In Tibetan areas of China§, monasteries often function as cultural centres. When Tibetans become destitute, monasteries are the first place to go for help, in the form of counselling or rituals. This help gives peace and inner stability and enables many people to tackle their problems with a more optimistic attitude.

Nuns commit themselves to the preservation and practice of methods for training the human mind, for overcoming many psychological sufferings, for harmonising the psyche, which are taught by Tibetan Buddhism. Day in day out they perform deep spiritual practices for the benefit of all beings and preserving world peace.

Since the monasteries in Tibetan areas of China have to provide their own provisions, they depend on help from the outside. In addition, most of the monasteries are situated in remote mountain regions. Under theses harsh life conditions it is very difficult for the nuns to cover their most basic needs. Choosing the monastic life means living in poverty.

Because ROKPA wants to contribute to the preservation of this old and wholesome culture, from which by now we also benefit in the West (many of the methods have been incorporated in the therapies of modern psychology) we support selected nunneries, such as the one in Kepcha, a remote region of East Tibetan areas of China.

Here, I met an 86-year old blind and paralysed nun who lived in a room with a mud floor which contained only a simple bed and nothing else. Whoever came into contact with her, felt her deep inner joy, her enormous love and her compassion for others.

In Kepcha, over 300 nuns are staying. In spite of their modesty, they also need to eat every day, they need medical help when they fall ill, in order to continue dedicating their life to the preservation of precious Buddhist teachings.

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