Nuns Ordination held in Punakha, Bhutan on 10th May 2014 Organised by Bhutan Nuns Foundation and Sponsored by Firefly Mission We had a very successful and fulfilling weekend with a very beautiful and powerful Sramenerike vows which is called Getsulma Dompa in Tibetan. The ceremony took place at Sangchen Dorji Lhendrup Nunnery in Punakha. The nuns taking the Sramenerike (Getsulma Dompa) vows agree to abide by the 10 precepts of Buddhist monastic life. It was one of the most powerful ceremonies I have ever attended in my life and we were all very moved. His Holiness the Je Khenpo (the Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan) gave the ordination to 143 nuns who came from 7 different nunneries. Bhutan Nuns Foundation’s staff was in Punakha since the afternoon of the 9th to prepare the event for the early morning of the 10th. We all, including Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck were lined up together with the nuns to receive the Je-Khenpo at 6:30am in the morning. The actual ceremony started from 8am until around 4pm. Since the group was too big, His Holiness the Je Khenpo divided them into two groups, one in the morning and the rest in the afternoon. Their special robes (four in a set), sponsored by the Firefly Mission, were blessed, and the 143 nuns receive instructions about how to keep the vows. Both the participants and the public were visibly moved. Many tears flowed as His Holiness spoke the special dedication to groups of three nuns each. His closing speech, in which he explained the significance of the ordination, held everyones undivided attention. It is the first time that Sramenerike vows are being taken on this scale by the nuns in Bhutan. To quote Her Majesty, This is a historical day. After this auspicious beginning, it is likely that this ordination ceremony will not be the last that BNF organizes. Fifty five year old Ani Choden, spoke during BBS interview, “I have heard about this particular ordination but we never had the opportunity to receive this before. We are grateful to Bhutan Nuns Foundation for organizing this and making it possible for us”. Another young nun of 27 year old said, “I feel very fortunate to be receiving the ordination”. One of the nuns called me the next morning and said, “thank you so much for organizing such an event for us. After I have received the ordination, I told my friends that I am happy even if I die now”. Before everyone departed, Dr. Tashi Zangmo, the Executive Director of BNF let the nuns know about robe sponsors and how they should dedicate the merits to their donors with whose support we were able to make this event a successful one. Some nuns have said that in the past, many nuns simply could not receive this particular ordination just because they could not afford the sets of robes they are required to have. Therefore, I want Firefly Mission, Singapore to know that your contribution has made a huge impact on the lives of these nuns. The amount of merit one would gain from supporting this particular event is beyond words. Thank you beyond Sky and Earth. Submitted by Dr. Tashi Zangmo, the Executive Director Bhutan Nuns Foundation 13th May 2014
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 00:21:17 +0000
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