The Foundation is currently supporting urgently needed reconstruction to Tara Abbey. The 2015 earthquake and subsequent heavy rains and snow have caused significant damage that must be repaired before the next group of nuns can enter 3 year retreat. The nuns are working hard to complete this project, ensuring their important traditions continue to flourish.
We are pleased to announce that the Pema Chodron Foundation has committed itself to the full support of a group of Tibetan Buddhist nuns in Nepal who are engaged in a three-year retreat under the guidance of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Thrangu Rinpoche is the abbot of Gampo Abbey, a teacher of Ani Pema’s and one of the very most senior teachers in the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Donate to the Nuns of Sher Gompa
Thrangu Rinpoche’s main nunnery, Tara Abbey, is in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. At Tara Abbey, young nuns receive a full monastic education. After receiving their education, if they are interested and chosen, the nuns can participate in the traditional three-year retreat. During this very rigorous retreat the nuns practice the full range of meditation techniques passed down through the tradition, including the profound “six yogas of Naropa” that work with the energy of the subtle body.
The retreat center, Sher Gompa, is in the high and remote region of Menang, nestled in the middle of the Annapurna mountains near the border with Tibet. Life is simple and rugged at the center. Most of the supplies and food need to be brought in from the valley below, a five-day trek.
Nuns have been doing three-year retreats at Sher Gompa for many years, and a few nuns have done more than one retreat. The nuns currently on retreat range in age from 29 to 39. They come from Bhutan, Humla (on the border with Tibet in far northeastern Nepal), Nubri (on the border with Tibet in far northern Nepal), Tsum (north of Kathmandu, on the border with Tibet), and Nar (in the Manang region).
Pema is dedicated to doing whatever she can so that nuns have the same opportunities for deep study and practice as Tibetan Buddhist monks have always had. Our support of the nuns will insure that they’ll be able to learn, master, and pass down this tradition that could otherwise be lost. We’re delighted to be able to support these remarkable women who will go on to inspire and train many like them in the future.