The Ladakh Nuns Association (LNA) was established in 1996 by Venerable Sramnerika (Ge-Tsul-ma) - Dr. Tsering Palmo, and was inspired by the visionary guidance of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama. During a visit to Ladakh in 1999, His Holiness emphasized the importance of promoting the welfare and spiritual education of nuns, advocating for equal opportunities in ordination, education, and leadership for both men and women. He envisioned a future where nuns too could achieve advanced degrees, such as the Geshe (PhD in Buddhist Philosophy), and contribute to their communities as spiritual teachers and leaders.

Guided by this vision, Venerable Dr. Tsering Palmo—the first ever Ladakhi nun trained in Herbal Medicine at the Tibetan Medical Institute in Dharamsala, India—founded the Ladakh Nuns Association (LNA) to address the dire conditions faced by Buddhist nuns throughout the Ladakh and Zanskar Ranges. The non-profit association has since worked tirelessly to provide non-secular educational opportunities and AMCHI (Traditional Tibetan Medicine) studies, leadership training, and spiritual support to nuns and laywomen alike, while raising awareness of their challenges within society.

Today, LNA continues to honor His Holiness’s aspiration for the betterment of nuns by striving to create a fully fledged institute which aims to:

• Provide nuns with safe and practical means to study Dharma (Buddhism), non-secular education and pursue advanced education options for those wishing to study AMCHI Traditional Tibetan Medicine.

• Promote and develop the health and well being of the local community, and the rural and nomadic areas of Ladakh and Zanskar ranges by providing health services, promotions and initiatives via LNA’s Community Health Clinic in Leh.

• Promote and preserve all schools of Buddhism (Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana) and meditation practices, and foster a non-sectarian and inclusive approach to Buddhist studies.

• Empower and build the capacity of the nuns as spiritually and socially engaged members of society, and encourage self-reliance and sustainability among nunneries and individual nuns.

• Demonstrate the relevance of the Dharma to modern life through the philosophy of ‘Engaged Buddhism,’ alleviating suffering among women, youth and the eldery.

• Include laypeople, especially women, in all spiritual, health and educational initiatives where possible.

Through this work, LNA upholds both the His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and Venerable Tsering Palmo’s vision for a more equitable and enlightened future, whilst enriching the Ladakhi society through spiritual guidance, education, traditional medicine & healthcare, and cultural preservation.

Photography, Ashwini Bhatia & Michael Fountoulakis

Design & Graphics, Bombay Ink