LNA's Vision

To empower the nuns of Ladakh through education and the development of life skills, enabling them to become accomplished Dharma teachers, active social workers and Amchis (Tibetan Medicine practitioners), for the betterment of the nuns and the community as a whole.

Goals

• to provide training opportunities for the nuns in both monastic and secular education, at the same time improving other life-skills
• to develop skills in Tibetan medicine so that the nuns can take more responsibility for their own health and that of others
• to train nuns to be Dharma teachers
• to provide opportunities for Ladakhi lay people to receive Dharma teachings
• to explore ways in which nunneries can be self-sufficient and self-reliant
• to renovate existing nunneries and establish new ones
• To train nuns as Amchis (practitioners of Tibetan medicine), to make herbal medicines and to provide mobile clinic services in remote areas

A Need and a Vision

Dr Tsering Palmo was the first Ladakhi nun to be trained as a Tibetan medical doctor. Born in at Matho Village, 15kms from Leh (the capital city of Ladakh) she  graduated from the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, Dharamsala, in 1993. Upon returning to Ladakh ,in 1994, as a medical practitioner, Dr. Palmo learned of the miserable conditions of the nuns and felt emphathetic towards them. She decided to act, and began by conducting surveys of nunneries to find out what support was needed and how she could help.

A year later, in 1995, Dr. Palmo helped organize the fifth International Buddhist Women’s Conference (Sakyadhita), held at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre in Choglamsar, near Leh. She spoke at the conference about the destitute condition of the nunneries. Many other nuns also had the opportunity to narrate their own stories about the exploitation they had faced. During and after the conference, Dr. Palmo had discussions with many women about the dismal state of the nuns, and they  considered possible ways to offer support and help.

As a result of this decision to act, and the experience from the conference,Dr. Palmo established the Ladakh Nuns Association (LNA) in 1996.

Milestones and Achievements

• Construction of accommodation and offices at the main site in Leh
• Ongoing education of more than 70 nuns
• First Tara Puja offerd by nuns in the main Gompa (temple) in Leh
• Greater acceptance and support by the community, in the form of requests for nuns to do pujas in family homes
• Training of nine nuns as Amchis
• Opening of two clinics in Leh
• Attendance at a range of conferences and meetings in the region: Sakyadhita (International Organisation of Buddhist Women), INEB (International Network of Engaged Buddhists, Thailand
• Invitation to participate in the Vassa (Rains Retreat) at the temple of the Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, in Thailand
• Invitations to Dr Palmo to participate in Health and Healing retreats run by IWP in Thailand
• Two nuns have learned to drive, and two more (both Amchis) are learning
• Running the LNA Office
• Organising trainings and Darma teachings, open to all nuns in Ladakh
• Building links and networks with Buddhist and women's groups and organisations in Ladakh
• Increasing the profile and credibility of Ladakhi nuns in Ladakh and internationally
• Supporting nuns to obtain the equivalent of master's degrees in Buddhist philosophy (three have graduated so far)
• Supporting nuns to become teachers through the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Choglamsar, Ladakh