The Tibetan Nuns Project (TNP), based in Seattle, USA, and in the Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, India, has highlighted a pressing need at Dolma Ling Nunnery and the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in northern India. The nunnery urgently requires kitchen upgrades to ensure a safe and efficient environment for its occupants.
Dolma Ling Nunnery, inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2005, is a pioneer institute for higher Buddhist education catering to Tibetan Buddhist nuns from all traditions. It is situated in the scenic Kangra Valley near Dharamsala. The nunnery serves as a home and learning center for about 250 nuns who are engaged in various activities including studies, practice, and self-sufficiency projects like tofu-making and handicraft production.
According to the TNP, the kitchen at Dolma Ling is the most used part of the nunnery. It serves around 250 nuns and 20 staff members daily. However, the kitchen faces several challenges, particularly with ventilation and structure. During summer, temperatures inside the kitchen soar, making it extremely difficult for the nuns to work. Last June, the temperature in Dharamsala reached 105°F (41°C), and it was even hotter inside the kitchen, reports the TNP via Buddhistdoor.net.
The kitchen’s issues are compounded during the monsoon season when heavy rains cause the gutters to overflow, leading to water leakage inside the kitchen. The TNP plans to address these issues by replacing the old slate roof with a flat concrete roof that will not only prevent leaks but also provide additional space for food preparation and other activities.
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The renovation will include installing larger UPVC windows with sliding glass-and-mesh shutters to improve ventilation, and expanding the ground-level sink for easier cleaning of large cooking pots. The new design will also make better use of the kitchen space, organizing it more efficiently for the nuns’ use.
This significant upgrade is estimated to cost around US$53,800. The TNP aims to complete the renovations before the heavy monsoon rains and the peak summer heat, enhancing the working conditions for the nuns significantly.
The Tibetan Nuns Project supports education and humanitarian aid for refugee nuns from Tibet and the Himalayan regions of India, as well as nuns from all Tibetan Buddhist lineages across seven nunneries. Many of these nuns are refugees from Tibet, but the organization also reaches out to women and girls in the Himalayan border areas of India, who have limited access to education and religious training.
For more information, you can visit the Tibetan Nun Project website, this initiative not only aims to improve the physical structure of the kitchen at Dolma Ling but also to enhance the daily lives of those who depend on it.
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