The purpose of Vajra Dakini Nunnery is to benefit all beings through prayer and service. We are open to nuns of all nationalities and lineages. Our interconnectedness with the lay Sangha is honored, friendships treasured. Guests are welcome. Spiritual contemplative life is a blessing and you are invited during your stay, whether an hour or months, to fully and deeply drink from the well of peaceful monastic community practice.

Vajra Dakini is open to the public on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings when the nuns are not in retreat. Saturday afternoon is a good time to offer service or read in the library and join in pot luck meals with the nuns. Sundays are devoted to silent meditation and Dharma Teachings. On Open Sundays, lay guests are invited to join the nuns for the day. Please call to let us know you will be coming.

Monastics live by donation, relying on the generosity of the Sangha, trusting that their efforts to make the Dharma accessible are appreciated. Guests are encouraged to practice "dana" or generosity as well as bring food or groceries.

Guidelines for Guests
Everyone comes with the intention of exploring the nature of their minds. So that the peace of our contemplative community can be experienced by all who visit, all guests and residents are asked to honor these guidelines.

1. All visitors agree to follow the Five Precepts and follow the common schedule.

• Respect life and do not physically harm any living being
• Respect others' property and do not take anything that hasn't been freely given or use anything that is not for your use.
• Do not engage in sexual behavior, including flirting
• Speak truthfully, kindly, and at appropriate times
• Do not use intoxicants (alcohol, recreational drugs, tobacco). Anyone using these substances during their stay here will be asked to leave.

Lay Guests are welcome to join the Sunday morning community meditation, participate in Dharma Study classes and to come to retreats, service weekends and celebrations. Saturday afternoons are open to visitors for pot luck meals and use of the library. You are welcome to make appointments for spiritual instruction and counseling. Open Sundays are silent and open to practitioners and the public for meditation and Dharma Teachings.

Lay Members holding Upasaka precepts may join the daily silent morning and evening meditation practices and with appropriate empowerments, participate in feast days.
1. Aspirant - Lay guests may seek 1 month residency as an aspirant upon successful completion one or more entry programs. This residency will be offered for one month each year and may vary as to which month.
2. Monastic in Training Aspirants will be invited to return as monastics in training for 3 month residencies. Upon successful completion of a 3 month residency aspirants may be invited to return for extended exploration of monastic life. Trainees will progress through the five precepts, eight precepts, novice vows and Bhiksunni vows. Ordinations are dependent upon the community's welcome and the abbess's wisdom.
3. Visiting Monastics are welcome as guests. We are open to nuns of all nationalities and lineages. Vajra Dakini Nunnery is a vajrayana Tibetan Buddhist nunnery, living by the Praktimoksa vows

Donations for residents: Guests and residents are encouraged to seek donations to cover living costs at Vajra Dakini. Expenses for one resident are approximately $400 per month.

Women wishing to explore monastic community life may participate in one or more of the following programs: introductory retreat "Exploring Monastic Community", service weekends or retreats with Khenmo Drolma. You are encouraged to be familiar with Drikung practices and meditation styles and that of Pema Sangzin Khandro before entering.

Entry Requirements for 3 month residency as aspirant:

• 1. Successful completion of one or more entry programs and invitation by the abbess.
  
• 2. Two letters of recommendation from meditation teachers
• 3. Five years of committed practice and or supervised month long retreat.
• 4. Phone interview or interview in person

Entry Requirements for monastic guests and long term residents: (all guests follow the guidelines of Vajra Dakini and follow the complete schedule including participation in monastic training). We practice as a community in the Drikung Kagyu and Nyingma lineage traditions as guided by HH Chetsang Rinpoche and Pema Sangzin Khandro. Nuns are expected to participate in the full schedule including monastic training. The community revolves around both common and individual meditation time and community service. As is traditional in any monastery, all meditation practices by residents are to be discussed with and approved by the abbess. Permanent membership occurs when the individual, community and abbess recognize harmony of view and action in the bodhisattva tradition of joyful service.

• 1. Documentation of ordination
• 2. Two letters of recommendation from spiritual teacher/meditation instructors
• 3. Phone interview or interview in person