Background

There is no doubt that the Drukpa Lineage promotes gender equality amongst its practitioners. In the past female practitioners found it difficult to receive teachings and nuns were mostly neglected or treated as servants in the monastic environment. When He discovered this in the early years Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, the current lineage holder, was very sad and secretly promised himself that within His life He would try his best to promote gender equality and ensure that female practitioners receive the same attention and support as their male counterparts.

Starting with 15 young Ladakhi nuns in 1992 the community of female practitioners was gradually formed as more girls from remote Himalayan regions took vows with His Holiness so that they could dedicate their entire life to practice and to bring benefit to many less fortunate beings.

In 1999 about 40 nuns from Ladakh were sent by His Holiness to live in a village next to Druk Amitabha Mountain, one of the mountains surrounding the spiritually blessed Kathmandu valley, in Nepal. Despite the very difficult living conditions the nuns practiced with unwavering devotion and dedication. It was a testing period that they endured with great joy. His Holiness then decided to dedicate Druk Amitabha mountain for the benefit of female practitioners and the Druk Gawa Khilwa community was born.

His Holiness's nuns now number over 500 and are mostly based at Druk Amitabha Mountain.

Druk Gawa Khilwa, Kathmandu, on Druk Amitabha Mountain, is the main training centre and currently, the administration headquarter of all the nunneries in the Himalayas

Druk Gawa Khilwa, Kortsa, located in a remote mountainous area in Ladakh, is one of the main retreat centres for the nuns

Druk Gawa Khilwa, Shey, Ladakh, occupying the Naropa Palace (Naro Phodrang) in the compound of the Druk Padma Karpo Institute, is one of the practice centres to support the locals and school children in their daily spiritual practice and development

Druk Gawa Khilwa, Lahaul, recently established, will also be a practice centre to support locals in their spiritual practice and development

Those nuns who are in solitary retreat stay in Kortsa and those who are learning Buddhist philosophy, rituals, English, Tibetan and ceremonial dances and receiving training are staying in Kathmandu. At any one time the nuns are divided into two groups, taking turns to learn and practice in either locations. Some of the experienced nuns are stationed in our Shey and Lahaul branches, to support and teach the locals in their spiritual practice, especially in recitation, rituals and meditation.

For information on the activities of the Drukpa Nuns you can visit their website - www.drukpa-nuns.org or their facebook page

We are happy to announce that the Venerable Drubpon Ngawang will be giving teachings on Sengey Tsewa, in London in March 2020.

Sengey Tsewa or "The Revelry with the Lion" is a particular practice of Prajnaparamita. Dakini Machig Labdron offered the teaching of Sengey Tsewa to the Omniscient One - Kunkhyen Pema Karpo (the Fourth Gyalwang Drukpa 1527 - 1592) - through his guru Ava Dhutipa. Ever since then it has been the main practice of many yogis of Tibetan Buddhism. The beneifits of Sengey Tsewa practice can be categorised into two parts :

1. Through the practice of non-attachment (Shunyata) towards one's own body, one will be able to free oneself from sufferings such as diseases and unwanted incidents, and accumulate merits to eventually attain the form of Buddha (Rupakaya)

2. Through the practice of non-attachment (Shunyata) towards one's own conceptual thoughts, one will be liberated from the mental distractions and eventually attain the full realisation (Dharmakaya) of complete omniscience (Wisdom of Buddha).

His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa

All are welcome to attend these teachings

Programme :

Saturday March 7th, 2.30 to 6.30 pm - Sengey Tsewa teachings and practice

Sunday March 8th, 10.30 am to 1 pm - Continuation of Sengey Tsewa teachings and practice

Sunday March 8th 2.30 to 6.00 pm - Sengey Tsewa practice with tsok

Venue:

The City College, University House, 55 East Road, London N1 6AH.

The nearest underground station is Old Street on the Northern Line. Follow the signs to Subway 1 then take the set of steps on the left, which brings you out into City Road,  Walk up City Road for about 100 yards and at the traffic lights bear to your right, where East Road begins. Keep walking for another 200 yards and you will see the City College on the other side of the road . We are meeting in the common room on the 2nd floor.

Please note that there is no lift in the building.

To bring:

A cushion if you prefer to sit on the floor (there are plenty of chairs available).

Sengey Tsewa and Rosary of Jewels texts if you have them - copies of the Sengey Tsewa text will be available for purchase at the venue, price £12. Please also bring your bell and damaru if you have them.

Price:

Saturday £15, Sunday £20, whole weekend £30 - payable at the door

We look forward to seeing you there

with best wishes