A remote school in Pema Gatshel which was once closed due to lack of enrollment has found a new but somewhat similar purpose. The once primary school located at Dagor in Shumar Gewog today functions as a nunnery. The nuns at the religious institute are further helping the community with conducting religious rituals.
A nunnery in the remote Chiwog of Dogar is serving the community with a dual purpose. It has put to use the community’s defunct school which shut down due to a lack of students.
The nuns from the monastic school have also addressed the shortage of lay monks in the village required to perform religious rituals.
“We had a shortage of lay monks in our village. So, even the farmers had to join in to help when conducting rituals,” said Kezang, a resident.
“Compared to the past, we are much more comfortable today. We used to face a shortage of lay monks when performing rituals, but now we have the nuns, we are greatly benefited,” said Tshering Dema, another resident.
“We have maybe three or four lay monks here in the village which is not enough if you have to conduct a ritual,” said Sherab, a resident.
The nunnery was established in 2023 and now has 12 students.
“During the summer, we teach Buddhist philosophy. In winter, they learn how to make ritual cakes, blow trumpets, and perform rituals. Since we are in the village, we need to participate in rituals frequently,” said Ugyen Choden, the principal of the Pema Lingpa Nunnery School.
The school also teaches its students astrology. If things proceed as planned, it intends to get upgraded to a nunnery college.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
