Life of Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery near Dharamsala

Summary

This video describes the Dhamma Ling Institute, a serene nunnery established in 1991 for Tibetan nuns seeking freedom to practice and study Buddhism. Located amidst scenic landscapes, it is home to over 200 nuns from Tibet, Ladakh, and even Western countries. The nunnery provides education in traditional Buddhist philosophy, modern skills, and crafts. Facilities include a library, guesthouse, and medical clinic. The nuns also engage in debate, religious art, and community service. Their rigorous schedule is centered on spiritual growth and study, fostering an environment of dedication, discipline, and learning.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The institute was established in 1991 to provide education and religious freedom to nuns who fled Tibet.
• 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 It is home to over 200 nuns from Tibet, Himalayan regions, Ladakh, and even Western countries.
• 🌾 The institute is set in a serene environment, surrounded by fields, gardens, and mountains, with a peaceful atmosphere ideal for spiritual practice.
• 📚 The institute boasts a well-stocked library with books in multiple languages, offering access to vast knowledge for the nuns.
• 🛠️ The nuns engage in income-generating activities, such as running a shop and making handicrafts like wall hangings and bags.
• 🐄 The institute maintains cows for milk production, and the nuns help manage the gardens, waste disposal, and kitchen.
• 🧑‍⚕️ A well-equipped medical clinic is available, with trained health worker nuns providing care and consultation with Tibetan doctors.
• 📜 The nuns study a non-sectarian traditional Tibetan Buddhist curriculum, including philosophy, language, and religious arts.
• 📖 Debate is a key part of the education, fostering understanding of Buddhist teachings through analytical discussion and intellectual engagement.
• 🕉️ The institute provides a structured daily schedule with prayers, classes, study sessions, and hands-on work, allowing the nuns to grow spiritually and intellectually.

Q & A

When was the institute established, and for what purpose?

The institute was established in 1991 to meet the needs of nuns who fled Tibet in search of the freedom to study and practice their religion.

How many nuns currently reside at the institute, and where do they come from?

The institute is home to over 200 nuns from Tibet, the Himalayan regions of Kinnaur, Spiti, and Ladakh, as well as some from Western countries.

What are some of the notable features of the institute's surroundings?

The institute is set in a serene, clean area surrounded by wheat and rice fields, with views of mountains, landscaped gardens, and an abundance of flowers and trees that attract birds.

What role did the nuns play in the construction of the institute?

Construction began in 1991 and was completed in 2005. The nuns helped in various ways during the building process.

What makes the institute's library special?

The library contains a wealth of information, including books in languages such as English, German, Chinese, Spanish, and Tibetan. The Tibetan texts are stored traditionally and are available to anyone who wishes to extend their knowledge.

What are some of the income-generating enterprises run by the nuns?

The nuns run a small shop for basic needs and a tailoring section where they make items like wall hangings, bags, and prayer flags. These items are sold in the institute's handicraft store.

How does the institute support the health and well-being of the nuns?

The institute has a medical clinic with trained health worker nuns. They hold evening health checks and refer complex cases to the Tibetan Delek Hospital. The nuns also care for 13 cows that provide milk for the kitchen.

What educational opportunities are available to the nuns at the institute?

The nuns engage in a complete traditional Buddhist study program, with qualified teachers from three of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. They study various subjects like grammar, philosophy, poetry, and calligraphy.

What role does debate play in the nuns' education?

Debate is a key method used for gaining a thorough understanding of Buddhist teachings. It involves the nuns asking and answering philosophical questions, often with lively gestures and interaction.

How do the nuns manage the institute’s daily operations?

The nuns are involved in all aspects of daily life, from preparing food and making bread and tofu to managing waste, growing vegetables, and maintaining the gardens. They also take care of their cows, ensuring a self-sustaining environment.

Outlines

00:00

🏞️ Establishment and Serene Environment of the Nunnery

The nunnery, established in 1991, provides a sanctuary for over 200 nuns from Tibet, the Himalayan regions, and even some Western countries. Set in a peaceful area surrounded by wheat and rice fields, it features beautifully landscaped gardens, streams, and an environment that fosters inspiration. Construction began in 1911 and finished in 2005, with the nuns actively helping. The buildings are well-designed, with a central courtyard and a temple that serves as the focal point for study and worship. The library is a valuable resource containing texts in Tibetan and other languages, supporting the nuns in their spiritual journey.

05:01

📚 Educational Opportunities and Non-Sectarian Teachings

Thanks to efforts like the Tibetan Nuns Project and the Dalai Lama’s support, Tibetan nuns now have full access to traditional Buddhist education, which was previously limited. The nuns follow a carefully structured, non-sectarian curriculum with qualified teachers from three of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The nuns wake up early to study religious texts and participate in morning rituals, praying for the long life of the Dalai Lama and a peaceful day. The temple features inspiring hand-painted thangkas, and the nuns memorize scriptures and perform prostrations as part of their daily spiritual practice.

10:11

📖 Rigorous Study and Daily Life at the Nunnery

The nuns engage in morning philosophy classes, studying grammar, religious philosophy, poetry, history, and Tibetan calligraphy. They also learn Tibetan and English, utilizing modern classroom setups. Practical responsibilities such as preparing meals, managing waste, and maintaining gardens are also integral to their day. The nuns use the library to expand their knowledge and practice religious arts like constructing sand mandalas and butter sculptures. Computer literacy is encouraged, with many learning word processing and design. Debate is an essential part of their education, sharpening their understanding of Buddhist teachings through lively and structured exchanges.

15:17

🤝 The Importance of Debate in Buddhist Education

Debates are a key component of the nuns' education, held in the courtyard after tea. This intense intellectual exercise involves pairs of nuns, one standing and questioning while the other responds. Gestures play a significant role, with participants using claps and body language to emphasize points. If necessary, a teacher may intervene to resolve a debate. Debating in groups encourages a healthy competition that drives deeper understanding of texts, while the atmosphere remains light with moments of laughter. After debates, the nuns have a light supper and continue their studies, memorizing texts late into the evening.

Keywords

💡Tibetan nuns

Tibetan nuns are women who have fled Tibet to study and practice Buddhism freely. The video mentions the institute, established in 1991, as a refuge for over 200 nuns from Tibet and surrounding regions. These nuns engage in traditional Buddhist education, contributing to the core activities of the community.

💡Dharma

Dharma refers to the teachings of Buddha and the moral law in Buddhism. In the video, the nuns and some laywomen seek to study Dharma, emphasizing its role as the foundation of their religious practice and education.

💡Nunnery

A nunnery is a religious residence for nuns, which serves as a spiritual and educational community. The nunnery described in the video was constructed with the help of the nuns themselves, and it includes essential facilities such as a temple, lecture hall, and library, fostering both spiritual and intellectual growth.

💡Buddhist study program

The Buddhist study program involves the traditional monastic education in Buddhist philosophy and practice. The video highlights that Tibetan nuns now have access to such programs, allowing them to pursue higher religious education, which was previously limited to men.

💡Debate

Debate is a key educational method in Tibetan Buddhist tradition, where nuns engage in discussions to deepen their understanding of philosophical texts. The video describes debate as a vigorous and intellectual exercise, where nuns challenge each other to analyze and defend Buddhist teachings.

💡Mandala

A mandala is a symbolic geometric design used in spiritual rituals and as an art form. In the video, nuns are shown creating sand mandalas, representing hours of dedication and training. These intricate works are a blend of artistic expression and meditative practice.

💡Thangka

A Thangka is a traditional Tibetan Buddhist painting, often depicting deities or religious scenes. The video describes how hand-painted Thangkas of ancient Indian scholars hang in the temple as a source of inspiration for the nuns, connecting them to the Buddhist teachings.

💡Philosophy classes

Philosophy classes are a major part of the nuns' education, focusing on Buddhist thought and doctrine. The video explains that these classes are held in a traditional style, where nuns sit cross-legged and discuss complex religious topics, helping them gain a deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings.

💡Cows

Cows are an essential part of the nunnery's self-sufficiency. The video highlights that the nuns care for 13 cows, which provide milk for the community and help maintain the gardens. This reflects the nunnery's harmonious relationship with nature and its commitment to sustainability.

💡Bodhisattva

A Bodhisattva is a being who seeks enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. The video mentions the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Avalokitesvara, and the female Bodhisattva, Tara, who are depicted in the nunnery’s temple, emphasizing their role as spiritual guides for the nuns in their prayers and studies.

Highlights

The Institute was established in 1991 to provide Tibetan nuns with the freedom to study and practice their religion.

Over 200 nuns from Tibet, the Himalayan regions, and even Western countries reside at the institute, including a few lay women.

The serene environment is surrounded by wheat and rice fields, landscaped gardens, and frequented by birds, creating an inspiring atmosphere for study.

Construction of the nunnery began in 1991 and was completed in 2005, with the nuns contributing to the building process.

The central courtyard serves as the main hub of the nunnery, with a temple, lecture hall, library, classrooms, dining hall, and kitchen.

The library is notable for its extensive collection of texts in multiple languages, including Tibetan, English, German, Chinese, and Spanish.

The nunnery operates income-generating enterprises, such as a handicraft store where nuns make and sell items like wall hangings and prayer flags.

A guesthouse, phone booth, and internet café provide facilities for visitors and help connect the nuns to the outside world.

The institute is home to 13 cows, which provide milk for the nuns and help maintain the gardens and fields.

A medical clinic staffed by trained nuns provides healthcare services, including Tibetan medicine consultations.

Thanks to efforts by the Tibetan Nuns Project and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the nuns can now engage in a complete Buddhist study program.

The nuns follow a non-sectarian curriculum supported by philosophy teachers from three of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Traditional Tibetan debate is a key part of the educational program, fostering critical thinking and deep understanding of Buddhist philosophy.

The nuns also engage in religious arts such as sand mandalas and butter sculptures, honing their artistic and spiritual skills.

The daily routine includes morning and evening prayers, prostrations, classes in various subjects, and debates, all contributing to the nuns’ spiritual and academic growth.

Transcripts

normally Institute was established in

1991 to meet the needs of the many nuns

who have fled Tibet in search of the

freedom to study and practice their

religion it is now home to over 200 nuns

from Tibet the Himalayan regions of keen

are speedy and Ladakh and even some from

Western countries a few lay women who

want to study the Dharma also live here

darling is set in a serene and clean

area surrounded by wheat and rice fields

with wonderful yields up towards the

mountains

we have beautiful landscaped gardens in

which so many flower school it seems

they are competing among themselves

birds love this place because it is a

green oasis of trees and plants the

building of a small stream running

toilet worms windows with the sound of

the months memorizing the Scriptures

such an environment preference and

inspires

construction began in 1911 and is

completed in 2005 the non stem cells

helped in whatever way they could in the

building of the male the buildings are

beautifully designed for the central

courtyard which is the main hub of the

nunnery the focal building is our temple

which contains our career path a lecture

hall and the library the classrooms

enjoy the main culture and the dining

hall and kitchen are the lower end the

library is a very special part of Dublin

you won't find many memories or

monasteries that provide such a wealth

of information right at your fingertips

we have blessed to have such easy access

to so many books there are many

languages represented here including

English German English Chinese Spanish

and of course Tibetan

the library shelves are stacked with the

Tibetan text stored in the traditional

way and available to anyone who needs to

extend their knowledge

it is an inspiring atmosphere for the

months to study room

we have several income generating

enterprises that raise funds for of nuns

and provide them with experience of

basic organizational skills

they operate a small shop for the basic

needs

there is a telling section in which non

tropes wall hangings bags real flags are

made those items are on sale in our

small handicraft store

there is also a guesthouse for visitors

who want to stay in this peaceful

environment

a phone booth and internet cafe provide

the nuns with access to the world an

important responsibility at da Molly is

taking care of our 13 happy healthy cows

so they produced the wholesome milk that

is used in the kitchen they efficiently

keep the grass at bay while producing

the menu required to make the gardens

flourish we have a well appointed

medical clinic with trained health

worker nuns taking care of anyone who is

sick or injured the health workers hold

a cleaning every evening treating the

straightforward cases and referring the

complicated ones to the Tibetan Delic

hospital doctors nuns who wish can

consolidate abettin medical doctors and

this way a comprehensive system of

health care is provided for the nuns

until recently in the history of the

world women have not been given the same

opportunities to study as men by the

grace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and

the efforts of the Tibetan nuns project

among others it is not possible for

Tibetan nuns to engage in a complete

traditional Buddhist study program

efforts are also being made for the nuns

to obtain the highest automation in

Dhamma Ling they are provided with full

study facilities and the best possible

qualified teachers

the traditional Tibetan patrol has been

carefully worked out to be non-sectarian

and with the help of the psychic college

near Dehradun and the NEMA Institute in

belukha P we now have philosophy

teachers from three of the four schools

of Tibetan Buddhism these beautiful

hand-painted Tonka's depict the scholars

of ancient india who provided the path

to higher learning that is studied in

Tibetan monastic institutions they hang

in the dominant prayer hall as a source

of inspiration for the nuns as the

studies are rooted in their profound

works it is said that the rooster crow

harassed the coming of the dawn but here

the nuns wake up well before the dawn to

memorize the religious texts we are

studying

some months perform early-morning

prostrations inside the temple as an

offering and purification as the great

scholars say the beginning and ending of

a task are the most essential so the

first part is done

they are called to morning prayers they

file into the Hall in order of seniority

during the three prostrations there are

traditional when first entering a

Tibetan temple his Holiness the Dalai

Lama stone dominates the central

position a large applicate hanka behind

depicts Sakyamuni Buddha with a

Bodhisattva of compassion Avalokitesvara

on the right and the female Bodhisattva

Tara on the left

Ananse pray for His Holiness long life

and for a good and peaceful day for all

sentient beings in the adjacent small

chapel nuns perform a daily ritual to

palden bamboo tea and bread are served

as breakfast during the prayers sunrise

sees the months again memorizing text

and preparation for the classes ahead

this time taking advantage of the fresh

clear air in the gardens and fields

morning assembly is held at 6:45 in the

summer and 7:45 in winter the nuns

gather in the courtyard lining up by

classes along with the teachers and

recite the morning prayers

I selected none reads her thoughts for

the day either in English or in Tibetan

addresses the nuns making announcements

and encouraging them to study hard today

the assembly ends with it

yeah

classes go on all morning the philosophy

classes are seated in the traditional

style with the teachers and students

sitting cross-legged on mattresses with

low tables for their books traditional

subjects include grammar religious

philosophy poetry history composition

and handwriting

Adama wing the nuns pay great attention

to perfecting and preserving tibetan

calligraphy the nuns also study Tibetan

and English language in these classrooms

they have tables and chairs and make

full use of the blackboard

the teachers are all very dedicated and

the nuns study very hard and sincerely

throughout the year

they gain great satisfaction from doing

well in their exams when the lunchtime

bell rings everyone goes to the dining

hall where the main mean of the tea is

served food is prepared in the kitchen

by the nuns themselves they make their

own bread tofu curd and all the milk

that is needed in the nunnery is

produced by the dominant cows they also

take care of the garbage segregating the

waste that can be fed to the cows from

that which must go onto the compost and

the dry recycle waste for that which

must be burnt a carefully worked out

system is an operation and everybody is

involved in making sure it works

in the afternoon while some are in the

classrooms are the classes work in the

fields and do gardening great effort is

put into growing vegetables as well as

developing and maintaining the borders

and pod gardens along the verandas

during study sessions the nuns can go to

the library where books can be borrowed

and are checked out by a librarian

months the nuns also roam the religious

arts such as constructing sand mandalas

and butter sculpture this is a nearly

complete sand mandala such an

achievement represents hours of

dedicated training butter sculptures are

made for particular rituals as well as

for the Tibetan New Year in the computer

room the nuns study how to use computers

many are not proficient in word

processing and Photoshop and they

produce their own magazine annually

traditional Tibetan Buddhist education

relies heavily on debates a method used

to gain a thorough understanding of the

Buddhist teachings it is one of the most

important and interesting sessions of

the non state gathering in the courtyard

after tea the nuns recite the

preparatory prayers together they then

each choose a partner and find a place

to sit in each of the pairs of plants

one Stanley and the other is sitting the

standing man initiates the topic to be

debated from the philosophical text

studied earlier that day gestures are a

crucial part of the debate process the

sitting man is responsible for a quick

and sharp response

if the Citiz answer is satisfactory the

standard moves on to the next question

if not the standard will make a gesture

similar to a hungry crocodile slapping

is just lovely smacking her hands

together

each lump has her own style of copy Asha

seeks an analytical and in-depth

explanation from the sitter some

standards lunge other sitter

as she claps her hands together while

another may stand back and impatiently

clap lightly some standards & schuster

face while waiting for a response and

others stare intensely using eye contact

as a recommend some allow a few moments

for methodical talks while others demand

and immediate response if the sitter

speaks softly then the standard has to

crouch in to listen as the intensity

heightens that enthusiasm gets louder if

the Citiz answer is absolutely off

target a standard will use the same

clapping gesture but with the palm

facing up the tune will dwell a while

longer and if there is still no

resolution the teacher is called over to

give a final verdict the air is thick

with intensity of smiles and even some

laughter ripples through the courtyard

sometimes the months of debate in the

groups rather than pass there is

confidence in numbers and in this way

the weak learn from the strong debate

pushes everyone to study and try to

really understand the meaning of the

text Tibetan debate is a healthy

competition that creates thoughtful and

articulate scholars

debate is followed by a light supper and

then the monks fight back into the Hall

for the evening prayer where the evening

prayers are finished they go back to

their books and complete the day's

homework the majority of the time is

spent studying and memorizing the life

of a nun is many things including a

strict schedule and routine that

requires diligence and a sense of inner

guidance they are committed to being

good students and good nuns so when the

time comes they will be able to help

those in need by teaching debating

learning reciting and sharing the words

of Buddha for the good of all sentient

beings

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