My very dear one,
Thank you very much for your letter.

As for the project for nuns, yes, of course. If you are able to provide a place for nuns of different traditions to live, that is very good, also if you can support them—that part is extremely important. Usually that part does not happen, so there are some difficulties. Because of that lack of support, individuals have to go to work, which especially makes living away from a city difficult.

As far as doing prayers and practices together with the other traditions in the gompa, it is not impossible. In the school for young lamas that I attended in Dalhousie in India, many years ago, there were lamas from different traditions. People took turns leading the prayers, and prayers were done from the different traditions. I don’t remember whether the leader does the prayers of the other traditions or whether they all do their own prayers. If more nuns happen to be there, there can be different choices depending what tradition they are from. There could be small temples for each tradition, and sometimes they could do prayers together in the main temple.

It can be open to the four Tibetan Buddhist traditions, but it is up to people from those traditions to come. We don’t have to look after that, and you should not think that if they don’t come, you have failed.

One good thing is that when the nuns become old and are no longer able to look after themselves and need help, this could be one place to look after them, especially FPMT nuns. I feel this is a very important project.

Generally it is not easy for a nuns community. It is easy to have disharmony and quarrels. The success of the community depends on having a good leader who is resident there and guides their practice and discipline. Anyway, there is no problem with the planning.

As for the idea of helping the dying, starting a Buddhist hospice, if there are not many Buddhists, it could be for people of all religions. However, the techniques and the organization could be Buddhist, but presenting a method that fits with others’ traditions.

I will make prayers for this project, and I hope it will be fruitful for all sentient beings. 

Thank you very much. I hope to see you soon. I am sure Vajrayogini is very happy with you. Thank you for your good heart.

With much love and prayers...