Support from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

During his visit to Ladakh in 1999, the Dalai Lama expressed his support for nuns, and stressed the need for the upliftment of nuns in Ladakh. His Holiness stated that in Buddhism and other religions, monks and nuns should have equal opportunities to study Buddhist philosophy, and to equivalent degrees to the male 'geshe' degree (equivalent to a Ph.d in Buddhist Philosophy) and to provide teaching and support to the lay community. He expressed the view that Ladakhi society would benefit from such an advancemnt of nuns.

Beginings

Since its inception, the Ladakh Nuns Association  has had substantial support from many Ladakhis and people abroad. There was some initial resistance to the work of LNA; some people were not prepared to hear about the long-standing suffering of their sisters, daughters, and nieces.  However, support grew and helped to lay the foundations of LNA as a well established, respected and active organization.

The first LNA office was housed in a small shop-front in the main bazaar in Leh.

In 2000, the Jammu and Kashmir government granted a piece of land in Lower Skara, just outside Leh, and the building of a new LNA office and training centre commenced.

Members of the Women’s Alliance of Ladakh donated their time and energy to help LNA staff build the wall around the compound and in 2001 helped to build the roof of the meditation hall, offering financial and practical support Nuns from various nunneries in the vicinity of Leh also gave countless hours to the construction of the new building, which would serve as a conference hall for the nuns’ activities.


By the end of 2001, the first LNA centre, including administration and accommodation facilities, was completed. The Most Venerable Ganden Tepa [102] Redzong Sras Rinpoche blessed the complex on the 15th of October, and the inauguration was held in May 2002. In May 2001, construction began on a community center for the nuns and laywomen for workshops on meditation and social activism. This was financed by the Block Development Department, Leh (the local authority) and by generous individual donors. Construction was completed in October 2002.

Status of LNA

The Association is under the patronage of The Most Venerable Jangtse Choje Redzong Sras Rinpoche and was registered officially under the Jammu and Kashmir Government (Under the societies Regd. Act VI of 1998 [1941] Regn. No. 2888-S of 1997).