A Buddhist nun hopes that her new 'peace cafe' will bring local communities together in Belfast, writes Carissa Casey.

The first World Peace Cafe on the island of Ireland opens its doors today on the Donegall Pass in Belfast, a traditionally loyalist stronghold. According to Gen Drolkar, the Buddhist nun who runs the Buddhist centre in which the cafe is based, it's an auspicious sign. "Buddhism would say that nothing happens unless you bring the causes and conditions together, so the karma is here to open the cafe now. I do feel it will be beneficial," she says.

Drolkar opened the centre, which is part of the Kadampa Tradition of Buddhism, four years ago, although she has been teaching in the city since 1994.

A clinical psychologist by training, she grew up in Wimbledon in England, of Irish parents. "It was a very traditional Catholic upbringing. We knelt and said the rosary every night," she says.

She first came to Belfast in the late 1960s to study psychology. She returned to England and worked for several years as a clinical psychologist, becoming a consultant. "I did what a lot of people did - I sought success in this world. I had a very good job, lived in a nice four-bedroom detached house with my husband and daughter. I had all the things that were supposed to make you happy but I still felt there was something missing, there was an emptiness," she says.

She first became interested in meditation as a psychological tool and gradually found herself being drawn to Buddhism.

"I enjoyed being a psychologist but I think I was only ever offering temporary solutions, whereas I think Buddhism offers real solutions. It helped me that I was familiar with all kinds of psychological approaches so I wasn't naive in methods of working with the mind and helping people feel better. I felt more confidence that these methods work."

Drolkar eventually joined the Buddhist community and, partly because of a wish to make Buddhist teachings available in Ireland, she became ordained.

"I do think in Ireland there is a very spiritual side to people. There are people like myself who for whatever reason have lost confidence in the religion they grew up in and are still searching. I thought they might be interested in the Buddhist practices. When you're teaching I think people have more confidence in you when you're ordained. We take vows of celibacy, [drink] no alcohol and practise contentment, which means relying on your mind for happiness. For example the reason my head is shaved is to demonstrate that I'm not going outside for happiness."

Relatives in Dublin helped her start her teaching practice and within a few months she was travelling regularly to Belfast. In September 1994 the centre she established there was given the name Potala, meaning Tara's pureland, Tara being a female deity in the Kadampa Buddhist tradition. "Two days later there was the ceasefire. I always remember that," she says. "There's a very strong wish for peace here in Belfast, and I feel Buddhism is part of that process. Just because there's less external fighting and trouble, there is still a lot of mental pain, hurt and suffering. I do think quite strongly that the process is now working with people's minds."

Four years ago she found her current premises on the Donegall Pass, an area bedecked with Union Jack bunting for most of the summer. "When we came here we went to see the local community forum and explained that we taught meditation and ways of helping people deal with stress. They've been very supportive. I don't think we get too many people coming here from the local community but maybe the new cafe will change that."

Despite her distinctive appearance and colourful robes, Drolkar claims she receives little negativity walking about Belfast. "I've had more positive responses than negative. My experience is that people here are generally favourable towards Buddhism because they associate it with peace."

Up to 40 people a week attend various classes at the centre. "We teach breathing meditation because, done regularly, it will enable people to experience peaceful states of mind. We also focus on how to reduce negative states of mind - anger or irritation. It's not that you have to do things differently but that your attitude to them becomes different and your enjoyment of them is different."

The new cafe will be staffed by volunteers, and all proceeds will go to establishing Buddhist temples throughout the world, also dedicated to world peace. According to Drolkar, its very existence is a public statement in favour of peace.

"It's quite encouraging how strongly people here do want a peaceful future. It's a very difficult situation to try to overcome the hurt and suffering and hatred of the past. If people can develop forgiveness in this kind of climate that's a very powerful change they're making. Other people aren't challenged in quite the same way as people here in Northern Ireland."