Dika | Posted on April 18, 2021
Introducing the 2022 Class of Geshe-mas!
Menri Monastery has announced the first 5 nuns who will receive their Geshe-ma (female Geshe) degrees from Redna Menling Nunnery next spring. The date of their ceremony has not been set, but is expected to be in March or April, depending on the weather, as the nunnery is very cold. This is the first time nuns are graduating at Menri and outside of Tibet. Four of the nuns are from Tibet and one is from Nepal, near Dolpo.
The nuns study Sutra, Tantra, Dzogchen and have learned all the same subjects as the monks including Tibetan grammar and poetry, astrology, horoscope, Tibetan medicine. They have also learned all rituals like consecration methods, plus melodies and chanting and instruments.
Their teachers are Geshe Tenzin Kunchap, His Holiness the 34th Menri Abbot (and before that, the late 33rd Menri Abbot) and Menri Ponlob Trinley Nyima Rinpoche.
The five women are:
Phuntsok Tsuldzin, Sherab Paldzin, Tongnyid Wangmo, and Samten Paldzin, all of whom are from Tibet and have been in India since 2010; and Tsultim Zangmo from Nepal who has been in India since 2007. All five women began their Geshe-ma studies at Redna Menling Nunnery in December 2010.
KWL Bridge Fund Wants to Build a Real Bridge!
KWL’s Bridge Fund was created to support the future of Bön. Many of you helped by donating over the winter in response to Ponlob Rinpoche’s request for help to mitigate the financial impact of COVID for our friends in India. Thank you again.
One important aspect of bridging over to the future is a much needed project for the nuns of Redna Menling Nunnery (which is across the valley from Menri Monastery). Ani Tsondue Zangmo is the treasurer of Redna Menling Nunnery this year. Prior to that she was their umdze for many years. She has asked for a bridge to be built over the river that many young women have to cross every day (teachers and those that live in the children’s home but attend the nunnery for daily classes).
Right now they have to walk a longer and more treacherous way. The short cut over the river floods and is muddy and slippery in the summer rainy season. Rinpoche is concerned that someone may slip and break a leg or worse. The proposed steel bridge would cost about $4200 USD and would make the daily trek both safer and quicker.
When visiting Menri in 2012 and again in 2016 with groups of western Bön students, we were in awe of the level of dedication and practice of the nuns we saw and heard while there. They are very independent young women and girls raised in a safe but remote environment. Any donations to ease their lives and safety are much appreciated.
It is important to note that this is the first time a representative of the nunnery has asked for specific help and is therefore even more important that we respond with generosity.
Donations can be made at this link or at the address below:
http://kwling.org/projects/the-bridge-fund/
Matching Gift Challenge for Lama Tashi’s Temple
We have been given a matching gift challenge grant of $3000 by one of our donors. The money is to be used to help Lama Tashi rebuild his temple in Chaarka village. Ponlob says the the rebuilding will happen in about 2 years, but we would like to begin raising money now when we have this generous challenge grant donation.
Donations, which will be matched dollar for dollar, can be sent via PayPal here:
http://kwling.org/projects/lama-tashi/
or by check here:
Khyungdzong Wodsel Ling
1977 N New Hampshire Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
We hope everyone is still doing well during this global pandemic, and we hope to see Menri Monastery open to visitors again soon.
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