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FACE TO FACE  |  EASTERN HORIZON     51








                                             With this knowledge, I now have   nuns but due to some regulatory
                                             the confidence to support others in   restrictions by the Government
                                             various ways, including teaching.   and the onslaught of the Covid-19
                                             Although both my degrees were on   pandemic, it is now put on hold.
                                             Buddhism, the focus was different.   Nevertheless, I am helping nuns
                                             For my M.A. degree, I learnt about   and children from underprivileged
                                             different Buddhist traditions which   families to pursue their education
           Doing Pre-survey of a Nuns Retreat Centre,   gave me a wider perspective of the   with the support of fellow Dharma
           2013                              vastness of Buddhist teachings. I   friends. There are a few nuns who
                                             hope that by getting a Ph.D. as a   are preparing for the highest degree
                                             nun, this recognition of academic   of Geshema introduced for the
                                             achievement will inspire and spur   first time for nuns in 2016. Some
                                             other nuns to have the confidence   children are just starting a pre-
                                             to study and progress despite their   university study and some nuns
                                             gender. In the current environment,   are preparing to go for long term
                                             nuns in Bhutan mainly serve the   retreat, hence I try to help them
                                             monks or the monasteries and      fulfil their dream. However, I am
           Recipients of scholarship from Bhutan.
                                             are not given much opportunity    still looking for sponsors for these
                                             to study nor teach others even if   good causes. Once the pandemic is
                                             they have the qualifications and   over, I hope to re-start the retreat
                                             knowledge. So I hope to be the    center for nuns and at the same
                                             catalyst for this change of mind-set   time help educate the children and
                                             of the nuns.                      women in and around the village.
                                                                               In terms of animal welfare, I help
                                             My academic learning in a secular   stray animals by feeding them,
           Care for needy animals, including kittens.  university also allows me to   especially if they are malnourished.
                                             understand not just other Buddhist   If they are injured or sick, I would
                                             traditions, but other religions as   take them to the vet and sometimes
                                             well, and the real-life challenges   rehome them through the help of
                                             that we face in the world today. It is   social media as we do not have
                                             important for us to apply modern   our own animal shelter. I also wish
                                             methods to overcome the problems   to educate people to be kind to
                                             we face in society today.         animals and raise an awareness of
                                                                               animal welfare. By participating in
           Nuns from Jamyang Choling Institute,   You have a deep interest in   seminars and conferences, I also
           Dharamsala, India, receiving free Ipads for   animal welfare, the environment   highlight the water crisis, climate
           their on-line study preparing for the Geshema
           exams during the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020.  and climate change, and   change, and global warming. Most
                                             women’s rights issues, especially   importantly, I hope to empower
                                             among female monastics in the     women to be educated as this is the
                                             Himalayan region. What projects   only way to rise above the problems
                                             have you initiated to put these   they face in life.
                                             interests into action?
                                                                               Can you share a bit more about
                                             I don’t have any particular       your retreat center for nuns and
                                             projects on hand yet but I try to   the type of support you need
           Prayer for the deceased father of a friend,   help wherever necessary. I plan   right now?
           Kuala Lumpur 2019, with Ven Dr Karma Tashi
           Choeden of Malaysia               to establish a retreat center for
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