Geshema Exams Part Two

Exam results are in for 29 Tibetan Buddhist nuns who made history this year as they work towards their Geshema degree.

• 22 of the 23 nuns who sat Part 2 passed.
• 4 of the 6 nuns who sat Part 1 passed.
• Those who did not pass have the opportunity to re-sit next year.

About the Geshema Degree

The Geshema degree is comparable to a doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.

Geshes, and soon also Geshemas, are the most educated monastics, carrying much of the responsibility for preserving the Tibetan religion and culture. The Geshema exams take place over 4 years and are the culmination of a rigorous 17-year course of study.

This is historic because the degree was previously only open to men.

The nuns’ achievements are all the more remarkable because some of the women sitting the doctoral exams were totally illiterate when they escaped from Tibet.

Background

The opening up of this opportunity for nuns would not have been possible without the support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Department of Religion and Culture of the Tibetan government in exile, and high lamas and teachers.

In many ways, their immense leap in capacity has been made possible through the programs that you have helped support through the Tibetan Nuns Project.

Your support has also helped us work tirelessly for the opportunity for ordained Buddhist women to get the Geshema degree.

Once they obtain their Geshema degrees, besides being in possession of a treasure of knowledge, the nuns will be eligible to assume various leadership roles in the monastic and lay communities, bringing them one step closer to standing as equals.

Once they obtain their Geshema degrees, besides being in possession of a treasure of knowledge, the nuns will be eligible to assume various leadership roles in the monastic and lay communities, bringing them one step closer to standing as equals.