Biographies of Buddhist Nuns: A Breakthrough Educational Exchange

One Ladakhi and two Zangskari nuns have been selected to study Western Humanities and Education at Smith College for three years, beginning in the fall of 2011. This innovative program would equip these three nuns to introduce Western Humanities subjects and innovative educational methods to students, especially women students, in severely disadvantaged areas of the Indian Himalayas. Due to the enormous importance the local people accord to their Buddhist cultural heritage, these nuns are seen as the vanguard of a new chapter in the history of ideas in their homelands. After receiving an education in Western liberal arts, these nuns will have a special role to play in the future of their communities. Not only will they be able to help preserve their ancient cultures, but they will be able to introduce new ways of thinking and teaching methods, integrating the best of East and West. These three chomos, “revered women,” will blaze a new trail for women in the far reaches of the Himalayas and enrich the cultural life of Smith students in the bargain.

Yangchen Drolma was born on January 26, 1994, in the village of Kushul in Zangskar, a Himalayan region located in far northern India. She became a nun in 2006 and was ordained as a novice nun (getsulma) by Gaden Tri Rezong Sras Rinpoche, a revered Ladakhi lama and scholar of the Tibetan tradition. After receiving many years of monastic education in Tibetan language, literature, and Buddhist philosophy, in addition to secular subjects, Yangchen is currently studying at the Central Institute for Buddhist Studies in Leh, Ladakh. She became a nun because “I had no interest in the material life and I wanted to know intensively about Buddhism.” Yangchen has two brothers and one sister. Her parents are farmers who grow barley, wheat, and peas in the ecologically fragile, subsistence economy of the secluded Zangskar Valley. Her personal interests include reading books, praying for the well-being of all sentient beings, and meditating. She has not had the opportunity to travel to other parts of India, although she has always wanted to. She has an inclination towards languages and very much enjoys studying Hindi, Tibetan, and English.

When asked why she is interested in studying Education and Humanities at Smith College, Yangchen responded: “Smith College has a rich background in education, which would help me to learn in just three years about working as an educator by studying social sciences. Since Zanskar is a remote area in the Himalayas there is a shortage of help available for education. With this degree, I would be able to contribute at the school in my village.”

When asked about her goals after studying at Smith, Yangchen responded: “I believe that at Smith, I will gain a lot of knowledge of working with people, especially in the field of education. I hope to meet people from different countries so that my exposure to cultures will teach me about acting in different social situations. After studying at Smith College, I wish to return to Zanskar and work to promote education.”

The second student, Lobzang Angmo, was born on November 26, 1984, in the village of Zangla in Zangskar. She became a nun in 2004, when she was 20. She was also ordained as a novice by Sras Rinpoche and is currently studying at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies in Leh, Ladakh. Her hobbies include Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism, mediating, and reciting and transmitting the stories her grandmother used to tell her when she was young. Her family, including her mother, an elder sister, and a younger sister, live in Zangskar. Her father passed away, so her mother and sisters handle all rigors of fieldwork and housework in a region without the amenities of electricity or modern communications.

As a child growing up, before she became a nun, Angmo was fortunate to attend the public school in her village up to seventh grade, which at the time was quite unusual for girls in her agrarian community. One day in class, she had an experience of being physically abused by a teacher. Convinced that the abuse was not justified, she decided to pursue a monastic education instead. After studying for some years at Changchub Choling Monastery, she journeyed two days by bus to Leh to continue her studies at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies. She has traveled to Delhi and two Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Bodhgaya, site of the Buddha’s enlightenment, and Varanasi, where the Buddha first taught. Her favorite subjects in school are Tibetan and English.

When asked why she is interested in studying education and humanities at Smith College, Lobzang Angmo replied: “Once I finish studying education and humanities at Smith College, I would like to return to my hometown in Zangskar and help teach in the school. Education is a luxury in our region. I believe that if I were to be qualified to work with children, it would go a long way in bettering the situation of my people.”

Asked about her expectations while studying at Smith College and her goals after completing her studies, Lobzang Angmo responded: “At Smith College, I will understand the complexities of working with people. Meeting people from different countries will help me gain an international perspective. Once I return to my village in Zangskar, I will dedicate my life to working in the school with the teachers there. Since I have grown up in that village, I understand my people well. With this greater educational background and experience, I will be able to help them better than I can now. It is very important to educate the people in these far-off lands about the international context and help bring them up to a level where they can interact with the rest of the world.”

The third student, Tsering Angmo, was born on December 10, 1978, in the village of Matho, located 20 km from Leh. She has five sisters and was ordained as a novice nun by Sras Rinpoche on June 9, 1996. Angmo studied up to seventh grade at Lamdon Model School in Shey Village, near Leh. She completed eighth and ninth grades at the Moravian Mission School in Leh and tenth grade at the Government High School in Saspol. After that, she received five years of monastic education at Rezong Nunnery in Leh. After completing a three-month computer course in Dharamsala, she traveled to Varanasi, where she enrolled at the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies. After seven years of coursework (2000 to 2007), she received a B.A. in Buddhist Studies. Returning to Leh, she began to put her education and experience to good use as a member of the Ladakh Nuns Association, assisting with administrative matters at the monastery, and also completed an M.A. at the Central Institute for Buddhist Studies in Leh in 2009.

Thanks to her educational background, Angmo has had several opportunities to gather practical experience. In 2004, she participated in a 2004 leadership training program in Thailand organized by the International Network of Engaged Buddhism. In 2009, she visited Europe in 2009 to help raise funds for the Ladakh Nuns Association. In 2010, she attended the 11^th Sakaydhita International Conference on Buddhist Women, held in Vietnam. This transnational gathering of Buddhist women, organized by Dr. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, is both an educational forum and a rich cultural exchange, highlighting issues related to women and Buddhism. Participating in this conference helped to broaden Angmo’s perspective and gave her skills to share with the women of Ladakh.

When asked why she is interested in studying education and humanities at Smith College, Angmo replied: “I want to be a social worker to improve the status of Buddhist nuns in Ladakh and Zangskar.” She believes that a Smith education will help her gain the skills necessary to make a difference in the lives of Buddhist nuns in Ladakh and beyond.

Angmo continued: “After three years studying abroad, I would like to support and share my knowledge and experience with other nuns. I want to contribute my skills to Buddhist women throughout the Himalayan regions. I want to try my best to be a role model in our society. After gaining broad exposure and experience, our nuns will gain strength, courage, and confidence to fight for their rights in the modern world.”