 Arya Tara School
Turning a dream into a
reality...
Gypsy Rose had a very enlightening experience while traveling to Nepal last
year. We were invited to see
a concert by a Buddhist nun at a 500 year-old monastery in Patan. Thinking
this would be a unique
experience, we jumped at the opportunity. To our delight we were entertained
by a talented, witty and
charming woman performing traditional Tibetan songs and chants. At the end
of the concert we learned
that this humble Buddhist nun was performing to raise money to build a
monastery and school for less
fortunate woman and children in Nepal, India and Tibet. Her selflessness and
commitment was so great that
we felt we must help support her cause.
A message from Ani Drolma
Choying:
Women's education has traditionally been neglected in Asia. Women's roles
have been strictly defined.
Nuns, as well as lay women, have suffered from discrimination. Most nuns,
especially those from remote
areas come to Buddhist practice with little or no formal education. When
they join a monastery they
receive religious training and learn to read and recite Tibetan texts, yet
many cannot even write their
own names. We nuns wish to engage in bodhisattva activity helping others—but
we lack the opportunity and
skills to express ourselves.
I was fortunate to have as my root guru Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, a great
master who believed all
humans—men and women alike—are equally capable of awakening to their
enlightened nature. Through his
blessings, I have realized the problems of those I have vowed to serve: lack
of basic education,
healthcare and life skills. Women are known for their caring nature and nuns
are women who have vowed to
use their women's innate wisdom of love and compassion for other beings.
Many of my fellow nuns share a
strong desire to help others, but do not have the training to do so.
Thinking about this dilemma, I had a vision. Why couldn't I establish a
school for nuns to receive a
formal and practical education? Fortified by my Lama's blessings, my vision
is now a reality. In 1998, I
established the Nuns Welfare Foundation of Nepal (NWF), a non-government
organization promoting the
education and welfare of nuns so they may serve the larger community. NWF's
first project is the
establishment of the AYRA TARA SCHOOL. The first of its kind in Nepal, our
school provides nuns with a
formal education entirely free. The young nuns learn reading, mathematics
and science as well as Buddhist
philosophy. Ayra Tara School encourages nuns from the remote regions of
Nepal, India and especially Tibet
to enroll, thus preparing them to help with future education and community
services in their home areas.
After receiving a basic education, the young nuns will be trained as health
workers, learning principles
of first aid, nursing care and basic Tibetan and Western medical practices.
An old proverb that says, "If I tell you my dream, you might forget it. If I
act on my dream, perhaps you
will remember it, but if I involve you, it becomes your dream too." I know
many people who would like to
help provide a key to open to education for the many nuns who truly want to
act compassionately and
skillfully for the welfare of their fellow beings. I welcome you to share
and participate in this dream.
The Arya Tara School has already received a donation of land for a permanent
school. Their plans are to
build a site equipped for 100 nuns. If you would like to help their dreams
become a reality please send
donations to the address below. Supporting Arya Tara School not only
benefits the nuns, but will help
better small communities. We thank you for your contributions and kindness.
Please make sure that all checks are made payable to:
VIP/NWF/GR
to ensure 100% of the money is given to
the Arya Tara School:
Ventures in Peace
Foundation
PO Box 518
Cocolalla, ID 83813-0518
208-255-5509 Phone
208-255-5239 Fax
Email: vip@worldpeacenet.com
For more information
and
to purchase Ani's CD's logo on to:
http://www.choying.com
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