Tibetan nun talks life changes

(China Tibet Online)

08:48, March 28, 2013

Chimed, one of the 12 nuns in the Pula temple is posing for a picture smilingly. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Walking along the Gyama Valley in Maizhokunggar county of Tibet Autonomous Region, one can find a small temple in the half-way up the hill. Red roofs and white walls of this temple diffuse the taste of history under the azure blue sky. This is Pula temple or a nunnery, which is composed of 12 nuns.

Chimed, 42 years old, is one of the 12 nuns in the Pula temple. "I came to this temple in 1992, and there were only 4 nuns at that time," said Chimed briefly, who is an introvert. However, when she introduced the huge changes that had happened in the temple over the years, Chimed became talkative.

"Great changes have taken place in this temple since I came here. Take food as an example, we only had Tsam-pa before, but now we have vegetables to eat every day. We also have a library, televisions and newspapers from 2011 on," Chimed led reporters to her small domicile meditation room happily, in which there is a television and a bed. "Several people used to be packed in one room. It is much better now."

"The status of women has been promoted a lot. In this regard, my mother has the final say as she has gone through both old and new Tibet. We had no farmland or income before the liberation of Tibet. My mother's position was very low at home. Now she is more than 70 years old and enjoys a happy life at home. I can practice in the temple without any cares," said Chimed.

With the temple work proceeding in an all-round way in Tibet Autonomous Region since 2011, Chimed learned the Women's Day for the first time and spent her first Women's Day in her life happily on March 8th, 2011. "We celebrated it with special activities, eating and chatting. Women's Day is a very happy day for us," said Chimed.

Staff working in the temple said, "The biggest change of Chimed is that she is more outgoing than before. She begins to talk a lot with us instead of keeping all within. Now she is one of the committee members of Pula temple and often offers suggestions on the management of the temple."

Lives of Chimed and other nuns are very simple. They walk a few miles to the village at 9 o'clock in the morning to chant scriptures and give alms. They go back to the temple at 6 o'clock in the afternoon for dinner and also watch television programs at night.

Chimed said, "The government grant us living subsidy every month, and also pay us endowment insurance and medical treatment insurance. In the Spring festival or on the occasion of other holidays, we also get consolation money."

With no worries about life, Chimed and other nuns in the temple can devote themselves whole-heartedly to chanting scripture and practising.

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（Editor：MaXi、Yao Chun）

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