Founded by jetsunma tenzin palmo
Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunneryfor Himalayan women in the Drukpa Kagyu Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Nunnery
At the request of her Teacher, the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Jetsunma’s vision was to found a Nunnery to give young nuns of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage the opportunity to realise their intellectual and spiritual potential after so many centuries of neglect, and also to reinstate at the nunnery the Togdenma (yogini) tradition.
The Nunnery was named ‘Dongyu Gatsal Ling’ by the Spiritual Director His Eminence the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche Shedrup Nyima. It means “Garden of the Authentic Lineage” and was chosen because “Dongyu Nyima” was the name of the previous Khamtrul Rinpoche, who was Tenzin Palmo’s personal Guru.
The Nuns of DGL
There are 115 nuns currently living, studying and practising at Dongyu Gatsal Ling. They are from the Himalayan regions; mainly Tibet, Lahaul, Ladakh, Kinnaur, Bhutan, Arunachal and Nepal. They are quite diverse in age and origin.
In Dongyu Gatsal Ling the nuns take on a Buddhist philosophy study programme, follow their daily and monthly rituals and practices, and are in retreat for at least 2 months of the year.
A Word
From Our Director
I have full confidence that the nuns of Dongyu Gatsal Ling are capable of anything they set their mind to. I’ve seen them grow and develop over the years, and I have no doubt that in the future they will become an essential part of the Four-Fold Sangha in this country and in their own communities.
– Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Calendar
Daily and Monthly Pujas
To request the nuns of DGL to do a puja on your behalf or someone else’s
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Daily
Daily Tara Puja
Tara Temple at 5:30 – 6:30 AM
The nuns perform a ritual connected with Tara, the female embodiment of Fearless Compassion. Tara is a meditation deity whose pratice helps us develop inner qualities such as unconditional love and wisdom. This ritual includes many repetitions of the 21 praises of Tara.
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Daily
Meditation
Main Temple at 6:30 – 7:00 AM
Gathering for group silent meditation. The session begins with the chanting of the Aspiration Prayer, then there is the choice between sitting or walking meditation, before finishing with the Dedication Prayer.
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Daily
Mahakala and Chö Practice
Main Temple at 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Every evening the nuns perform a protector puja along with the practice of Chö.
Dharma Guardians such as Mahakala are enlightened beings who have vowed to defend Buddhism from negative forces and protect those practitioners who petition them. They have an important role in upholding the pure Dharma in the world by helping to remove obstacles and create auspicious circumstances.
The Chö ritual was introduced in Tibet by the great 11th century yogini Machig Labdron. The “cutting through the ego” practices are based on the Prajnaparamita or Perfection of Wisdom sutras, and include visualisations of cutting up and offering one’s own body at a tantric feast for the sake of all beings, in order to go beyond fear and attachment and to realise transcendental knowledge.
10th
Lunar Day
Konchog Chidu
Main Temple – Time Varies
The nuns perform the Embodiment of the Three Jewels (Tib. Konchog Chidu) liturgy, which belongs to the 3rd Khamtrul Kunga Tenzin Rinpoche’s Cycle of Treasure Teachings through pure vision. It contains the entire development and completion stage practices of Guru Padmasambhava, manifesting as peaceful, wrathful and semi wrathful, as well as a ganachakra feast offering. Practising this ceremony on the 10th day perfects abundant meritorious action, through which in future one can be reborn in Padmasambhava’s Copper-Coloured Mountain pure land. It also purifies illness, evil influence, misdeeds, and obscurations, and has the benefit of attaining longevity.
15th
Lunar Day
Senge Tsewa
Main Temple – Time Varies
On the day of the full moon, the nuns perform the Lion’s Play ceremony (Senge Tsewa), a Chö practice from the lineage of Phadampa Sangye and Machik Labdron. This liturgy was composed by Tulku Thrinley Gyatso, a student of the fifth Khamtrul Rinpoche. This pacifying Chö is a Prajnaparamita practice which completely pacifies all the sufferings of samsara and Nirvana.
25th
Lunar Day
Dorje Phagmo
Main Temple – Time Varies
The nuns perform the Vajrayogini Sadhana composed by Mipham Pema Karpo. This extraordinary Drukpa Kagyu liturgy belongs to the Anuttarayoga Tantra and is a sequence of practices to actualise the universe and its contents, conceptual patterns, all that exists, or path and result, as the one taste of the Dharmakaya. Practising this extensive Vajrayogini sadhana also has the benefit of attaining supreme accomplishment.
30th
Lunar Day
Mitrukpa
Main Temple – Time Varies
On the day of the new moon, the nuns perform the 13-deity Buddha Akshobhya ceremony (The Buddha Unshakable, Tib: Mitrukpa) composed by Mipham Pema Karpo, which is one of the four necessary Dharmas in the Drukpa Kagyu tradition. It is a ceremony that purifies obscurations from misdeeds, failings, and negative actions of those living and in particular it cleanses negative actions and downfalls of the deceased. It contains both a purification ritual and a cleansing request, and includes an empowerment section.
Get In Touch
Our Information
Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery
P.O. Padhiarkar
Via Taragarh, District Kangra
Himachal Pradesh 176081, INDIA
Email: office@dglnunnery.com
Phone: (+91) 98163 12062