Help Buddhist Nuns Replace Gas-Guzzler w Hybrid

We are a group of Spanish-speaking Buddhist nuns from all over the world - Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Switzerland and the US - living together in rural Virginia where there is no public transportation. We are turning to you here because our old car died (leaving one of our nuns stranded and alone), at an awful time to be looking to buy a new one. One of the most important things we have in common (besides being Spanish-speaking Buddhist nuns!) is a shared vision of our spiritual path as inseparable from an ecological commitment. These days to live more sustainably can be terribly expensive and this is evident in the cost of a hybrid car. We are doing our best to find the funding in our budget, but are coming up short $8,500. If you can help us reach this goal to cover the costs of replacing our old gas guzzler with a hybrid, we would be so very grateful.

For three years, we have driven a 1998 Oldsmobile that was gifted to us by a friend of our community. As part of our way of life, we seek to limit our needs to what is given us freely. A life of voluntary simplicity, reciprocity and a basic trust in the kindness of others. We cared for the car we were gifted as best we could. She served us well for a long time. We called the Oldsmobile our "Nunsmobile" and ended up on a first-name basis with Robert, the local mechanic who nursed her along in the past year. But after being left on the roadside various times, and finally stranding one of our nuns alone far from home in a dicey situation two weeks ago--we had to recognize that her days are at an end. We have no choice. We need a new car: We live in rural Virginia, and there is simply no public transportation serving our town.

We and the earth itself would greatly appreciate your support in making it possible for our next car to be a hybrid. All the funds we receive will be put toward the cost of a new hybrid Nunsmobile!

We are a 501(c)(3) so all donations made to us are fully tax deductible in the U.S.

MORE ABOUT US

OUR MISSION: We are deeply committed to embodying a model of spiritual community that eschews patriarchal institutions and ideologies, and embraces our shared responsibility to care for the earth.

WHAT WE DO

We serve a lay community dispersed across Latin America and anywhere that Spanish speakers are found. All of our programs are online, in Spanish and completely free of charge. We offer weekly Dharma talks, guide online retreats and group practice sessions, online courses and have a seven-year study program that currently has over 500 students enrolled. Our Dharma offerings and services are accessible and open to anyone who speaks Spanish.

It is of great importance to us that economic inequalities not form a barrier to accessing spiritual care and services particularly in Buddhism. Therefore we do not charge for any of our programs or services whatsoever. In turn, in keeping with the greatest Buddhist example, Buddha himself, we live on whatever donations we receive. And, thanks to our many kind donors, we have managed to cover our costs of living, month after month for over a decade. 

WHO WE ARE: An intentional intergenerational community of Spanish-speaking women.

Damcho, a nun for 22 years, with a PhD in Sanskrit and Tibetan Buddhism and a background in journalism. Originally from New York. Our reluctant leader. 

Nangpel, a nun for 13 years, former anthropologist from Mexico and an aikido black belt who had her own dojo. Keeps us on our toes. 

Lodro, a nun for 7 years, a former accountant born in the Dominican Republic who emigrated to Puerto Rico as a teenager. Our unofficial head of "laughter therapy" 

Dapel, a nun for 13 years, a former schoolteacher from Switzerland. Our chant master and resident artist.

Karya, our newest nun, from Colombia. A former university lecturer with a degree in semiotics