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56 EASTERN HORIZON | NEWS

to census data for 2011, while in Leh, 66.40 per cent
of a population of roughly 133,500 are Buddhists,
the majority of whom practice Tibetan Buddhism.
Overall, Muslims account for 46.4 per cent of
Ladakh’s populace, while Buddhists make up 39.7
per cent, according to the same data. Hinduism
represents 12 per cent, and Sikhism, Christianity, and
other religions each stand at less than 1 per cent.

According to local media reports, the Dalai Lama
may extend his time in Ladak until September as a
result of heavy rains in Dharamsala and in response
to the enthusiastic public welcome His Holiness has The ordination took place within view of Taktsang, one of Bhutan’s most
important pilgrimage sites.
received from Ladakhis.

“When we landed on 15 July, the entire road from Leh
Women Receive
to Shewatsei Monastery was lined with people and it
took his Holiness nearly 90 minutes to make what is
Full Ordination
normally a 15-minute ride,” a close aide of the Dalai
Lama was quoted as saying. “His Holiness asked the
driver to go slow so that he could see his people and
they in turn could see him.” (Hindustan Times) in Bhutan For

First Time in
Addressing a large public gathering in Zanskar,
Kargil, last week, the Dalai Lama stated that he
Modern History
would do what he could to help local residents.

“Because the people of Zanskar and Ladakh By Damchö Diana Finnegan and Carola Roloff
have placed their faith and trust in me, I have a
(Bhikṣuṇī Jampa Tsedroen) | June 27, 2022
responsibility to do whatever I can to help them,”
His Holiness said. “And the best way I can do that
is by giving teachings for their benefit. However, Damcho Diana Finnegan and Dr. Carola Roloff (Bhiksuni
listening to teachings is only helpful if we also try to Jampa Tsedroen) report on Thursday’s historic
put them into practice, which is what I have tried to ceremony that saw the full ordination of 144 female
do throughout my life. The key point is to cultivate a monastics in Bhutan, establishing a bhikshuni sangha.
warm heart and achieve peace of mind.” (Hindustan All photos courtesy of Dongyu Gatsal Ling.
Times)
The first ceremony to fully ordain women within Tibetan
* Dalai Lama Journeys to Ladakh to Spread Buddhist Buddhism in modern times concluded Thursday, June
Teachings and Interfaith Solidarity (BDG) 23, 2022 in Bhutan. At the request of the King of Bhutan,
** Dalai Lama Presides Over Global Launch of His Holiness the Je Khenpo, the spiritual head of Bhutan’s
Emory’s SEE Learning Program in New Delhi (BDG) largest Buddhist school, the Drugpa Kagyu, presided over
*** Ladakh Becomes India’s First Buddhist- a ceremony to grant bhikshuni vows to 144 women.
majority Union Territory Following Kashmir
Bifurcation (BDG) EH This initiative marks a major step toward addressing
the inequality between men and women in Tibetan