Continued from "River Rafting"...
[Participating in Thursday Challenge - "Peaceful" (Landscapes)]
The next place of interest was the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery, built at Omolatsekha. The monastery has a two-storied temple, a chorten in Nepal's style of architecture, and a nunnery complex. Well, yes, it's all about the location, isn't it? The nunnery is at an absolute stunning location, onlooking the different valleys.
The temple has one of the biggest Avalokiteshvara bronze statue along with staues of Guru Padmasambava, Lord Buddha, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, Tsela Namsum, 21 Taras, and Tsepamay. This place oozes serenity. Photography is prohibited inside the sanctum.
The nunnery has a learning center, computer center, library, and meditation center. There were about 40-45 nuns when I visited. The nuns maintain the garden. They were planting new plants, and seemed to enjoy the activity and the sunshine. A few nuns were studying. One nun sat near a prayer wheel, faced the valley, and quietly studied. That was a mesmerizing sight!
I understand that most of the young girls were either abandoned or orphaned. Life hasn't been easy for them but for the nunnery, I guess. We take so much for granted, in our easy lives; create issues for ourselves and others. For a second, if we can visualize the difficulties that these girls would have faced, we will be grateful for living a comfortable life.
Teaching these girls vocational skills along with providing basic education will definitely help them. I had bought a few locally grown apples at the morning market, and offered the fruits at the sanctum. For sure, the fruits would be distributed and consumed. The donation box is inside the sanctum; can drop cash into the box. Best part of monasteries at Bhutan is that they accept not just cash but also anything you are willing to offer. I have offered biscuits, fresh fruits, chocolates, and whatever I had saved for myself. I wish that I had known earlier... Would have purchased some notebooks or other educational books for the girls at the nunnery. Well, there's always a next time!
Regards,
Asha
[Participating in Thursday Challenge - "Peaceful" (Landscapes)]
The next place of interest was the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery, built at Omolatsekha. The monastery has a two-storied temple, a chorten in Nepal's style of architecture, and a nunnery complex. Well, yes, it's all about the location, isn't it? The nunnery is at an absolute stunning location, onlooking the different valleys.
The temple has one of the biggest Avalokiteshvara bronze statue along with staues of Guru Padmasambava, Lord Buddha, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, Tsela Namsum, 21 Taras, and Tsepamay. This place oozes serenity. Photography is prohibited inside the sanctum.
The nunnery has a learning center, computer center, library, and meditation center. There were about 40-45 nuns when I visited. The nuns maintain the garden. They were planting new plants, and seemed to enjoy the activity and the sunshine. A few nuns were studying. One nun sat near a prayer wheel, faced the valley, and quietly studied. That was a mesmerizing sight!
I understand that most of the young girls were either abandoned or orphaned. Life hasn't been easy for them but for the nunnery, I guess. We take so much for granted, in our easy lives; create issues for ourselves and others. For a second, if we can visualize the difficulties that these girls would have faced, we will be grateful for living a comfortable life.
Teaching these girls vocational skills along with providing basic education will definitely help them. I had bought a few locally grown apples at the morning market, and offered the fruits at the sanctum. For sure, the fruits would be distributed and consumed. The donation box is inside the sanctum; can drop cash into the box. Best part of monasteries at Bhutan is that they accept not just cash but also anything you are willing to offer. I have offered biscuits, fresh fruits, chocolates, and whatever I had saved for myself. I wish that I had known earlier... Would have purchased some notebooks or other educational books for the girls at the nunnery. Well, there's always a next time!
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| The beautiful lamp-post |
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| The monastery complex |
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| Close-up of temple |
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| The prayer wheel |
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| Stupa resembling the ones at Nepal |
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| Ring them? |
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| Girls busy gardening |
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| View of the valley |
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| Clouds seem to be exploding from the mountain tops! |
Asha
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