Make Offerings to Tibetan Buddhist Nuns on Chokhor Duchen

His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a group of geshemas in March 2019, Jamyang Choling Institute Facebook.

Friday, July 24, 2020, is Chokhor Duchen, the day people around the world will commemorate the anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha's first teaching.

Chokhor Duchen is a merit multiplying day. The merit received for any positive actions done on July 24 will be multiplied. This week, I will be sharing some opportunities to create merit.

Thrangu Tara Abbey Nunnery, Gompa Services Facebook.

Make Offerings to Himalayan Tibetan Buddhist Nuns

Gompa Services is a website anyone in the world can use to make offerings to monastic institutions. They have listed two events taking place at nunneries in Nepal and India on July 24, 2020.

Donate even a small amount on Chokhor Duchen to support the nuns by logging into (or creating for the first time) your free Gompa Services account, and selecting the nunnery event you want to support. Make a donation to the nunnery and send names for dedications before the July 24 IST deadline.

Thrangu Tara Abbey, Thrangu Tara Abbey Facebook June 2020.

Thrangu Tara Abbey Nunnery

Thrangu Tara Abbey Nunnery's webpage says it "is a monastery established for Buddhist nuns by Thrangu Rinpoche. It is located in Swayambunath on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Most of the 200+ nuns come from the northern areas of Nepal but many also come from Tibet, India and Bhutan. Sometimes nuns from Asian countries and the west stay at the Abbey."

See photos and connect with Thrangu Tara Abbey Nunnery by adding Thrangu Tara Abbey as a friend on Facebook.

The Gompa Services website says, "On the auspicious occasion of Chokhor Duchen (the anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha’s First Teaching), we are pleased to offer the opportunity for Gompa member-supporters to send offerings, with dedications, to Thrangu Tara Abbey Nunnery in support of ‘Readings from the Kangyur’ (collection of the Buddha’s teachings) on July 24th, 2020. You are cordially invited to participate.

"Kangyur literally means the 'translated words' of the Buddha. The Kangyur is a collection of the Buddha's own teachings in Tibetan translation. The words of the Buddha comprise both the sutras and the tantras. Readings of the Kangyur generate tremendous merit and are beneficial to all sentient beings."

Jamyang Choeling Institute, Jamyang Choling Nunnery Facebook.

Jamyang Choling Institute

The Jamyang Choling Institute website says, "Jamyang Choling Institute (JCI) was founded by Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo (an American Buddhist nun) with young group of Himalayan nuns in 1988 to educate Buddhist nuns and laywomen who would otherwise have no opportunity to receive any formal secular or spiritual education." The nunnery is in Himachal Pradesh, India, nearby Dharamsala.

In 2016, I visited the nunnery and my friend Elena (dressed in peach and grey in the photo above) who studies at the nunnery.

The nunnery's website also says, "Currently there are 141 members and 7 teachers at JCI. The students range in age from 11 to 65 and come from various parts of the Himalayan region, including Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh, Zanskar, Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur, Garhwal, Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh and few International students too. The Institute has a program that requires over 17 years of intense study to complete and is equivalent to the program of study required for a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy. The program not only covers Buddhist philosophy but also includes courses in meditation, Tibetan, English, Hindi languages, computer and administration skills."

See photos and connect with Jamyang Choling Institute by adding Jamyang Choling Nunnery as a friend on Facebook.

The Gompa Services website says, "On the auspicious occasion of Chokhor Duchen – the anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha’s first turning of the wheel of Dharma, which this year, according to the lunar calendar falls on 24th July 2020 – we are pleased to offer the opportunity for Gompa member-supporters to send offerings, with dedications, to Jamyang Choling Institute in Dharamsala. The nuns will perform Guru Puja (Lama Chopa) on July 24th, 2020. You are cordially invited to participate in the prayer services conducted by the nuns on this special day.

"The Lama Chopa Puja, written in verse by the fifth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen, is one of the most popular Guru Yoga practices performed in the monasteries and nunneries that follow Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Dakpa's teachings. ‘Lama Chopa’ literally means ‘making offerings to the spiritual guide’. This beautifully poetic and profound guru puja practice is a powerful method for strengthening the guru disciple relationship. This special Lama Chopa Puja (Guru Puja) is dedicated to the long life of all the spiritual masters and for the benefit of all beings, living and dead."

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Geshe Kelsang Wangmo, Tsunma Tenzin Sangmo, www.allianceofnonhimalyannuns.org.

Make Offerings to Non-Himalayan Tibetan Buddhist Nuns

I am excited to share about the Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns, a nonprofit founded by three Western Tibetan Buddhist nuns I greatly admire: Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Geshe Kelsang Wangmo, and Tsunma Tenzin Sangmo.

I have received teachings from Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and Geshe Kelsang Wangmo, visited Jetsunma's nunnery Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India, and stayed at Thosamling Nunnery founded by Tsunma Tenzin Sangmo in Himachal Pradesh.

Learn more about the nuns and their work by visiting the websites www.allianceofnonhimalyannuns.org, www.tenzinpalmo.com, www.kelsangwangmo.com, and www.thosamling.com.

Donate even a small amount on Chokhor Duchen to support the Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns through the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Initiatives website.

Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns

The Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns website says, "The Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns (ANHN) is a international, non-sectarian organization committed to supporting women ordained as Tibetan Buddhist nuns from beyond traditional Tibetan Buddhist regions. ANHN is open to all and seeks to advance all existing organisations and communities committed to supporting these nuns.

"Our aim is to raise awareness and give support to these nuns, in accord with the support given to their Himalayan Dharma sisters, so they may swiftly become exemplary models of the monastic life well lived and thus bring greatest benefit to their local communities across the world.

The ANHN website also says, "While there a few classes of highly trained Geshe Mas (equivalent to a PhD plus in the West) have graduated, most do not speak English, and nearly all are embedded and serving within the Tibetan nunnery system in India. So, the role of well trained and qualified teachers from other cultures becomes very apparent. Who will carry the teachings forward to the rest of the world? This is where the Alliance of Non Himalayan Nuns (ANHN) plays a critical role.

"It is a vehicle, envisioned by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and directed by her, as well as Geshe Ma Kelsang Wangmo (a German nun who became the first female Geshe in the Tibetan tradition), and Venerable Tenzin Sangmo, (who built and directs the only Vajrayana Buddhist Nunnery in India for non-Himalayan nuns). They have been there over decades to witness first hand the struggles of women, who from karma have been led into this unique situation of being ordained into the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition.

"Those ordained from beyond Tibetan and Himalayan cultures often face very daunting circumstances to remain in robes and hold true to their vows. There are stories floating around that up to 75% of this group who take ordination are forced to give back their vows and robes.

"Why is this? In the case of most nuns these are the most commonly stated reasons:

• There are economic challenges: how to be supported while one studies and practices
• Environmental challenges: where to find a conducive place to live and practice, as a renounced monastic? Renounced means that after taking ordination one is not expected to work anymore in the traditional sense.
• Spiritual challenges: how to access the sacred items that go along with monastic life, such as new robes, texts and other needed items for practice.
• Continuing education challenges: travel to attend teachings and retreats is often unattainable, if the other mentioned needs are proving difficult.

"Unlike familial and cultural support from within the Tibetan tradition, most non-Himalayan nuns do not have that kind of support from their family or culture of origin.

"The main objective of ANHN is to help educate the sangha about the need to support Non-Himalayan Nuns. ANHN provides a vehicle to help meet their needs, and aims to generate tangible support for these nuns. We then get that needed support directly to those who are requesting it through a formal application process.

"Donations to ANHN go directly to providing the necessary causes and condition to make an incredible impact on the lives of nuns to be able to stay in robes and continue to grow and meet their objectives of cultivating spiritual qualities in order to be of ultimate benefit."