A StrongVoice for Nuns' Education DirectorRinchen Khando Choegyal
Interview by BetseyBiggs
Rinchen Khando Choegyalis the Director of TNP, as well as the Minister of Education in the Tibetan Governmentof Exile in India. Shewas the first President of the Tibetan Women'sAssociation. She is married to Ngari Rinpoche, youngestbrother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This year, after completing the maximum two terms as Minister of Education allowed by Tibetan law, she will devoteherself full^time to improving the lives and education of nuns through her position as Director of the Tibetan Nuns Proiect.
What were your thoughts when you started the Tibetan Nuns Project? When we startedTNP tn 1987,I thought, "How bestto look after the nuns?"Of coursethe most important thing was to find them food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. It is, however,not enough to be fed and clothed. I knew nuns neededa better syntemof education, and that is what we havetried to focus on throughout the history of TNP. Upon arriving in Dharamsala,ggo/oof the nuns could neither read nor write. They appearedto be strong young women, but in the classroomit was as if theywere in kindergarten. Now there are nuns at both Dolma Ling and Shugsepwho are beginning advancedstudies. Eventually I hope that the Dolma Ling Institute for Higher Learning will be a place where both nuns and lay women can receivethe finest advancedstudies in all of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Why is it important for nuns to be well educated? After His Holiness came to India, he put the education of children, not just boys, on top of his priority list. So,today in the Tibetan community the young men and women are equally educated.Traditionally in Tibet there has been a very profound systemof monastic education which was,howevet restricted to monks. Women who decided to become nuns focused mainly on learning prayersand how to read and write Tibetan. Now that education in the lay community has become equal between men and women, I personally feel that we must restructure the nuns' education in order to stay true to His Holiness'vision. It is important for this vision of equalityto trickle down into all parts of society. S9 the key is to educatethe nuns in a systemthrough which they can study at as high a level asthey need to. Luckily, we have firll support for this vision from His Holiness and from the Department of Religious and Cultural Affairs. Now the question is, what is the best way to implement this systemfor the nuns? MymainvisionforTNP is an educationthatwillenable the mrns to thinkforthemselves,to leam deepervalues like: what is most meaningfirlat the end of your life?It will not be easybecause theyare not usedto thinking for themselvesorthinking highlyof themselves.
Do the nuns receivethe same education as monks? In principle, the monks'education is the sameas the education we have implemented at our nunneries. The only difference (and this is changing at the monasteriesnow, too) is that a traditional monastic education teachesonly Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan reading and writing. We also teach the nuns other subjects- English, history, math. Again, we are trying to implement the vision of His Holiness, who has stressedthe importance of learning thesethings. What is the role of women's education in current Tibetan society? Educationis very,very important for any community.Women areparticularly important becausethrough them the whole community can be educated(whether they aremothers and wivesor nuns teachingin the community). Also,spiritual valuesare precious to everyone- mothers aswell asnuns. There is a terrible lack of opportunity for laywomen to engagein spiritual study right now. If a lay woman is able to study, shewill be able to affect her whole family. Eventually,some percentageof admission to the Institute for Higher karning will be reservedfor lay women.
Why is the Institute for Higher karning a non-sectarian institution? The main reasonis that I feelthat all the different traditions of Tibetan Buddhism boil down to the samething, the samemessage from the Buddha.We areso usedto belongingto one tradition or another.This can causedivision asreligion often does.I havethe deepestrespect for all traditions.I want the nuns to learn all of the traditions in order for them to get a richer education.All of the different traditions really help you in dif[erent ways to reach a high level.
Will the nuns develop "self-sufficiency''? It is important for the Tibetan nation to be self-sufficient.The rest of the world has been very generousin supporting us in exile,but we need to try our best to attain self- sufficiency.We can't just sit back and relax and say,"How nice, we are being supported." We have to look at theseissues: who has which skills, and how can they best work together? The purposeof life - whether asa lay person,monk or is to developyourself as an individual and to become a useful, productive member of human society - helpful and altruistic. We have started to develop an advancededucational systemfor the nuns, but not all will be scholars;some nuns will needtraining of other kinds.All of them have something to give. I want to set up a systemwhere they can be trained as health workers, teachers,midwives, artists, people with skills to offer the community. The nuns could even keep cows.Self-sufficiency should be stressedwithin eachpart of society,as well as within the larger society. The basicrequirements for real altruism are careand compassion.But you alsoneed to have some skill. Not everyonecan be a teacher,but everyonecan develop some skills so that they can servethe community. And by doing so,the nuns will be truly living compassion. Altruism starts at home, with the person next to you. Many people care deeply about the environment, or people far away,yetdon't pay much attention to the people closeto them' Even nuns can'tpray for all sentient beings and do nothing themselves.Knowing how diligent they have been at their studies,I am certain that they will be equally diligent in serving their communities when they are finished.
What do you seeas the future of the Tibetan Nuns Project? We've come a long way in terms of infrastructure, health, and awareness.We started Dolma Ling and Shugsepnunneries, and we alsohelp nuns at GedenChoeling, Tilokpur and other nunneries. Over the next five years,my focus will be on the quality of the nuns' education and administration. I want to review each and every nun and seewhat eachnun is capable of. I want the administration to become even more efficient. But primarily I want to focus on the quality of the nuns' education and to help develop them individually. We have a long way to go in terms of fundraising. It is crucial that we build an endow- ment so that Dolma Ling'soperating expenses can becomeself-sufficient. Of course,we also need to complete the planned infrastructure of Dolma Ling, as well as build the new ShugsepNunnery. On top of all this, we need to figure out the best way to incorporate the number of nuns arriving fresh from Tibet eachyear into our system' Through TNR I would like to seethat I look after all of the nuns in the Tibetan commu- nity. This is probably impossible!The TNP is currently helping more than 600 nuns and, at least,I want to seethat this iob is done correctly in terms of education and socialwork. Since 1987,I haveworked very hard to improve the lives of nuns. Although I have not receivedany external reward, it has given me great internal joy. I think through this project I have gained more than anybody in the world.
Rinchen Khando will make a speakingtour in the U'5.from mid-October to mid- November.For more informntion on eventsin your area,or howto helpgo to www'tnp,org. AdvancedStudy ProgramFor ShugsepNuns A Nun's Storv
Forty Nuns ReceiveInitiation which is equivalent to a M.A. Dolma Lhamo, a28-year-oldnunwho livesin This pastMarch forty Shugsepnuns jour- Nuns who complete all nine yearsof the Shugsep,wasborn inAmdo, Tibet. Shewas neyedto Namdroling Monasteryin Byalukup- Nyingma training may go on to do research elevenwhen shetook ordination againstthe pe, South India to receivetheRinchen Terdzod in the subject of their choice and then are wishesof her parents.She took her vows at empowermentfrom PenorRinpoche, the head given a Khenpo degree,which is equivalent Sertok,thehermitageof Khenpo figme Phun- of this Monasteryand one of the most impor- to a Ph.D. in Thntric Philosophy.These tsok After severalyears, she went on a pilgrim- tant Nyingma lamas.This empowermentis a nuns will be able to give the fi.rll Nyingma ageto Lhasawith sixotherpeople.En route, keyinitiation forthe mrnsas itmarks the teachingsto other monks and nuns. theywerearrested by the Chineseand put into openingof the door to Nyingma tantric train- Of course,not all nunswill advanceto prison. Prisonlife wasverydifficult and Dolma ing. The initiation tookthreemonths, andthe the full Nyingma education.Many choose Lhamowasnot allowedto prayorpracticeher focuswas on meditation practiceand prayers. to concentrateon meditation practice religion.Afur six months and fourteen da1a, Nowthese ntrns canpractice the entire instead of scholarly studies.In fact, twelve sheand a friend managedto escape.They Nyingma terma tradition. Twelvenuns stayed Shugsepnuns are on meditation retreats madeit to Lhasa,and then took a jeep to behind to help maintain the mrnneryand to in Nepal, which will last up to six years. ThshilunpoMonastery nearShigatse. From attendteachings from His HolinessThe Dalai Many also chooseto go on long retreats here,theywalked to the border. Iama's spring teachings.Theywere given after finishing the nine-year course. Theyhadno money,no shoes,no food and specialteachings by their headteacher Sonam verylittle clothing. They could not askanyone Khenpo Pema Sherap Thntric Teachings Wangchuk for help,as large amounts of moneywere InIuly, ontwo offeredfor the retum ofescapedprisoners. For IGrenpo important sevendap theydidnteat. Finally,nearSalry4 PemaSherap, practice theymetan old manwho helpedthemto get ahighlama terits.They clothes,shoes and food. He alsobroughtthem andthehead alsoreceived wigs made fromyakhairto disguisethe fact ofNamdro- trainingin that theywere nuns and showedthem the lingMonas- creating path theyneededto take.Theywalked for teryShedra, 'tormdl many da1s,and finally made it to the border of ritual butter Southlndia Sikkim. arrivedto give sculptures, Dolma Lhamo and her friend spokean the top three andtheuse Amdo dialectrather than the Tibetanspoken classesofthe ofritual in Lhasaor the south of Tibet. so the authori- Shugsepnuns musical tiesin Sikkim weresuspicious. Since to their onemonth instruments. ears,thewomenqpoke no Tibetan,Hindi, or * teachingson English,they concludedtheywere Chinese Thntra.It is a greathonor that he is introducing Nuns Advance in Study Program spies.For two yearsthey stayedin a terrible the top dassofnuns to tantric teachings. An unprecedentednumber ofnuns are prisonwithmurderers and other criminals,in SonamWangchuk particularly requested him working towards the highest achievementin a singleroom with verylittle food and no to cometeach the nuns becausethe teacherl Nyingmapa scholarship,the Khenpo toilel Upon their release,theywere taken back disciplerelatiorship is so importantin tantric degree.A nun's educationat Shugsepbegins to the Chineseborder, where the monasteryat teachingsand now they canbegin theseteach- with four yearsof training in Madhyamika, the Tibetanrefugee camp cameto their rescue. ingsin the bestpossible way. or Lower Sutrayana,the basisof Buddhist The monks took them by jeepto Kalimpong, studies.The nuns also study Tibetan Land Purchasedfor New ShugsepNunnery and paid their passageto Dharamsala. reading and writing, aswell as English. Ourmost ericitingnewsis thatwe areclose to Theyhad no food and no\ /hereto stay,and Completion of this first four-yearprograrn finalizing the purchaseoffour acresto build the ReceptionCenter was closed temporarily. is equivalentto a secondaryschool degree. the newShugsepNunnery. The current Then Dolma Lhamo met an old man who There are now sixteen nuns at this level of nunneryis overcrowdedand many of the found aplaceforthe ntrnsto stayandgotthem study. The next two yearsare spent studying buildings arein poorcondition.What finally food. When the ReceptionCenter reopened, the Prajnaparamita,or Upper Sutrayana. madethe current siteof Shugsepimpossible newcomershad a chanceto havean audience While studying Tibetan and English, they wasthe total collapseof a nearbyhillsidethat with H.H. the DalaiI"ama.Shewen! andhe alsoteach Buddhist Philosophyto the nuns sweptaway the motorableroad access.It has toldherto go to Shugsep,whereshe could in years l-4, giving them valuable teaching takenalongtime to find a suitablenewpiece continueto pradice in the Nyingma tradition. experience.These studies are the equivalent of land,but we arehopeful that this purchase After first being told that therewas no room, of a B.A. Finallyyears7,8 andg are spent will finallyallowus to startbuildingaplace for shepersisted andfinallythe TibetanNuns studying the inner and outer tantras. The the Shugsepnunsto practicein decentandsafe Projectfound her a placeat Shugsep.After nine Shugsepnuns at this level are the first quarters.The plan will include simplebut well- manyyearsof hardship,she had found a place nuns in the Nyingma tradition to reachthis plaruredaccommodation for one hundred to callhome. levelof tantric studies,the completion of eightnuns and their teachers. NewsFrom Dolma Ling
A Major Building Completed tion provided three iMacs plus one for The centerpieceof Dolma Ling, the As- the library, while a donation by Iosephine sembly Building, has had the finishing Evansof Chicago,Illinois enabledus to touches put on it and is now in use.This purchaseergonomic computer tablesthat building was funded by the Heinrich B 4 Newsfrom Tilokpur New Classroomsat GedenChoeling Tilokpur Nuns SeekTo Raise Funds for We arepleased to report that the construction tankswith good filters.The newbuilding sits New Construction at GedenChoelinghasbeen finished. The atop the patch of land overlookingthe smaller Last year,Tilokpur Nunnery bought a living quartersand classroomsare being shelters,and providesfour spaciousclassrooms pieceofland closeto their existing happily usedby the nuns.The two oirtirg with natural light and good ventilation,solidly nunnery to build a new study center.The classroomsat GedenChoelingwere terribly built desl Health Book for Tibetan Nuns WaterSystemH.lpsOut Marlies Bosch from the Netherlands and 1970,women from many different The water systemat Dolma Ling, which the Global Fund for Women havejoined countries havebeen inspired to produce purifies and chlorinates water through a together to help the Tibetan Nuns Project their own versionsof the book. There are sophisticatedsystem of filters, becamea translaterelevant chapters ofthe currently nineteen translations or source of help to the community in groundbreaking women's health book "Our adaptationsavailable in placessuch as March, as a scarcity of water swept the Bodies, Our Selves"into Tibetan and Latin America, India, South Africa and Dharamsalaarea, disrupting everydaylife. Ladakhi.Bosch, a Dutch photographerand Thailand, and more are on the way. Simultaneously,thousands of people had journalist did workshopson women's In June,TNP Co-Director Lobsang come to the areato receiveteachings from health issueswith Ladakhi nuns last year, Dechen traveledto Holland to join His Holiness the Dalai Lama! Dolma Ling wrote the grant, and the Global Fund for women from severalcountries in was fortunate to have adequatewater due Women donated$10,000 to fund the trans- discussingthe cross-culturalissues to our treatment and storagesystem, and lation and publication of the book. Also affecting the book's translation and so we were able to donate water to part ofthe grant was an additional $5,000 adaptation to a non-Western audience. Thekchen Choeling, the main temple to train nuns in Ladakh to teach other nuns Once the publication is complete,it will where the teachingswere held. Two basicconcepts of women'shealth. help the nuns to becomemore self- trunks carrying large plastic tanks went From the time "Our Bodies,Our sufficient in matters of health, aswell as up and down between Mcleod Ganj and Selves"was first published by the Boston's helping them with specificmedical Dolma Ling three times a day for the Women Health Collective (BWHC) in problems. duration of the teachings. WorkshopsFor Nuns TNP SupportTour 2001 Health Worker Tiaining training workshop offered ten nuns from In Ms. SusanArndt, a nurse from January, four nunneries instruction in basic office Alaska,conducted a basic health worker skills, such asfiling, telephonemanners, training. Ten nuns participated, from project organization, typing, and fax. It is Dolma Ling, Shugsep,Tilokpur, and important for some of the nuns to learn Geden Choeling - four new nuns and six theseskills so that they can be more self- with previous health worker training and sufficient in the future. experience.The coursefocused on adding Director Rinchen Khando Choegyal and to the knowledge baseofthe experienced Therapeutic Massage Co-Director Elizabeth Napper will visit health workers, while introducing the new Finally, in April, Dr. Judith O. Weavertook the US from mid-October to mid- nuns to the basic ideasofhealth care and time out of her busy schedulein the U.S. November2001, to enlist support for the clinic to travel to TNP. They will visit severaldestinations process.The Dolma Ling around the US to give a compelling visual book"Where for her fourth presentation. There Is No training ses- The funds raised from this tour will Doctor" was sion in thera- make a significant difference and direct used as a peutic mas- impact on the lives of the nuns, by finish- primary text. sage.She spent ing Dolma Ling and beginning the build- After finishing five days with ing of Shugsep.The goal is to raise the course, the nuns fol- $100,000. Susanalso lowing up on Organizing these support eventscan- helped with the training not happen without the help of generous the gardening shehad given volunteers and sponsors.Please look and paper- in previous below for event locations and come join making years.She also us! Spreadthe word, tell your friends and projects for visited eachof come show your support for TNP and which we are the other nunneries.Dr. Weaverwas pleas- meet the women who provided the vision very gratefirl. antly surprised at the eagernessand in- and motivation behind this important quisitivenessof the nuns towards the for the nuns. Computers work training -- a significant changefrom the to help with With the near completion of our com- We also need volunteers hesitation first expressedby the nuns location and sponsorsto puter room and its three iMacs, four of eventsin each during the initial training. Massagetrain- If you or some- the Dolma Ling nuns were able to take defray the costsof travel. ing is very helpfrrl in treating eye,stom- one you know would be interested in this part in a computer workshop in late |anu- ach, and back problems due to stressand pleasecontact us immediatelyat (510) ary through early February.They were long periods of sitting and studying; the trained in the basicsof the Macintosh 647-3423. massagealso helps their generalhealth information, please operating systemas well as in the use of For up-to-date and immune systems.The nuns expressd at http:'l basicword processingsoftware. check out our website I their thanks to Dr. Weaver,for her com- www'tnp.org. mitment to teachingmassage. Office Skills Also in February,a ten day administrative Tour locations: . BayArea October 12-17 November4-12 . Los Angeles October 18-22 SponsoringStaff Children . Chicago October23-24 At Dolma Ling, nine teachersand elevenstaff Sincesalaries are low. one of the benefitswe . Boulder October 25 memberswork hard to ensurethat the nuns provide to our staffis the paymentof educa- . Colorado October26-28 havea good education,a peacefi.rlplace in tional expensesfor a child.We arecurrently Springs whichtopractice their religion,and a quiet, seekingsponsors for our staffchildreu just $30 . TWin Cities October 29-Nov.3 safeenvironment in which to study and live. oer month will allow a child to attendschool . Portland,OR November 13-14 From the constructionstaffto the accountant, full-time. Thereare twelve children aged5 the philosophyteacher to the night watchman, weela to 16years,and onlytwo arecurrently Cometo a TNP event the officemanager to the jeep driveqthe math being sponsored.Please consider sponsoring a teachertothe siteengineer, weryone at Dolma drild so that our staffchildrencan receivean in your areathis fall! Ling shouldbe thankedand congratulatedfor educationas good asthe one that their parents theirhardwork arehelping the nuns to receive. 6 Newsfrom the U.S.TNP Office You Can Help TNP Website Up and Running Two invaluable board members resign: The Tibetan Nuns Project could not con- The Tibetan Nuns Project is proud to DianneArmer and Carroll Johnson tinue to provide food, housing, medical announce our new websiteat May of 2001saw the resignationof two care and education for so many nuns were www.tnp.org. You can read up-to-date wonderfirl board members. Dianne Armer it not for the help of our volunteers,spon- information and seepictures of our and Carroll Johnson.Dianne and Carroll sors and donors. We are very gratefirl to projects and nunneries, or find out what joined the TNP Board of Directors in May everyonewho has helped us over the you can do to help. You can also make of 1999and were instrumental in establish- years.We are often askedby people how donations and pay your sponsorship ing the BerkeleyUS office and creating the they can best support us, and so we've online. Check it out and let us know what Development Director position, now filled createdthis resourcedetailing our current you think... and sendthe link to your byMegMoser. needs.If you'd like to help, pleasecall our friends! TNP would like to especially office at (510) 647-3423or emal: thank Gracede la Flor, MaryWald and [email protected]. Angela Kang, as well as ParasDagli and * Make a Donation: Your donation will CharityFocus.org,for all of their work in be used for education, medical care,and creatingour beautifulnew site. basic living expensesfor the nuns, to com- plete the building of Dolma Ling and to TNP T-Shirts Available build a new home for the nuns at Shugsep. We now have TNP T-shirts and You may stipulate that your gift address sweatshirtsfor sale!All feature the unique a specificneed. You can make a donation TNP Sanskrit logo in gold. Short sleevet- by contacting our Berkeleyor Dharamsala shirts come in regular (maroon) and offices,or online at our websiteat women's scoop neck (twilight blue). The www.tnp.org. sweatshirtscome in crew neck and zipped * Sponsor a Nun: Thfuty U.S. dollars hooded in maroon, black. Sizes S - Xf. T- ($:o) a month providesbasic necessities for shirts:$15. Crew: $30 and hooded:$45. Dianne (upper), Canoll (lower) one nun living in exile (for more than 500 Pleaseadd 8.250losales tax in CA and $5 nuns living in five nunneries: Geden shipping per item. To order, send check or Choeling, Tilokpur, Dolma Ling, Shugsep,a visa/mastercard to the TNP Berkeley few at the new SakyaNunnery in Rajpur) office, with complete mailing information, representing all religious orders of the Ti- phone numbeg size,color, 4nd style. betanBuddhist tradition aswell as nuns living on their own and in retreat. Sponsors New Sponsorship Coordinator are askedto commit to at least one year.A After a year of volunteering as TNP Spon- reminder notice will be sent one month sorship Coordinator, Allyson West,is now prior to your next payment.Sponsors re- turning over her position to SheilaMartin ceivea sponsorship packet with a photobio Chan. We have greatly appreciated of a nun and are welcome to correspond Allyson's incredible energyand time, with her. amidst an alreadybusy life. Thank you * Help Us With Our Wish List: Some of Allyson! Sheilahas taken on not only our office equipment is old and obsolete,so sponsorship,but processingdonations Carroll servednot only as the Tieasurer,and any help would be much appreciated.It can and salesas well. Sheilareceived her MA revised our financial system,but mentored be usedequipment, but no lessthan two in East-Westpsychology at California Meg asthey createda systematicprogram yearsold. \AIeneed: Institute of Integral Studies,has studied of fundraising goals and plans for the severaldifferent languagesincluding Ital- Tibetan Nuns Project. While they remain .Apple (Macintosh) iBook ian. Mandarin and Cantoneseand in committed to the work of TNR Carroll .Scanner for Macintosh; addition teachesESL for adults. looks forward to having time to complete .Slide projector and screen her novel (with a Tibetan theme) and .2 digital cameras Fundamental to everywofld religion is Dianne to building her new businessof the belief that we must reduceour financial consulting. The Tibetan Nuns * Distribute Our Goods: Each year, selfishnessand serveothers. Project is indebted to Dianne and Carroll TNP independently produces and distri- HH DalaiLama for the great amount of time and energy butes a yearly wall calendar.We also sell T- The GethsemaniEncounter, 1996 that they gaveto the Project and staff, to say shirts, sweatshirts,cards and our video. The nothing of essentialfinancial support. We majority of our salesrely on individual wholeheartedly thank Dianne and Carroll distributors to friends, local bookstores and for their dedicatedservice to TNP! dharma centers. NonProfit Organizarion U.S. Postage PAI D, Permit No. 1413 Bqr&L"y-:tA_ .,-i @ffi- ' * * Host a Gathering: We have produced Grant writing and foundation/corpo- our first video that narrates the flight ofthe rate research:to identifrpotential funding Order Now! mrns out of Tibet and the work of the sourcesfor TNP projects in India. This can Wall Calendar2002 Project. Hosting avideo showing in yow be done from anywherewith accessto the home is a simple and personal way to raise internet and a library. Specialblack and white photo edition interest about the nuns. You could also * IegalAdvise we needsomeone licensed provide TNP literature at eventsin your in Californiato providelegaladvice on policy. 6.5x 71n...$10($tO.go in CAonly) * areawhich attract people who would be EndowmentDwelopment to help interested in TNP. We provide you with all creating an endowment fund for Dolma necessarymaterials. Ling to ensurefuture self-sufficiency.Any * Volunteer at our Berkeley Office: experiencewith institutional endowment EveryWednesdayfrom10-12a.m. is an foundations would be helpful. * open volunteer time. The secondWednes- Marketing/Public Relations: to de- dayof everymonth from 6:30 - 9:00PM is velop relations with and publicizing events a work party. Tasksmight include helping in the media and increasingpublic aware- with mailings, databaseentry or creating nessof Tibetan nuns and TNP. * artwork If you dont live in the BayArea, Photography: We are alwaysin need but are in town on business,this is a great of high qualityphotos of the nuns sup- opportunityto meet us. Pleasecall or email ported by the Project for slide presentations, for directions. the calendar,printed informational materi- als,and the website. We also need volunteers skilled in: * If you have a skill youd like to offer * Teclnology: with experiencein data- that's not listed here, pleasecontact TNP Tibetan Nuns Frr:ject C*l*nd*r l$0] basearchitecture and networking is greatly and we can orplore the possibilities. Call needed.We use Filemaker 5 Pro relational Meg Moser at (510) 647-3423 or email: databasesoftware. [email protected]. To order, useenclosed envelope.