Urgent Needs

Need for accommodations

The nunnery dates back from 1973. Many of the buildings date back from that time and are therefore in a very bad shape.

Because of the big population of 160 nuns, most of the buildings are used as dormitories for the nuns. Even the old wooden buildings that were built in 1973 are still used for this purpose.

Due to the bad climate in this part of Himachal Pradesh (heavy monsoon rains in summer, extreme changes of temperature during the year and bitter cold and rains in the winter time) the buildings are therefore in a very bad shape. In summer the monsoon rain pours down most of the walls inside the nun’s rooms. In winter the cold wind blows through cracks and holes in the walls and windows. The nuns have to face the elements even inside their rooms which sorely challenges their health.

A few of the older nuns have kidneys problems due to this. Besides the poor conditions of the nun’s dormitories, the nunnery also lacks enough class rooms for teaching. Teachers have to be creative with the spaces available, which sometimes interferes with other daily practices.  In the near future the nunnery would also like to be able to have decent accommodations available for staff members and teachers.

In Buddhist studies it is a tradition that after completion of the nun’s education they have the opportunity to go into retreat. Currently, the nunnery has insufficient accommodations for this purpose.

 Additionally, we would eventually like to build a debating court. The nuns debate everyday for an hour and have to do this outside. When the weather conditions are bad it is hard for them to concentrate on the debate, so we would like to build a shelter.

Finally, because of the lack of a consistent funding source, we can only provide the nuns with very basic food. This, in combination with the poor housing facilities poses many health challenges for the nuns of Geden Choling.

Phased reconstruction plan

At present, Geden Choeling Nunnery is facing great problem with space for nuns living room and classroom. Many of the nuns share a small room e.g 2 or 3 nuns together in one small single room with kitchen bathroom or toilet. All residential rooms were built way back in 1970s.

Rainy and winter season are the longest and hardest time in Dharamsala, during which rain water comes directly through cracks of wall and floor making the rooms damp and wet. Many nuns fell sick during these seasons due the dampness and some leave nunnery for poor infrastructure. Besides, there is always the need of more classroom and meditation room as there are number of nuns who wish to stay retreat for six months in the nunnery. 
 

To solve the existing problems, Geden Choeling Nunnery is constructing two different buildings on different sites, one is a three story buildings for the nuns retreat rooms and another is a room for the butter lamp.  One of the blocks on the library was constructed two months ago and are currently using for the nuns' class rooms.  Even though our nuns too engage in constructions to cut cost but the expenditure on construction of building is very huge and we are facing constant financial problems. We still have plan for further construction of new buildings, for the development of the nunnery's infrastructure.    
 

It would be of gracious help if anyone who can help to support to make small donations, to provide better facility to the nuns who are studying at Geden Choeling Nunnery.  We get some help from the Tibetan Nuns Project but it could not meet all our needs.  We need to get some financial assistant from you; we are always very thankful for your great support till now.   
 

Below are pictures of ongoing construction works. One on the Library top was complete and detail costs of each block of these buildings are listed below. We have not yet made full payment of it, all the amount we have from the prayers already spent. We are unable to make other remaining payment.  We still have some more building project on completely new site for the construction of new buildings, which will soon going to start from next month, to complete our mission; we need some help from you. We shall be highly thankful for your donation for a room or block; we accept any amount of donation that you are willing to give.

(more photos on our gallery page)

The nunnery will always remember you in our prayers and wish you all have peace, good health and success in your life. 
 

Detail cost of each building  
 

Retreat Centre 

Ground Floor Slab

57'.3" x 26'.3x800 Rs.sqft  = 1202250.00

RCC 51'.0x5' =255x 90Rs.sqft =22950.00

Shuttry  345x10Rs/sqft = 3450.00 
 

1st and 2nd floor

Slab 60'x27'.8"x2slab x775/sqft = 2572380.00

Inside stairs: 11'.3"x7'.3" Nosx 775/sqft = 189632.00

11'.3"x3' x 5 nos.x775/sqft = 130781.00 
 

Out side stairs:

17'.6"x4'x350/sqft  = 24500.00 
 

Retaining wall:

57'.3"x3'x10'   = 1717.50.50x60Rs/sqft = 103050.00

4248993.00 
 

Less Item Slab 16'x16'.2"=258.56x775sqft = -200384.00 
 

Total amount  = 40,48,609.00 
 

Butter lamp  

Ground floor

Slab: 26'x26'.6"x800 Rs.sq/ft = 551200.00

Slab: 14'x6'.6"x800 Rs.sq/ft = 72800.00 
 

Retaining wall: 24'x6.2"x3'x60Rs/sq/ft = 26611.00

             26'.6"x12x3x60Rs/sq/ft = 57240 

Total Rs.  70,7851.00 
 
 

1st floor and 2nd floor

Slab: 42'x26'.2"x2slabsx775Rs.sq/ft = 1,703,016.00 
 

Retaining wall:

11'x10'.3" = 330sftx60 = 19,800.00 
 

Total Rs =  1,722,816.00 
 
 

Library 

Slab = 1703 sqftx800Rs/sqft = 13, 62,400.00

Total = 13, 62,400.00 
 

Over all total amount: Rs. 7,133,825.00/- 

We humbly ask for your help. If you would like to contribute to the nunnery, then please go to “How to help”.

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.