Help us Support Tsungon Ratna Menling Nunnery at Menri Monastery, India

Olmo Ling Projects in Support of Menri Monastery

Olmo Ling Bon Center & Institute has been formally affiliated with Menri Monastery, the mother monastery of the Bon tradition in India, since 2010. We are deeply committed to supporting Bon at the source, including through providing sponsorships for nuns, monks, and children at Menri Monastery and helping to strengthen and revive the monastic colleges of the nuns and monks and other educational institutions at Menri. Earlier projects included the Menri Roof Restoration Project during 2013-2014 through which we helped replace the roof on the monks large dormitory, the Menri Public Restroom Project that completely funded the construction of a much needed public restroom, and an offering to support repair work at the nunnery after the devastating 2023 floods and landslides.


Geshema-samten-palzin-2

Ratna Menling Nunnery Project

Teaching fees and donations for the 2025 visit of His Holiness 34th Menri Trizin will support the Menri Nunnery Project of Olmo Ling Bon Center.

At present, our support for Menri Monastery focuses on the nuns at Tsungon Ratna Menling Nunnery at Menri Monastery, which is located on the opposite side of the valley of the monks monastery in Dholanji.

The nuns at Ratna Menling are able to obtain the doctor of Philosophy (Geshe) degree at the Bon Dialectic School just like the monks. The academic program at Ratna Menling is exactly the same as those of the monks at Menri, with rigorous study of philosophy, logic, Tibetan literature and calligraphy, poetry and grammar, astrology, Tibetan Medicine, rituals and meditation. The nuns also intensively study and practice the Bon traditions of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. In recent years, Geshe-mas (female Geshes) and nuns have been assuming growing teaching responsibilities.

However, Ratna Menling remains much smaller than the monks’ monastery with just 80 nuns at present, having historically received fewer resources. Many of the nuns have gone through great hardship to be able to come to Menri and lead a life of meditation, study, and service.

Combination-pic-nunnery

2025 Offering to the Nunnery

Both the late His Holiness 33rd Menri Trizin and the current throneholder, His Holiness 34th Menri Trizin, have worked hard to expand support for the nuns. Following the visit of His Holiness 34th Menri Trizin to Olmo Ling in 2023, we were able to sponsor more than thirty nuns at Ratna Menling for one year thanks to the incredible dedication and generosity of our community.

Our goal is to again sponsor at least 30 nuns for one year or longer following the visit of His Holiness this year, along with providing much needed general support for the nuns. There are currently about 80 nuns at Ratna Menling. Both teaching registration fees for the events with His Holiness and donations are dedicated towards this offering.

Here is how your donation will support the nuns:
  • Sponsor a nun for one year: $400. This will cover the cost of food, clothing, stationery and other basic needs
  • General needs at the nunnery – given lower living expenses in India and the simple life of the nuns, a small donation can go a long way
  • Nun’s continuing education fund
  • School uniform and other clothing, school supplies including books and writing supplies
  • Nun’s health and medicine fund

Each donation – large or small – is deeply appreciated and will make a large difference in supporting the simple life of the nuns. Thank you so much and may your gift benefit all beings!


Donate to Support the Nunnery with PayPal


Donate with Credit Card | Stripe


Donate by Check, Please Send Your Check to:

Olmo Ling Bon Center
1101 Greenfield Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15217

with a note “Nunnery support”

Please email us with any questions at bon@olmoling.org