export_ofoct.com

[00:00.66] Buddhist nuns in Nepal are once again performing martial arts for the public after a five-year break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

[00:12.34] The women recently put on a show for onlookers at their religious community, called a monastery, outside the capital Kathmandu.

[00:23.24] The performance was attended by reporters from Reuters news agency.

[00:29.08] Members of the hilltop Druk Amitabha Monastery are part of the 1,000-year-old Drukpa religious organization.

[00:39.17] The group gives nuns equal status to male community members called monks.

[00:45.02] The Drukpa lineage includes the only female order in the male-led Buddhist monastery system.

[00:54.84] The nun community was established in 2009 and now has 300 members between the ages of six and 54.

[01:04.94] The nuns come from Bhutan, India and Nepal.

[01:09.99] They are all trained in kung fu, the ancient Chinese style martial art that promotes self-defense and strength.

[01:20.08] In their recent performance, the nuns were seen moving their hands quickly and kicking their legs high, with some holding swords.

[01:30.70] Hundreds of people gathered to watch the performance and cheered the group on.

[01:37.34] Usually, such religious organizations expect nuns to cook and clean and not practice any form of martial arts.

[01:46.91] But one monk, Gyalwang Drukpa, decided to train women in kung fu to improve their health and spiritual well-being.

[01:58.06] He has a position just slightly below the Dalai Lama in the Tibetan Buddhist leadership.

[02:05.50] Jigme Jangchub Chosdon is a 23-year-old nun who came from Ladakh in India.

[02:12.41] She told Reuters, “We do kung fu to keep ourselves mentally and physically fit, and our aim is to promote women's empowerment and gender equality."

[02:25.42] Another performer was 24-year-old Jigme Yangchen Gamo, a nun from Ramechhap in Nepal.

[02:33.92] She said, "With the confidence from kung fu, I really want to help the community, young girls to build their own strength."

[02:43.22] The nuns’ website explains that the combination of gender equality, physical strength and respect for all living things represents the order's return to its "true spiritual roots."

[02:58.36] In the past, the nuns have traveled long distances on foot and by bike in the Himalayas to raise money for disaster relief and to promote environment-friendly living.

[03:11.91] Another member of the group is Jigme Konchok Lhamo, a 30-year-old nun from India.

[03:19.88] She said her main goal for the future is to reach enlightenment like Lord Buddha, who founded Buddhism 2,600 years ago.

[03:31.56] She added, "But for now as I am a normal person... I think I will be focusing more on helping others.

[03:39.80] Helping others is our religion."