TCV and Dolma Ling Nunnery

On Thursday, we had many opportunities to connect with some of the people Tara Dhatu sponsors at TCV and at Dolma Ling nunnery. In the morning many of the group went to meet with the children at TCV.

Sue Benson, a pilgrim from Australia who sponsors a child at TCV, wrote this about her experience:

"It's been such a joy to reconnect with Tenzin Nomdol, my sponsor child. This is my second journey on pilgrimage to India with Prema and Anahata. On the first journey I took up the offer to sponsor a little girl named Tenzin Nomdol aged 6 years old. In the three years since the last pilgrimage we have kept in contact via letters and pictures. Over the last few days in Dharamsala I've been able to spend several hours with her. Although she is very shy, she is extremely warm and affectionate. She says she remembers us dancing the tara dance in 1998. Throughout the pilgrimage wherever we go, the children meet us with happy smiles, enthusiasm, and dancing feet - it is such a gift for the spirit. Today when we arrived at the Tibetan Children's Village, Tenzin brought an older student with her to help her find me in the crowd. Although we cannot talk very easily to each other in our own languages, it is very easy to understand the core of affection and warmth. She was very grateful that I had brought gifts of clothing and school items, but the biggest hugs and kisses were reserved for the gift of a doll. Thank you Terry for sharing in the loving support of Tenzin and making this journey possible."

Gail Kihn, a pilgrim from New York, wrote this about the visit to TCV:

"Our morning visit to TCV - joyous, playful children everywhere, with kites, balloons, the basketball court activity looking like any recess or playtime at any school. Then our meeting with Jetsun Pema; the details of what it was like for these children, and there are 500-600 more coming out of Tibet every year. 'Like starting a new school every year,' Jetsun commented. There are 3rd generation Tibetans here - children whose only knowledge of Tibet comes from the school - and the new arrivals. Parents who send their children out of Tibet to TCV because they want their children raised Tibetan and know that if they send them to school in Tibet, they will be raised more Chinese than Tibetan. 'They also see it as presenting their children to His Holiness, by sending them here.' To hear of children who walked from Tibet, risking drowning or freezing to death, is profound. To recognize the love and care given these refugees is overwhelming. Our tour, which ranged from the baby/child care to the dormitories for teens, revealed the underlying foundation of compassion of TCV. Jetsun Pema had the group laughing many times with her anecdotes. . . when she spoke of the signs around TCV that say, 'Others before Self,' and how 'We should have it on everyone's forehead to remind us,' the love and understanding of the Mother beamed from her. Ah the challenges of raising our children!

In the afternoon we offered the Tara Dance at Dolma Ling nunnery. They were all so beautiful with their shaved heads and matching maroon robes. They watched intently as we danced, but when we invited them to dance a few simple dances with us, their shyness intervened. We were then given a nice talk by Richen Chondron (spelling?), who told us how inspiring we were, coming from so many countries, forming such bonds between women. She told us about the Tibetan Nuns' Project and how we could support their work. Nuns traditionally had few educational opportunities, but support of the Nuns' Project and changing ideas have made it possible for the nuns to reach the highest possible educational levels. Many of our delegation made donations to support their work.

Some delegates are already in relationships sponsoring individual nuns. Anahata met again with her nun, and Robyn Franckowiak, a pilgrim from Pennsylvania, wrote the following about meeting with the nun she supports:
"Three years ago on the first Tara pilgrimage I met and sponsored a nun at Dolma Ling. Her name is Phuntsok Namdol and she had just arrived in India when we met. She had no English,and I was introduced via translator. The first two years she sent me a card around Christmas/New Year, but this past year she had learned enough English to write a short letter to me. When we got to Dolma Ling yesterday, I asked a nun if she could find her for me. A little while later, as I stepped outside, two nuns approached me and asked if I was Robyn. I said yes and the first one introduced herself as my nun. I was so happy to see her. She was a bit shy, but seemed happy as well. Her English is much improved, but she still relies on her friends to help her. I was supposed to be getting ready to put on my costume for the dance, but she was so wanting for me to come to her room and see where she lived. I wnet into her small, two-bed room, and she had me sit on her bed. Then she said she'd be right back and left me with her roommate. Her roomate's name is Tsering and she has a large poster of a horse by her bed. She told me she loves horses. In a few moments Phuntsok Namdol came in with a Coke and a glass and served me a drink then sat beside me on the bed. In asking me if my family is well, she needed Tsering to help her with the words. I asked if her brother was still imprisoned in Tibet, and she said yes. Her parents get to visit him once a month. He is well as far as she knows. It is hard for her to have no contact with her family, but she is studying hard. After we dance, she came and found me again, and we just walked and held hands with few words. She felt badly that she did not know I was coming or she would have had a gift for me. I told her that seeing her was gift enough, but I dn't know that she understood. She did give me a couple of friendship bracelets that she made. It was very special. I was very glad to see her and told her I was proud of her and how well her English was doing. She seemed pleased that I was pleased with her."

Yesterday we had the opportunity to dance for His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche and informally dance at Tashi Jong, a nunnery run by Tenzin Palmo, who wrote the book "Cave in the Snow." Futher details about those events will follow soon. Today is our last day in McLeod Ganj. Tomorrow we will begin our return journey to Delhi and then fly to Kathmandu. It is hard to leave, for this feels much like home. Tonight we will have a special banquet honoring our Tibetan friends here, particularly the nineteen Tibetan women who danced with us. Then, our journey continues.

Blessings,
Jessica Zebrine