Zangskar Nunneries

Gaden Relief Projects

Helping Tibetans and Mongolians
preserve their unique cultures.

Zangskar

Chuchikjall and Other Zangskari Nunneries

In 1991, Gaden Relief began to sponsor one of Zangskar's largest nunneries, Chuchikjall. Between 1991 and 2002, Gaden Relief raised roughly $50,000 to assist Zangskari nuns. These funds were delivered annually to Zangskar from Toronto by Kim Gutschow, coordinator of the Zangskar project.

In the past 15 years, donations were used to institute wintertime prayer sessions at Chuchikjall and most of the other nunneries in Zangskar. These daily assemblies helped younger nuns learn the many of required prayers and ritual texts used during regular rites held at the nunnery. Besides the benefits of education, these winter prayer sessions provided an ongoing communal gathering during which nuns could meet to discuss community affairs, group finances, village ritual requirements, and other administrative matters.

At Chuchikjall, funds were used to initiate several major construction projects including a communal classroom, a compost toilet, and a greenhouse. The classroom facilitated the study of Tibetan logic, debate, philosophy, and other topics under the guidance of a Tibetan Geshe. The compost toilet was modeled on those used in Zangskari homes to provide valuable compost for fields and gardens. Finally, the addition of a greenhouse near the assembly hall has enabled nuns to grow vegetables that would ordinarily not have thrived in Zangskar's cold climate. Funds were also used to purchase over 40 locally produced "smokeless" stoves. These dung burning stoves substantially reduced the amount of smoke in the communal kitchens and residential cells at several nunneries where they were installed.

In 1998, Gaden Relief began sponsoring other nunneries after repeated requests by their members. At present, Gaden sponsors many of the nunneries in Zangskar, including those located in the villages of Karsha, Pishu, Dorje Dzong, Skyagam, Zangla, Tungri, Shun-Satak, and Bya. The latter two nunneries lie in more remote valleys that are not easily accessible during the winter months due to avalanche danger and high passes. They are still partly under construction and in the process of building up their membership. Gaden Relief only sponsors those nunneries that have a permanent sangha in residence that meets on a regular basis. Funds are sent to individual nunneries annually to provide basic foodstuffs and other materials necessary for communal rituals and collective meals.

Most nuns in Zangskar would spend more time engaged in ritual activity and prayer if they had the food and material means to support themselves. Gaden helps promote ritual training and literacy at the nunneries by providing the material means necessary for those efforts. Future plans include sponsoring newly established nunneries such as Sani and improving existing programs. For instance, most of the nunneries would benefit from a greenhouse and compost toilet, as well as additional classroom space and permanent teachers. With the changing social and economic conditions, education will continue to be an important priority in many areas of monastic life.