The History and Background of Geden Choeling

Ne Chung Ri 

Geden Choeling is a branch nunnery, thought to have originally descended from the monastery of Ne Chung Ri, which lies in the North of Lhasa, Tibet's capital. The history of Ne Chung Ri stretches over many years. Founded in the  Century by Rab Jam Choe Je, a disciple of Shang Gyu Dakpa, it was situated on the east hill of Sera Monastery. Although it was officially orientated towards the Tsalpa-Kahgyu section of Buddhism, many of its teachers and disciples adopted elements of Gelug Buddhism in their lifestyle, following the traditions of Je Tsongkha Pa – a founder of this division – after he had spent time at Sera.

During the 13th Century, while Gung Ru Gyaltsen Sangpo was abbot in Sera, a number of nuns began their practice of Gelug here. However, concern about the idea of monks and nuns living together in such close quarters led to the creation of a separate nunnery nearby: Ne Chung Ri. It was also known as Nehu-Chung-Ri, as it was placed near the meadow of Nehu Sing Chung Chung.

The location of this new nunnery was decided by the nun Kha Choe Palmo: she witnessed a hawk taking the dish of Rab Jam Choe Je – a Lama who was closely associated with the nunnery – in its beak, and then dropping it over a piece of land. The nunnery was built where it fell. After this event, the name Ne Chung Ri became popularly used; a title derived from descriptions of its appearance and surroundings. For example,  'Michung-Ri,' another phrase used to describe the nunnery, means 'small man' in Tibetan, and refers to the way in which some thought the building resembled a figure perched on the mountain.

After the Chinese Occupation of Tibet

Many years later, in the 20th Century, the Tibetans found themselves under oppression from Communist China who began to occupy Tibet in the 1950s. As a result, H.H. the Dalai Lama fled into exile in the democratic country of India. He made Dharamsala – a town in the Outer Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh – the seat of the Tibetan Government in exile, and was followed by many thousands of Tibetan refugees who sought freedom to learn the teachings of Lord Buddha and receive a good education. In 1959, Ngawang Choezin and Ngawang Paldon, who came to India alongside many other nuns from Ne Chung Ri, requested permission to build Geden Choeling. They shared a common aim to preserve Tibetan culture and traditions in exile, as well as the teachings of Buddhism. A lack of Buddhist education centres in Chinese-occupied Tibet meant they were unable to do this in their homeland.

The Construction of Geden Choeling

Ngawang Choezin and Ngawang Paldon were permitted to lay the foundations of the nunnery by both the Department of Religion and the two spiritual masters of H.H. the Dalai Lama. Indeed, the name 'Geden Choeling' was chosen by His Majesty Tri Chang Rinpoché.

In the initial stages of building, the nuns based themselves in rented accommodation in Rashtra-Bawan. Later, the construction of eight wooden rooms and a small congregation hall provided room for around 50 nuns. The construction work was very difficult, and undertaken by the nuns themselves. Ngawang Choezin and Ngawang Paldon struggled alongside a number of fellow nuns, carrying the stones, soil and other building materials on their backs. Their living conditions were poor: they had very limited supplies of food and drinking water, and were forced to endure the freezing Himalayan climate, with little time to rest.

O holy and venerable Lama,

 from the clouds of compassion

That form in the skies

of your Dharmakaya

wisdom

Please release a rain of

vast and profound

Dharma precisely in

accordance with the

needs of those

to be trained.