The Canggu nunnery in Lhasa, capital of west China's Tibet Autonomous Region, is still full of life with fresh flowers flourishing and the fragrance of flowers mixingwith that of the Tibetan incense although it's early spring on theQinghai-Tibet Plateau.

"All cultivated by me," Cuizhen Lhamo, a Canggu nun, proudly said of the over 50 varieties of flowers introduced from differentregions of China and abroad in the nunnery.

"My key to making those flowers flourish all year is my love and care for them," said Cuizhen Lhamo.

Like Cuizhen Lhamo, there are many nuns in Tibet who, besides chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha, grasp modern techniques and knowledge and having some hobbies.

Gayma Qoizhoin, who knew only a little Tibetan before, now is self-taught to be proficient in Chinese and English.

"Now I have become a 'professional' tourist guide for visitors to our nunnery," said Gayma Qoizhoin. "And under my influence, many fellow nuns began to learn Chinese and foreign languages too."

Sheirab Qunzong had learnt medical skills and knowledge at the local women and children's hospital for one and a half years and now the nunnery medical room she takes charge of has become famousnot only among the nuns but also among residents nearby.

"The service is good, the environment is clean and the cost is relatively low," said Digi, a peddler nearby who often comes here to take infusions for his stomach trouble.

Four nuns in the sewing room of the nunnery are busy processingcloth goods including not only those for Tibetan temples Buddhist use but also those with Tibetan characteristics for selling to Buddhists and visitors both from home and abroad to increase the income of the nunnery.

According to Danzim Sangmu, head of the Canggu nunnery, great changes have taken place for Tibetan nuns, whose lives were mainlyabout chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha in the past.

"Many nuns in our nunnery are keen on learning some skills or having some hobbies," said Danzim. "But despite this, worshipping Buddha and studying Buddhism to better deliver all living creatures from torment is still the most important task for us nuns."

"Only girls over the age of 18 and passing the strict entrance exam on Buddhist knowledge and scriptures can be accepted as a nun," said the 84-year-old nun.

According to Danzim, nuns get up at 5 a.m. every day. After doing cleaning, they chant scriptures until 9 a.m. Then, the elders continue chanting scriptures and the younger do their own jobs such as sewing, treating patients and making Buddhist products.

After 6 p.m. is free time for nuns. Some go shopping, some visit their family or friends, while others stay at the nunnery reading scriptures and worshipping Buddha.

"The atmosphere to learn modern techniques and knowledge and tostudy Buddhism at our nunnery is very strong. If one doesn't work hard, she will lag behind soon," said Puncog Baima.

As one of the most excellent in Buddhism studies, Puncog Baima can recite over 50 different scriptures.

There are 1,780 temples and religious sites in the Tibet Autonomous Region with 130 nunneries of 4,300 nuns.
 
(People's Daily February 9, 2004)