Atop the hills of Nepal, the nuns of Druk Amitabha Monastery celebrated the long-awaited reopening of their nunnery with an extraordinary display of martial arts. Performing hand chops, high kicks, and wielding swords, the “Kung Fu Nuns” thrilled hundreds of supporters, marking the reopening five years after the COVID-19 pandemic closed their doors to the public.
These nuns, aged 17 to 30, are members of the Drukpa lineage, a 1,000-year-old Buddhist tradition that uniquely grants women equal status to monks. While traditionally, nuns in Buddhism are relegated to roles such as cooking and cleaning, the Drukpa lineage stands out by empowering women through martial arts training. This forward-thinking approach was introduced by Gyalwang Drukpa, a senior figure in Tibetan Buddhism, who founded the nunnery in 2009. Today, the monastery is home to 300 nuns, aged six to 54, hailing from Nepal, India, and Bhutan.
Kung fu is an integral part of their daily routine. “We do kung fu to keep ourselves mentally and physically fit, and our aim is to promote women’s empowerment and gender equality,” said 23-year-old Jigme Jangchub Chosdon, originally from Ladakh, India. For these nuns, kung fu is more than self-defense; it’s a means of instilling confidence and strength to uplift others. Jigme Yangchen Gamo, a 24-year-old nun from Nepal, expressed her desire to inspire young girls to build their own resilience.
The monastery’s philosophy integrates spiritual growth, physical strength, and equality. Their website emphasizes this holistic approach as a return to Buddhism’s “true spiritual roots.” The nuns’ lives extend far beyond martial arts; they have embarked on arduous expeditions across the Himalayas to raise funds for disaster relief and advocate for eco-friendly living practices.
For some, like 30-year-old Jigme Konchok Lhamo from India, the ultimate goal remains enlightenment. However, she prioritizes helping others, echoing the monastery’s ethos. “Helping others is our religion,” she said.
The Kung Fu Nuns exemplify a powerful blend of tradition and modernity, using their unique platform to challenge gender norms, promote equality, and serve their communities. Their reopening event not only celebrated their resilience but also reaffirmed their commitment to a mission that transcends martial arts, inspiring many to find strength and compassion in their journey.
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