“My feeling is that in the future well-trained nuns will have an increasingly important role to play in upholding the sacred Dharma and we are committed to helping this come about.”

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

As of early 2008, there are forty-five nuns living, studying and practising at DGL. The third intake was in September 2006 with the arrival of twenty-eight young women from Kinnaur, Bhutan, Zanskar, Ladakh, Spiti and Tibet. Unless already nuns the new arrivals receive initial ordination from His Eminence the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche, our Spiritual Director. After a year they receive novice ordination from His Eminence Dorzong Rinpoche in the presence of senior monks from the Khampagar Monastery.

These nuns range in age from fifteen to twenty five years. Many have had only basic schooling and occasionally some have received no education at all. The DGL Nuns initially enter a demanding six year programme and their achievements are a credit to their commitment and hard work.

Buddhist philosophy classes are taught by Khenpo Tsering, a highly trained Tibetan monk teacher from Dzongsar Institute especially chosen for DGL Nunnery by His Holiness Sakya Trizin. He is assisted by a senior qualified nun from the nunnery of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. The nuns do debating which provides a valuable opportunity to consolidate and deepen understanding of the texts studied and is a powerful means to strengthen the nuns’ self-confidence.

Intensive Tibetan lanuage courses are the main focus of the first year. The acquisition of this language is vital, particularly for non-Tibetan speakers, enabling the nuns to fully participate in their philosophical education.

English courses at various levels are taught by a local experienced teacher. Proficiency in English will enable them to function in the modern world. In the future some will be involved in office management and maintaining international sponsorship.

Ritual and torma-making (ritual offerings) classes are given by senior monks from Khampagar Monastery who also train the nuns to play traditional ceremonial instruments. .

A two month retreat is undertaken by the nuns each year during which they maintain silence (except for ritual chanting). This balance of study and meditation allows intellectual knowledge to be incorporated with meditation experiences and realisation.

Empowerments and teachings are given to the nuns H.E. 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche and H.E. Dorzong Rinpoche.

The nuns' daily life is varied and full, starting with pujas and meditation in the early morning and finishing with yoga and a final puja. Each nun shares the chores of the Nunnery such as maintaining the puja / prayer hall, the purchase and cooking of food, recycling materials, cleaning and maintaining the buildings and basic health care for the nuns.

Each year the nuns hold elections to decide who will hold positions of authority within the community. These include the disciplinarian, the chant leader, several storekeepers and class monitors. The nuns also elect a Nunnery committee of five which meets weekly and makes day-to-day decisions. In the future some nuns will receive driving lessons and office training which will enable them to gain valuable experience and skills necessary for running the Nunnery and ultimately enabling them to become as self sufficient as possible. Of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling seven Trustees three are now DGL nuns and more will be appointed in future years.

At the completion of the first six year philosophical study programme, the nuns may undertake long retreat, and in fact the first five nuns to do so are entering strict retreat in April 2008. In the future those nuns who do long retreat and display the necessary qualities, aptitude and dedication may be selected to train as Togdenma (yoginis) if they so wish. It is also hoped that in the future some of the nuns undertaking higher philosophical studies will become Khenmo (a fully qualified philosophy teacher). Later some of the fully trained nuns may return to their own remote regions to establish well-run nunneries, become Dharma teachers, and contribute to the community with the life skills they have learned at DGL.

The Buildings

DGL Nunnery will eventually house over one hundred nuns in the dormitories and retreat centre.

As of early 2008 the Nunnery buildings are:

Two circular wings each surrounding a central courtyard form the nuns' living quarters. Each wing has a kitchen, a dining room, central bathrooms with solar power heating and bedrooms. Each bedroom is shared by three nuns. A large recreation room joins the two wings.

The office/staff block includes the offices; a reception area and shop; Tenzin Palmo's living quarters and office; accommodation for the Khenpo and other staff including a kitchen and dining area.

The boundary walls, entrance road, and some retaining walls on the sloping site have been completed. The service building is temporarily being used for workshops and site workers' accommodation. The guardhouse is almost complete, and work will soon begin on a small clinic. Two bore wells and a large water tank and filtration unit have been installed. A transformer for our own electricity supply is now connected. The sewage system is working well and other infrastructure is in place.

The Nuns’ Retreat Centre is a single storey building divided into two; each with its own square central courtyard and a common connecting entry area. One wing has twelve rooms for short-term retreat and the other wing will be used for long term retreats and by the nuns chosen to train as Togdenmas.

The Study Centre is a large building with ground and first floors. There are six classrooms, a teachers' room, a visitors' room, a large Prayer/Puja Hall and a library which opens on to a covered verandah. Downstairs there is also a courtyard for debating.

A small clinic has been built facing the office entrance.

After the monsoon in 2007, construction began on a traditional Tibetan Temple, the heart of the Nunnery. It is estimated that it will take two years to complete the structure with decoration taking longer. Traditional embellishments of the Temple are expensive and will be done as funds permit.

Eventually there will be some rooms available for guests for short-term stays.