Meeting Venerable Tenzin Palmo
On May 1, 2007, Guo Ming Fashi, abbot of the Chan Meditation Center, and resident nuns Guo Chian Fashi and Chang Wu Fashi were invited by the Global Peace Initiative of Women to attend a private reception for Venerable Tenzin Palmo in Manhattan.
There were about 30 people from different religions, ethnicities and walks of life at the reception. Upon request, she briefly talked about her life, practice, mission and the dream she wanted to accomplish. The Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, which she founded in India in 1999, currently has over twenty nuns who are learning to operate the nunnery in a democratic way. They plan to build a practice hall and extend housing to accommodate 50 nuns in the future.
Venerable Tenzin has been advocating equal opportunity for women to realize their intellectual and spiritual potential, and to eventually receive full ordination in the Tibetan tradition. She has admired the success that Buddhists in Taiwan, Korea and Vietnam have had in this regard. Buddhist nuns in some Taiwanese monasteries actually bear great responsibilities and play important roles. She gave Dharma Drum Mountain as an example.
Venerable Tenzin has visited Dharma Drum Mountain in Taiwan twice before, though this was the first time that we had met in the U.S. She made a proposal that we meet again in India next time. We cherish her commitment and compassion, and sincerely wish her success in every endeavor.
(by Venerable Chang Wu)
