This summer, 147 Tibetan Buddhist nuns are taking various levels of their Geshema exams. You can send the nuns a good luck message by commenting on this blog. We’ll collect the messages and send them to the exam location.
The Geshema degree is the highest level of training in the Gelugpa tradition and is equivalent to a PhD in Tibetan Buddhism. It is the same as the Geshe degree for monks but the ending “ma” marks it as referring to a woman. The degree, until recently reserved for men, was only formally opened to women in 2012.
Photo of a Geshema holding the yellow hat that signifies her degree. Detail of photo by Olivier Adam.
This year’s exams are being held in Mundgod, South India at Jangchub Choeling Nunnery because Dolma Ling could not provide enough space. One of our current projects is to build 16 more double-bed rooms at Dolma Ling for Geshema graduates who wish to do the advanced Tantric studies required to become fully qualified teachers of their tradition.
The 2024 Geshema exams will take place from July 21st to August 15th. Each year, the candidates gather in advance for a one-month study period before the roughly two weeks of written and oral (debate) exams start.
A nun taking her Geshema exams in 2023. TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor Rinchen Khando Choegyal said, “Educating women is powerful… It’s about enabling the nuns to be teachers in their own right and to take on leadership roles at a critical time in our nation’s history.”
The Geshema degree enables Tibetan Buddhist nuns to become teachers, leaders, and role models. It makes these dedicated women eligible to assume various leadership roles in their monastic and lay communities reserved for degree holders and hence previously not open to women.
Each winter, Geshemas at Dolma Ling help Tibetan refugee children learn Tibetan.
Geshes and Geshemas are the most educated monastics, carrying much of the responsibility for preserving the Tibetan religion and culture.
Once again, there is a record-breaking number of nuns taking various levels of the rigorous four-year exams. The nuns are from seven nunneries in India and Nepal. Here is the breakdown:
1st year exams: 45 nuns
2nd year: 37 nuns
3rd year: 52 nuns
4th and final year: 13 nuns
There are 15 more nuns than last year’s record 132 and 53 more nuns than in 2022. No exams were held in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID. All being well, there will be 13 more Geshemas formally graduating this fall.
There’s a dramatic increase in nuns taking their Geshema exams. The Geshemas are paving the way for other nuns to follow in their footsteps and the momentum is building. Not long ago, this increased status of nuns was almost unimaginable and we are so grateful for your support to educate and empower these dedicated women!
As of June 2024, 60 nuns hold the Geshema degree. Here’s a list of the Geshema graduations since the formal approval in 2012:
- 2016: 20 nuns became Geshemas
- 2017: 6 nuns graduated as Geshemas
- 2018: 10 nuns became Geshemas
- 2019: 7 nuns graduated at the end of November
- 2020: exams cancelled due to the pandemic
- 2021: exams cancelled for a second year due to COVID
- 2022: 10 nuns became Geshemas
- 2023: 7 nuns graduated as Geshemas at the 6th convocation ceremony
Nuns from Dolma Ling departing on June 21st for their Geshema exams in Mundgod, South India. The nuns who took the photos wrote, “Courage, determination, and faith accompany our nuns on their exam journey.”
Here’s a video by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns of the 2023 Geshema exams. Can’t see the video? Click here.
We are extremely grateful to the 159 donors to the Geshema Endowment which funds the annual exams including the Pema Chodron Foundation, the Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Frederick Family Foundation, and the Donaldson Charitable Trust. We are also very grateful to everyone who sponsors a nun and helps them on their path.
When you’re facing big challenges, it’s great to know that people are sending you support. Nuns at Dolma Ling reading good luck messages in 2016. Share a message for 2024 by commenting on the blog.
The Geshema Exam Process
To be eligible to take their Geshema exams, the nuns must first complete at least 17 years of study.
The Geshema examination process is rigorous. It involves four years of written and debate exams as well as the completion and defence of a thesis. Candidates are examined on the entirety of their 17-year course of study of the Five Great Canonical Texts. They must achieve a score of at least 75 per cent during their studies to be eligible to sit the exams.
“The fact that growing numbers of women are achieving equality with men in the highest levels of Buddhist monasticism, by earning the equivalent of doctorate degrees, is joyous and of enormous importance to the world,” says Steve Wilhelm, a Tibetan Nuns Project board member. “This means that women monastics will be leading more monastic institutions, and will be teaching other women and men. Humanity needs this gender equity if we are to navigate perilous times ahead.”
Nuns cluster around the bulletin board at Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute to read good luck messages sent from around the world to nuns taking their exams in 2018. Photo by the Nuns’ Media Team.
Please send a good luck message to the nuns by commenting on this blog!
Click here to send a message or comment below.
YOU GO GIRLS!
Best of luck and warm wishes for your successful completion of the Geshema degree!
I’m cheering you on from New Hampshire, USA.
Best of luck to you all! You are amazing!
I’m sending you positive thoughts and wishing you luck on your exams!! You are such role models for many girls!
We wish you all the best of luck and blessings.
Warm greetings from England.
Good luck for your exams and may your futures be bright,
I’m just about to downsize and my house sale will release some money so I’m hoping to support you more. 🍒
Good luck dear dharma friends! Long life and happyness! 💚💜🍀
Prayers for your success in the exam. You have worked hard for this opportunity. All the Buddhas are cheering you on.
Best of luck!! You are all an inspiration to us. Greetings from Guatemala
Thank you for all your hard work! We waited decades for this to happen. We are so proud of you!
You are all in my heart! The world is a better place because of all of you. Best of luck!!
Tashi deleks! You are all doing wonderful work for the prosperity of the Triple Jewel and all sentient beings. Thank you so much for keeping the Dharma alive. You all deserve the best results. Namo Buddhaya, Namo Dharmaya, Namo Sanghaya!
All the very best to you, good luck, and warmest wishes to you all!
Wishing you auspicious good fortune in your exams. May Many Bright Blessings Be Yours.
Om Tara Tuttare Ture Soha
Thank you for all of your energy and blessings you bring to us with your joyful effort may you all bring these gifts to the world with ease and joy and may they be received and great merit had by all.
Sending you support for your exams and ultimately the wonderful gifts you bring with your life.
Sending heartfelt congratulations for your many years of hard work and study that bring you to this most auspicious position of taking your exams. May you all pass with highest honors and continue to be an inspiration to the sisterhood of Tibetan nuns!
Wishing all the test takers the best at this important time!
It is wonderful to see so many beautiful women dedicating your lives to learning and sharing the Dharma. It is so appreciated. With love from Australia.
Wishing you all good luck and good fortune! You have earned it through your dedication and hard work for the benefit of all beings. May you continue to flourish!
The world needs you! With gratitude for your efforts and wishes for your success.
Sending you blessings from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Tashi Delek to all of you for your hard work, preparation and study. Cheers from Massachusetts, USA. 🙏🪷🙏🪷
Good luck to all of you – you are all amazing and I know you will do well! Love from Newfoundland, Canada 🙂
Blessings from Bremen, Germany: Good Luck, Concentration & Faith in your knowledge.
Much Love, Andreya _/\_
Best wishes to each of you Anis!!! Very proud to see you moving along this path!!!
May you set an excellent example by your accomplishments. And may you bring many young women to the same by your efforts…
All your hard work, perseverance, determination and love of the Dharma is about to pay off. I hope you all do great on your exams. You are all strong, brilliant, amazing women. Blessings. 🙏🌺