Tibetan Nuns Project
Encyclopedia
The Tibetan Nuns Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and supporting nuns in India
from all Tibetan Buddhist lineages.. It supports nuns interested in study and higher ordination.
, certainly from the 12th century and with traditions reaching back as far as the eighth century. Before the Chinese invasion in 1949, there were at least 818 nunneries and nearly 28,000 nuns living in Tibet. Traditional education in the nunneries included reading, writing, and lessons in ancient scriptures and prayers taught by the senior nuns or lamas from monasteries. Traditional activities for the nuns included performance of rituals requested by the lay community and crafts such as embroidery and sewing. Administrative and maintenance tasks were rotated so that all nuns gained experience in running the nunnery.
In recent years, due to the repressive conditions in Tibet, an influx of nuns have arrived to join the refugee communities in India
and Nepal
. Ranging in age from pre-teen to mid-eighties, these nuns come from all parts of Tibet and from many different backgrounds. Upon arrival in India, many nuns are suffering severely from the stresses of their long, arduous and often dangerous journeys of escape. Some have faced torture and imprisonment at the hands of the Chinese authorities in Tibet and are enduring immense physical and emotional pain. In most cases, the nuns arrive without money or possessions.
In the mid 80s, under the auspices of the Department of Religion and Culture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Women's Association
, the Tibetan Nuns Project (TNP) was established to assist the refugee nuns from Tibet as well as to improve the overall status and level of ordained Tibetan women. The main objectives of the project are to provide basic care for these women, and educate them in traditional values and philosophy, as well as the essential skills and knowledge needed to function in the modern world. The Tibetan Nuns Project also works to establish a role for ordained women as teachers and leaders comparable to that of monks.
The Tibetan Nuns Project works to:
degree, equivalent to a Ph.D.
Shugsep Nunnery and Institute, of the Nyingma
tradition, was also built and fully supported by the Tibetan Nuns Project, and traces its lineage back to some of the greatest female teachers in Tibetan Buddhism. Upon completion of a nine year academic program, nuns receive a Lopon
degree equivalent to a M.A. and may then do research towards obtaining a Khenpo
degree, equivalent to a Ph.D. in Tantric Philosophy. These nuns will then be able to give the full Nyingma teachings to other monks and nuns.
Geden Choeling Nunnery, of the Gelug
tradition, is the oldest Dharamsala nunnery.
Karma Drubgyu Thargay Ling or Tilokpur Nunnery, of the Kagyu
tradition, provides scriptural and ritual training and has a basic study program.
Sherap Choling, in Spiti, has 45 resident nuns who have begun a rigorous course of study, the first of its kind for women of that region.
Sakya Nuns Institute, in Mundawala near Dehradun
, will offer the full course of studies followed by the monks at Sakya College.
of Germany, the Norwegian Tibet Committee Women's Group and the Norwegian organizations Fokus and Norad, the Swedish foundation Soir-IM, the American Himalayan Foundation
, Rigpa Foundation of London, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Hershey Family Foundation, and the Betsy Gordon Foundation.
, prayer flags, kataks
, and a printed calendar
with photographs.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
from all Tibetan Buddhist lineages.. It supports nuns interested in study and higher ordination.
History
Tibetan nunneries have historically been well established in TibetTibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, certainly from the 12th century and with traditions reaching back as far as the eighth century. Before the Chinese invasion in 1949, there were at least 818 nunneries and nearly 28,000 nuns living in Tibet. Traditional education in the nunneries included reading, writing, and lessons in ancient scriptures and prayers taught by the senior nuns or lamas from monasteries. Traditional activities for the nuns included performance of rituals requested by the lay community and crafts such as embroidery and sewing. Administrative and maintenance tasks were rotated so that all nuns gained experience in running the nunnery.
In recent years, due to the repressive conditions in Tibet, an influx of nuns have arrived to join the refugee communities in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Ranging in age from pre-teen to mid-eighties, these nuns come from all parts of Tibet and from many different backgrounds. Upon arrival in India, many nuns are suffering severely from the stresses of their long, arduous and often dangerous journeys of escape. Some have faced torture and imprisonment at the hands of the Chinese authorities in Tibet and are enduring immense physical and emotional pain. In most cases, the nuns arrive without money or possessions.
In the mid 80s, under the auspices of the Department of Religion and Culture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Women's Association
Tibetan Women's Association
The Tibetan Women's Association ' is a women's association based in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, India. The group was officially formed on September 10, 1984 in India, by Rinchen Khando Choegyal, a former Tibetan Youth Congress activist, although the group itself claims that a precursor was created in...
, the Tibetan Nuns Project (TNP) was established to assist the refugee nuns from Tibet as well as to improve the overall status and level of ordained Tibetan women. The main objectives of the project are to provide basic care for these women, and educate them in traditional values and philosophy, as well as the essential skills and knowledge needed to function in the modern world. The Tibetan Nuns Project also works to establish a role for ordained women as teachers and leaders comparable to that of monks.
The Tibetan Nuns Project works to:
- Contribute to the preservation of Tibetan cultural and religious traditions.
- Improve the health and living conditions of Tibetan nuns in exile.
- Provide traditional as well as modern education for Tibetan women.
- Provide highly educated female teachers to the Tibetan Buddhist community and the world at large.
- Establish self-sufficient Buddhist nunneries.
Programs
Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, built and fully supported by the Tibetan Nuns Project, was the first institute dedicated specifically to higher education for Tibetan Buddhist nuns. It is open to nuns from all traditions. Upon graduation from a nineteen-year progam, the nuns will be thoroughly trained in their Buddhist tradition and will be eligible to receive a GesheGeshe
Geshe is a Tibetan Buddhist academic degree for monks...
degree, equivalent to a Ph.D.
Shugsep Nunnery and Institute, of the Nyingma
Nyingma
The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism . "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and is often referred to as Nga'gyur or the "old school" because it is founded on the first translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan, in the eighth century...
tradition, was also built and fully supported by the Tibetan Nuns Project, and traces its lineage back to some of the greatest female teachers in Tibetan Buddhism. Upon completion of a nine year academic program, nuns receive a Lopon
Lopon
Łopoń is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wojnicz, within Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Wojnicz, west of Tarnów, and east of the regional capital Kraków.-References:...
degree equivalent to a M.A. and may then do research towards obtaining a Khenpo
Khenpo
The term khenpo is a spiritual degree given in Tibetan Buddhism. In the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Sakya traditions, the title is awarded usually after a period of 3 years of intensive study after secondary school level studies, and is considered much like a spiritual Bachelor's. Similar titles of lower...
degree, equivalent to a Ph.D. in Tantric Philosophy. These nuns will then be able to give the full Nyingma teachings to other monks and nuns.
Geden Choeling Nunnery, of the Gelug
Gelug
The Gelug or Gelug-pa , also known as the Yellow Hat sect, is a school of Buddhism founded by Je Tsongkhapa , a philosopher and Tibetan religious leader...
tradition, is the oldest Dharamsala nunnery.
Karma Drubgyu Thargay Ling or Tilokpur Nunnery, of the Kagyu
Kagyu
The Kagyu, Kagyupa, or Kagyud school, also known as the "Oral Lineage" or Whispered Transmission school, is today regarded as one of six main schools of Himalayan or Tibetan Buddhism, the other five being the Nyingma, Sakya, Jonang, Bon and Gelug...
tradition, provides scriptural and ritual training and has a basic study program.
Sherap Choling, in Spiti, has 45 resident nuns who have begun a rigorous course of study, the first of its kind for women of that region.
Sakya Nuns Institute, in Mundawala near Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
, will offer the full course of studies followed by the monks at Sakya College.
Donations
The Project is primarily funded by generous donations from individuals and organizations. Institutional funding has come from the Heinrich Böll FoundationHeinrich Böll Foundation
The Heinrich Böll Foundation is a German, legally independent political foundation. Affiliated with the German Green Party, it was originally founded in 1987 and rebuilt in 1997...
of Germany, the Norwegian Tibet Committee Women's Group and the Norwegian organizations Fokus and Norad, the Swedish foundation Soir-IM, the American Himalayan Foundation
American Himalayan Foundation
The American Himalayan Foundation is a US non-profit organization that helps Tibetans, Sherpas, and Nepalis living throughout the Himalayas. AHF builds schools, plants trees, trains doctors, funds hospitals, takes care of children and the elderly, and restores sacred sites...
, Rigpa Foundation of London, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Hershey Family Foundation, and the Betsy Gordon Foundation.
Sponsorships
The sponsorship program is funded by individuals world-wide through monthly or yearly contributions. The sponsorships provide food, shelter, medical care, and education to the nuns. Sponsors receive a photo and biography and contact information for the nun(s) that they sponsor.Sales
Additional funding is provided by the sale of handmade traditional Buddhist items such as malasBuddhist prayer beads
Buddhist prayer beads are a traditional tool used to count the number of times a mantra is recited whilst meditating. They are similar to other forms of prayer beads used in various world religions; thus some call this tool the Buddhist rosary.-Mala:...
, prayer flags, kataks
Khata
A khata, khada, khadag, or hada is a traditional ceremonial scarf common in Tibetan and Mongolian culture. It symbolizes purity and compassion. It is usually made of silk. Tibetan khatas are usually white symbolising the pure heart of the giver, though it is quite common to find yellow gold khatas...
, and a printed calendar
Calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, and years. The name given to each day is known as a date. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not...
with photographs.
See also
- List of organizations of Tibetans in exile
- Tibetan Women's AssociationTibetan Women's AssociationThe Tibetan Women's Association ' is a women's association based in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, India. The group was officially formed on September 10, 1984 in India, by Rinchen Khando Choegyal, a former Tibetan Youth Congress activist, although the group itself claims that a precursor was created in...
- TibetTibetTibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
- BuddhismBuddhismBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...