Tibetan monastery and nunnery schools in exile have a task of the highest importance. It is through them that the essentials of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and religion may be handed on. The staff who pass these teachings to the nuns are scholarly and mostly ordained. The students of these schools learn a regular school curriculum as well, and many go to to the great monastic universities.

American Buddhist nun the Venerable Karma Lekshe Tsomo founded the Jamyang Choling nunnery near Dharamsala in 1988. It has the patronage of the Office of HH The Dalai Lama and of the Department of Religion and Culture, Tibetan Government in Exile. The nunnery offers the nuns a thorough and innovative education. This makes possible later service as teachers, spiritual mentors, or health workers in remote Himalayan regions or in the Jamyang Choling Institute itself.

126 nuns of ages from 12 to 54 live at the Institute at present, plus seven instructors. The regions of the Himalay from which they come include Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh, Zanskar, Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur, Garhwal, Darjeeling, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh

The nuns themselves have run the Institute from its beginning. They have additionally been responsible since 2000 for future planning, fund raising and contact with sponsors and friends

In their first year the nuns learn the Tibetan language and prayers by heart. They also learn to prepare healthy vegetarian meals. They take part in daily ceremonies, assist at gardening and cleaning the nunnery, and tend the cows.

Subsequently they begin to study the five most important texts of Buddhist Philosophy. The intense study of Buddhist Philosophy continues for 17 years. It is recognised as equivalent to the Geshe-Doctorate (Doctor of Buddhist Philosophy). The curriculum also includes Tibetan, English, Hindi, IT and administrative studies. The currently senior nuns will be the first to complete this program

Costs:

The cost of a sponsorship is CHF 480 per year. This covers food, clothing, school materials, and medical care. As always in Tibetan monastic schools, the money is used collectively. It is also possible to make a gift to the nunnery itself

Becoming a Sponsor:

If you are interested in in sponsoring a nun at the Jamyang Choling Institute, please contact Beatrice Güdel who is the administrator of this sponsorship programme. Beatrice Güdel will get back to you as quickly as possible, and will send you a CV with photo and supplementary information. (Code=JCI)

I would like to become a sponsor
Thank you !!