Thank you for supporting the nuns at Dongyu Gyatsal Ling!

Dear Subscribers,

I met the amazing Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo in 2002. Having recently published my first book on Buddhism - Buddhism for Busy People - and being a media relations professional, my publisher at Allen & Unwin in Sydney asked if I’d be willing to help promote Reflections on a Mountain Lake by another of their authors, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo when she visited Perth. I felt privileged to be asked. I had just read Cave in the Snow, the story of how Tenzin Palmo, a Western woman from London, spent 12 years in the Himalayas on retreat. Now I had the chance to meet this intriguing person!

I’m not quite sure what I expected when I met her, but what struck me immediately was her incredible lightness of being. She was a complete stranger to the world of radio studios and media releases, but she took it all in her stride, completely unflustered. She focused on whoever was interviewing her with a radiant clarity.

With Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo in 2002 at ABC Studios in Perth, Australia

And far from being otherworldly, she had a purpose she could articulate with compelling simplicity: having experienced, first hand, the challenges of a female nun in Tibetan Buddhism, she was building a nunnery where women would receive the same training as their male counterparts, and attain the same levels of inner realisation.

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A few years later, on a visit to Nepal and Bhutan, I saw for myself how very underfunded Himalayan nunneries were compared to monasteries. Women were treated not so much as second class citizens, more like third class ones. I couldn’t believe how badly off they were in comparison. In a Buddhist culture where rebirth is the prevailing view, and there is a 50:50 chance of being reborn female, why not ensure that one’s continued development is equally possible whether born male or female? This was my response at the time, and remains so.

Which is how, all those years ago, my wife and I became early sponsors of nuns at Dongyu Gyatsal Ling nunnery. And why, when I began earning money through Substack subscriptions last year, I felt that increasing this support was important.

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I’d like to share with you a few highlights from DGL nunnery, to show you where part of your subscription funds go.

The first highlight is that late last year, DGL was blessed with the presence of Kyabje Khamtrul Rinpoche who bestowed the title of Khenmo (Doctor of Philosophy) to four nuns. This is the very first time this has happened at DGL and it opens the door for other nuns and nunneries to be inspired to recognize the value of their highly qualified female teachers (above and below, pictured with Jetsunma).

Jestunma Tenzin Palmo with her first four Khenmo nuns

This is an extraordinary achievement for everyone connected with DGL, inspired by Jetsunma’s leadership! Not only has a beautiful nunnery and temple been built, the highest levels of scholarship and inner development are being nurtured in this sacred place.

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The following articles come directly from Dongyu Gyatsal Ling. Many of my subscribers are women, and I hope that you all find these of special interest:

(Image: Mahaprjapati)

Something very special about our temple at DGL is how many depictions of women you find here - from dakinis and deities to protectresses and nuns. Most remarkable is perhaps that of Mahaprajapati.

Historically, Mahaprajapati has been given little mention, and many have never heard of her at all. She was the Buddha's aunt and foster mother, an incredibly powerful woman and eventually became the very first Buddhist nun.

She is found in a mural which mirrors another on the opposing side of our temple, in which the Buddha is depicted as the main figure among 12 nuns, seated on a six-ornament throne of Enlightenment.

In its twin, Mahaprajapati is sitting in the Buddha's place, likewise surrounded by 12 nuns and seated on a throne with the same six ornamental creatures representing the six perfections of the enlightened mind.

In a highly unusual way, this gives her the same status as the Buddha himself, and shows her as the female counterpart in terms of attainment and Enlightenment, with the two of them together as the senior-most leaders of the monks and nuns' community.

Mahaprajapati thus serves as a role model and reminder for our nuns of their power and equal efficacy to the monks.

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Following the footsteps of Majaprajapati by Tsunma Dechen Chotso

This year in November, Jetsunma, Wendy Garling (who wrote a book about Mahaprajapati), 10 senior nuns, some Westerners and Tashi, a nun from South India, went on a pilgrimage. First the nuns went to Delhi by bus and then to Nepal. We reached Lumbini on the evening of the 9th of November. Our first trip was to the Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini where the Buddha was born.

Setting out on the pilgrimage

Venerable Wendy Garling did a short teaching there and we offered butter lamps. We also meditated there. We went to many places. Jetsunma and Wendy gave teachings about Mahaprajapati and Tashi translated them into Hindi for us. I learned that Mahaprajapati was a hard worker and that all nuns need to follow her example. I liked every place we went to, but I had a special feeling at Kapilavasthu which was the Buddha’s father’s palace. The Buddha did not stay in the palace. He went to practice the Dharma. Kapilavastu is a very big place. It has old stones, many Bodhi trees and birds singing. I felt very peaceful there. We did kora, meditated and had lunch. I thought it was helpful to learn about each place before we visited it.

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo talking to the pilgrims - Westerners and nuns

We knew some things before the pilgrimage, but it made each place more interesting when we learned new things. I was very excited to go on this pilgrimage, but I was very shy at first. The Westerners were interested in us and wanted to know about DGL, being a nun and what we study. They were very friendly. I was very impressed with the Westerners who have become Buddhists and are following the Dharma. The weather was good. No one got sick or tired. I hope to return some day. I want to thank Jetsunma, Wendy and Tashi and all the people who organized this Pilgrimage.

On pilgrimage

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Hi Readers,

David here again! I hope the words and images of these women, devoted to the Dharma, speak to your heart as powerfully as they do mine. What a privilege to be able to support them, and how wonderful to be helping advance Jetsunma’s vision of a place where nuns may pursue the opportunities denied to them for so long!

Raising funds for Dongyu Gyatsal Ling, and our other charities, is one of the main reasons why I write this newsletter. If you are able, our little community here on Substack would love to welcome you as a paying subscriber.

What you get each Saturday is an article or story from me, sharing the wisdom I have learned from my own lamas. More important in some ways is what you give: love, compassion and hope, manifest in the most practical ways, as shown above.

I very much hope that you may join our community of kindred spirits on our own pilgrimage to enlightenment.

Warmest wishes,

David

Some of the nuns at Dongyu Gyatsal Ling nunnery

May love, compassion, joy and equanimity pervade the hearts and minds

of all living beings throughout universal space.