repairs, and more. Because of the intermittent electricity supply and sometimes blackouts of eight hours or more, a generator was purchased to secure the electricity supply in the evenings and early mornings, to continue the normal activities of daily life; but the fuel costs are high.
​
Education costs are ever increasing. As the cost of living increases, wages of the teachers need to be increased as well.
This financial insecurity is a great hindrance to the development of the nunnery and the community.
​
Click above to find out how you can support the nuns at the Kopan Nunneries in both India & Nepal.
Thosamling is an international Nunnery for Buddhist nuns and female lay practitioners, living and studying within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. For our study and practice we draw inspiration from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
​
Thosamling is located in the quiet foothills of the spectacular Dhauladhar Range of the Himalayas. This places us close to renowned teachers from all four Buddhist lineages, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa, Khamtrul Rinpoche, Tai Situ Rinpoche, and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.
​
We provide a unique opportunity for Buddhist nuns and lay women who wish to have the Dharma as the central focus in their life, by offering a conducive environment for study and practice.
​
We are in particular a place of refuge for newly ordained nuns, giving them a firm foundation in study and practice. We offer an extensive Buddhist philosophy study program, a Tibetan language course, and we offer training in ritual practices, such as pujas, and in the preliminary practices. By nurturing and supporting the Sangha jewel we in turn create a community that inspires others to practice Dharma for the benefit of all.
​
Our main focus is to support the flourishing of Dharma throughout the world.
​
Click above to find out how you can support the nuns of Thosamling.
