“Traditionally Buddhist nuns are treated very differently from monks. They cook and clean and are not allowed to exercise. But his Holiness thought this was nonsense and decided to buck the trend,” said Carrie Lee, president of Live to Love International, a charity which works with the Drukpa nuns to support marginalized Himalayan communities.
“Among other things, he gave them leadership roles and even introduced Kung Fu classes for the nuns after they faced harassment and violence from monks who were disturbed by the growing shift of power dynamics,” she said.
Over the last 12 years, the number of Drukpa nuns has grown to 500 from 30, said Lee, it is because of the progressive attitudes of the 53-year-old Gyalwang Drukpa, who was inspired by his mother and advocated gender equality.
The Gyalwang Drukpa also participates in the bicycle journeys, riding with the nuns as they pedal through treacherous terrain and hostile weather and camp out in the open.
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(Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy:www.ndtv.com)
