Pundarika UK

Tsoknyi Nangchen Nuns and Monks in Tibet

The Background

In the mid 1800s Tsoknyi Rinpoche I created a system of practice centres and hermitages in Nangchen, Eastern Tibet, that would allow thousands of women to strive for the fruit of Tibetan Buddhist practices: great love and compassion and profound freedom. This system was renowned in Tibet for the commitment and deep realization of its practitioners, with many great masters attesting to their excellence. The nuns and monks live hard and simple lives, mirroring ancient Buddhist sages like Milarepa, and yet have an infectious inner joy and radiance.

After the revolutionary changes in the 1960s and 70s in China and Tibet resulting in the loss of existing monasteries, a few of the older nuns and monks maintained their practices in caves and endured great hardship surviving in the high mountains in the Nangchen region. Once conditions were ripe, they began to rebuild the practice centres and hermitages from scratch, teaching a new generation of nuns and monks. Hearing that their lineage master was again active and teaching, a small group of these nuns and monks walked all the way from Nangchen to Nepal seeking out Tsoknyi Rinpoche III. The living presence of a master is considered a great blessing as he embodies the warmth and integrity of the teachings and imparts the transmissions of the lineage.

Today there are around 400 monks and 2,600 nuns, many of whom are accomplished in advanced practices such as tummo (the yoga of inner heat). They perform yearly rituals for the public where sheets wetted with melted snow are dried again and again with the inner heat generated by their yogic practice. This rare event, as well as the realization of the elder nuns, has gained them respect and renown throughout Tibet.

In a culture where female practitioners have struggled to gain respect, these nuns have risen to a high level of status, with many monks and lamas seeking their teachings and instruction. The power of their practice is evident in the atmosphere of harmony and cooperation within the nunneries, as well as having an impact on the surrounding communities, which have become very peaceful and markedly happier as violence, excessive drinking and smoking habits decline. Harsh speech is rare and many villagers are inspired to be vegetarian.

The nuns also serve the community through spiritual support, counselling and helping with ceremonies. Their very presence in the area and their values of peace, love and compassion affect the entire community and continue to branch out to the rest of the world.

Rinpoche hopes to bring senior nuns to teach in Nepal and once they are established they may one day teach in the West.

Nepal

Rinpoche has many monastics under his care in Nepal, where he grew up and currently lives.

Ngesdön Ösel Ling Monastery (Kathmandu, Nepal)

Ösel Ling is Rinpoche's seat in the East. More than 100 monks from Nepal and Tibet are schooled here by khenpos (teachers) who are widely educated in Tibetan Buddhism. Daily classes are given in many subjects, such as Tibetan and Nepali language, history and calligraphy. The monks are also well trained in philosophy, debate and traditional ritual practice. Many of the monks come from Nubri and Mustang, remote and poor areas of northern Nepal. Rinpoche originally planned for 50 monks, but has been unable to refuse the repeated requests from villages in these areas to accept more of their sons for Buddhist education and training. The monks' quarters and the lhakong (assembly hall) are therefore over capacity.

Chumig Gyatsa Gargon Abbey and Clinic (Mustang, Nepal)

The Chumig Gyatsa Gargon Abbey and Clinic in Mustang is a classic example of the power of faith and trust. Located near the ancient pilgrimage site of Muktinath, the Abbey has been in existence for at least 300 years. Nearly 60 years ago, a devastating fire destroyed the Abbey, leaving the nuns without a home. These nuns struggled to maintain their nunnery without the guidance of a spiritual head or any basic material support. Despite these difficulties, they prayed daily as best they could in their shrine room, which was rapidly disintegrating. Hearing of a great Tibetan lama of their own lineage, three senior nuns walked hundreds of miles over mountainous terrain to Kathmandu in 1991 to request the spiritual and material help of Tsoknyi Rinpoche III.

Rinpoche's first visit led to the immediate construction of 10 small rooms. Since then, their nunnery has been repaired and enlarged, and the nuns were able to perform a full Buddhist ritual practice for the first time. Twenty young girls were ordained and joined the community. Today, the 51 nuns divide their time between Kathmandu and Muktinath. Also, a health clinic was constructed that serves the nuns and the local community. This year, a new large shrine hall is being constructed.

Pharping Gebchak Nuns (Nepal)

In 1999 a group of Gebchak nuns from East Tibet (also having practised for decades without a spiritual guide) walked from Eastern Tibet to Kathmandu to meet their guru, Tsoknyi Rinpoche III. Upon their arrival, Rinpoche established the Gebchak Changchub Nuns Meditation Retreat Centre (sister nunnery to Gebchak Gonpa in Tibet) in Pharping, a small village just outside the Kathmandu Valley. Here he created the opportunity for 23 nuns to complete a strict three-year retreat in a farmhouse. The nuns practised just as they did in Tibet, sitting in meditation all day and practising dream yoga throughout the night. Now, with new young women from Nubri, Northern Nepal, there are about 32 nuns in the community.

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