A two-day “Conference on Women’s Empowerment in Tibetan Buddhism” took place on May 20–21, 2026 in Dharamsala, India. This landmark gathering sought to highlight His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s vision and contributions toward strengthening the education, ordination, and recognition of Buddhist women. The photos are by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.
The two-day event was convened with three principal objectives: to reflect on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s commitment to women’s empowerment in Tibetan Buddhism, to review ongoing developments in women’s education and recognition, and to strengthen collaboration among monastic institutions, educational centers, and lay communities.
Held at Dharamsala’s Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, the conference brought together 86 participants from 13 nunneries in India and Nepal, including 69 Geshemas and 17 nuns representing all schools of Tibetan Buddhism as well as the Yungdrung Bon tradition.
The Tibetan Nuns Project was represented by former Kalon Rinchen Khando Choegyal, our Founding Director and Special Advisor; Youdon Aukatsang, the Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India and member of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile; and Geshema Delek Wangmo, Academic Principal of Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute.
Rinchen Khando Choegyal, TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor second from left and Youdon Aukatsang, the Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India, far right.
Key discussions focused on the institutionalization of the Geshema degree, the recognition of 21 Tibetan and Indian female Mahasiddhis, and the possibility of establishing Bhikshuni ordination within the Tibetan Mulasarvastivada Vinaya tradition.
The conference also deliberated on the curriculum development in nunneries, institutional support for the Tibetan Nuns Project, the leadership role of Geshemas in society and monastic institutions, and prospects for greater international recognition of Buddhist women.
Geshema Delek Wangmo, Academic Principal of Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, spoke at the conference.
The conference was inaugurated by Kyabje Kundeling Tatsak Jedrung Rinpoche and Sikyong Penpa Tsering attended the closing ceremony. Other attendees included the Department of Religion and Culture Secretary Dhondul Dorjee; Dalai Lama Trust Secretary Jamphel Lhundup; scholar and translator Geshe Thupten Jinpa; Tibetan Women’s Association President Tsering Dolma; Library of Tibetan Works and Archives Director Geshe Lhakdor; Ven. Thupten Yarphel; Additional Secretary of the Department of Education (CTA) Tenzin Pema; and Head of the Women’s Empowerment Desk at the Department of Finance (CTA) Tsering Kyi.
Recognizing His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Leadership and Vision
The event recognized the lifelong efforts of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to support gender equality and expand opportunities for women within Tibetan Buddhism. The conference aimed to examine “His Holiness’s vision and concrete contributions toward strengthening the education, ordination, and recognition of Buddhist women.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the patron of the Tibetan Nuns Project.
The conference brought together 86 participants from 13 nunneries in India and Nepal, including 69 Geshemas and 17 nuns representing all schools of Tibetan Buddhism as well as the Yungdrung Bon tradition.
“Within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has long been an advocate for the empowerment and equal rights of women, particularly nuns,” said Jamphel Lhundup, Secretary of the Dalai Lama Trust.
“He has given numerous teachings on the importance of equality and has taken significant steps to re-establish the lineage of women’s monastic ordination… Over time, he also reintroduced the historic title of ‘Geshema’, and in 2016, the first Geshema degrees were conferred by him at Drepung Monastery in southern India. Today, there are more than 120 Geshemas, and this recognition underscores the high esteem and respect accorded to Tibetan nuns. All these achievements bear witness to the profound impact of the grace and vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Jamphel Lhundup said.
The conference included 69 Geshemas. Ten years ago, in 2016, the first Tibetan Buddhist nuns earned their Geshema degrees. That historic occasion was a dream come true for the 20 pioneering nuns, most of whom were illiterate when they escaped from Tibet. The Geshema degree is the highest level of training in the Gelug tradition and is equivalent to a PhD in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.
During the closing ceremony, Sikyong Penpa Tsering stressed that it was due to the astute and visionary leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that Tibetan Buddhism has continued to be preserved in exile, including the unprecedented conferment of Geshema degrees, regarded as a landmark reform in Tibetan Buddhism.
Rinchen Khando Choegyal, the Tibetan Nuns Projects’s Founding Director and Special Advisor, spoke at the conference.
The Tibetan Nuns Project Higher Studies Fund
One of the projects that the Tibetan Nuns Project is working on now is the Higher Studies Fund, a quasi-endowment dedicated to supporting the Geshema degree process as well as post-graduate training in Tantric Studies.
An increasing number of nuns in the Gelug tradition are seeking higher education. They are taking the rigorous four-year Geshema exams in record numbers, and many also wish to pursue post-graduate training in Tantric Buddhism as part of a program launched by the Tibetan Nuns Project in 2017.
The number of nuns taking the four-year Geshema exams has tripled since 2019. The small fund we created in 2021 no longer covers the costs for the growing numbers or rising food and transport. Please support the Higher Studies Fund, a quasi-endowment that will support Tibetan Buddhist nuns who wish to become Geshemas, teachers, and leaders and to preserve their religion, culture, and language.
Unfortunately, the modest Geshema Endowment Fund that the Tibetan Nuns Project established in 2021 can no longer support the growing number of nuns and the rising costs of transportation and food. Our goal is to build up the Higher Studies Fund so that both the Geshema exam process AND the Tantric Studies program are self-sustaining.
Through higher studies, Tibetan Buddhist nuns can become fully qualified teachers of their traditions and help preserve Tibet’s rich religion and culture.
The mission of the Tibetan Nuns Project is to educate and empower nuns of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as teachers and leaders; and to establish, strengthen, and support educational institutions to preserve the Tibetan religion and culture. You can see all our current projects here.
We are delighted to report that the retreat center at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute is built and fully furnished thanks to generous donors. Eight senior nuns have now started their retreats. This big project was launched in the fall of 2022 and completed in the spring of 2026. We are extremely grateful to all the donors who made this dream a reality.
The completed retreat center will elevate aspirations, set higher standards, and strengthen the confidence of the next generation of nuns. Here’s a detailed report with photos, videos, and a special message from the Khenpo or Abbot of Shugsep.
The Shugsep Retreat Center is an important place that supports nuns in deep spiritual learning and long retreats. It follows the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and offers a peaceful space for meditation, rituals, and personal spiritual growth. The nuns express their deep gratitude to the kind and generous donors who helped build and furnish the newly established retreat center.
The retreat center makes visible a clear path of progression: from study to retreat to teaching. This opportunity was previously limited because retreats had to be undertaken elsewhere. A lasting impact is the inspiration provided to younger nuns.
Now, for the first time in its history in exile, the nunnery has a purpose-built facility where senior nuns can enter long-term retreat within their own community. This achievement provides continuity for the nuns’ path of teaching while fortifying the belief that their years of rigorous training culminate in meaningful opportunities for spiritual growth and integration.
The Shugsep Retreat Centre was formally inaugurated on 18 February 2026, coinciding with the first day of Tibetan Losar. The ceremony was led by Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche.
Eight Nuns Start Retreat
On March 30, 2026, eight nuns began their retreat following an initial ritual ceremony led by Rinpoche Jigme Namgyal from Tso Pema at Rewalsar. He also conducted the first three days of basic teachings on retreat practice for the nuns entering retreat.
Part of the ceremony for the nuns entering retreat on March 30, 2026 at the new retreat center at Shugsep Nunnery. Until now, the nuns had to travel to Nepal or Tso Pema to practice retreat.
All eight nuns on retreat have previous retreat experience, so they are prepared for long and intensive practice. The initial group of nuns includes six newly enthroned Khenmos and two Lopenmas who are trained teachers and practitioners.
Before entering retreat, one of the Khenmos spoke about her happiness and readiness to begin. She said that, as a retreat continues, she feels more happiness, inner peace, and mental clarity. As the mind settles and distractions fade, practitioners feel a deeper sense of contentment through simplicity, discipline, and steady awareness. She also said that practicing retreat helps turn intellectual understanding into direct experience, giving her and the other nuns the focused, disciplined time needed to truly absorb and apply what they’ve learned. Thus, the retreat is not merely an academic or ritual engagement, but a deeply experiential process aimed at transforming the practitioner’s mind at its core.
Here are the 8 nuns (6 Khenmos and 2 Lopenmas) who entered retreat on March 30, 2026 – the first to use the new retreat center.
The most enduring benefit is the strengthening of teaching capacity within the nunnery. Many of the nuns who will use the retreat center are holders of the Loponma degree, the highest degree in their tradition. Following their retreats, they will be fully qualified to guide junior nuns and contribute to the wider community. This creates a sustainable cycle of study, retreat, and teaching that secures Shugsep’s role as a respected Nyingma institution.
Here is a video made by the nuns explaining the importance of practicing retreat. If you can’t see the video, click here.
A Special Message from the Khenpo
After spending years learning and contemplating the sutra and tantra texts, one has to gain direct insight by applying the teachings to one’s personal experience. For this, one has to consciously distance oneself from the outer world, which will help retreat from the distractions of the mundane world. Retreat is considered a powerful and essential method for cultivating inner peace, wisdom, and ultimately, liberation.
The example of Buddha himself serves as a powerful illustration; he spent six years in intensive retreat prior to his awakening. Post his liberation, he would periodically retreat into the forest for weeks and months of meditation before returning to continue teaching and guiding others in their practice.
Spiritual retreats are considered essential for the development of one’s personal practice. Generally, after completing their philosophical studies, the nuns will go into retreat to allow sufficient time for reflection, prayer, and meditation to internalize what they have studied.
By closing the door to the external world, practitioners gain uninterrupted time and space for focused practice. This dedicated time allows practitioners to explore deeper spiritual development.
Retreat is not only for personal benefit. The wisdom and compassion deepened in solitude naturally flow outward, allowing practitioners to support and inspire others more meaningfully on their own spiritual path.
We are truly fortunate and deeply grateful to have established a well-equipped retreat center within our nunnery, a milestone that marks a significant and long-awaited development for our community. This is not merely a new building; it is a sacred space dedicated to inner transformation and the deepening of spiritual practice.
In the past, our nuns had to travel all the way to Nepal to undertake long-term retreat, facing the hardships of distance and separation from their home community. Now, that has changed. Our nuns can enter deep, uninterrupted practice within the warmth and familiarity of their own nunnery.
About the New Shugsep Retreat Center
The completed retreat center provides accommodation for up to eight nuns at a time. Each of the eight self-contained rooms has been designed to meet the practical and spiritual needs of the nuns.
They include a private toilet and washroom, storage space, a small kitchenette counter, and sufficient room for both study and prostrations, which are an integral part of their daily practice.
One of the rooms at new Shugsep Retreat Center. Eight senior nuns began their retreats on March 30, 2026, occupying all available retreat rooms. The rooms are spacious enough that the nuns can do prostrations..
Each of the retreat rooms contains:
A low wooden bed with a simple coconut fibre and memory foam mattress (favoured by the nuns as they are breathable and firm for sitting on) and a low table on which the nuns will place their prayer and study books.
A large cupboard for storing their clothes and blankets and a shelf unit with lower cupboards to be used as a shrine and bookshelf.
Curtain rods and good-quality curtains, as well as a woven rug for the floor.
A chair.
A small kitchenette with some shelving and storage as well as a few pieces of kitchen equipment.
In addition to the individual retreat rooms, the building contains a communal prayer hall where nuns in retreat can gather periodically for teachings, group prayer, and guidance from visiting teachers.
Not all the nuns’ time will be spent in isolation. Some sessions will be undertaken as a group and the prayer hall is a space where they can receive instructions from an outside teacher, do prayer sessions together, and have the opportunity to talk among themselves to clear away doubts and concerns and to strengthen their practice.
Inside the prayer hall at the official opening of the retreat center.
This prayer room has:
A wooden floor and a decorative shrine with statues from the nunnery.
8 low tables and 4 long sitting mattresses with Tibetan carpets on top.
A low teachers’ seat with mattress, carpet, and a low table.
A large bookshelf.
The retreat center also has a shared kitchen/dining room that provides space for nuns to warm food provided by the nunnery kitchen and to make their own light meals and tea. Finally, a dining table and chairs have been provided, thanks to your generosity, allowing the nuns to eat together if they wish. Daily meals will be delivered to their doors by designated nuns to avoid disturbing the nuns’ retreat.
Stocking the shelves of the communal kitchen at the new Shugsep retreat center. The first eight nuns entered retreat on March 30, 2026.
The kitchen/dining room contains:
2 large dining tables and 10 chairs.
Cooking equipment including a simple two-burner gas range, a kettle, and a microwave oven in which to warm up food which will be supplied from the main nunnery kitchen.
A refrigerator and a washing machine.
A wooden cupboard and shelving for utensils, crockery, and food items.
Sundry kitchen equipment such as a drain rack, clothes rack, and waste bins.
The communal kitchen at the retreat center that the nuns can use. Most of their meals will be supplied by the nunnery kitchen and delivered to their doors by designated nuns so that they are not disturbed on retreat.
Retreat participants bring only what they truly need, such as:
Basic necessities (clothes, personal items).
Ritual items for their practices.
Essential texts for study and recitation.
The Structure and Phases of Retreat
Participants enter the retreat with clear spiritual intentions and long-term aspirations. Beyond individual development, the retreat also prepares practitioners to contribute meaningfully to their communities in the future, whether through teaching, guidance, or continued practice.
The practice begins with about a month of foundational training to build discipline and focus, followed by a main retreat that usually lasts around a year. It then continues with ongoing practices that can extend for three years, depending on the practitioner’s dedication and spiritual progress.
Since the nuns have different levels of prior retreat experience, they continue from where they previously left off. As a result, the duration of the retreat varies among them.
The nuns in retreat start their day at 4 a.m. and end it at 11 p.m. They take short breaks in between and continue their recitation and meditation practices.
Challenges in Building the Retreat Center
Shugsep Nunnery is 5 kilometers below Dharamsala on a 5-acre plot of land. Because of sloping nature of the terraced land, there was very little space left which could be easily built on without overcrowding the buildings.
The Shugsep nuns worked hard to clear the steep overgrown land for the retreat center.
The nuns considered finding another plot of land nearby, but land prices and the difficulty in registering the land made them reconsider locating the retreat center within the nunnery grounds. In 2022, the nuns cleared the bushes on the steep overgrown land near the nunnery entrance to see if it would be feasible to construct a retreat center there. They called in a team of local architects who made a detailed survey of the land and came up with plans based on a brief which was discussed with the nuns and the Khenpo who is head of the nunnery.
The Tibetan Nuns Project began fundraising for a retreat center in the fall of 2022 and the center opened in the spring of 2026.
An important point of the architects’ brief was that the retreat center should provide seclusion and privacy for the nuns. The nuns confine themselves to this one building for the duration of their retreat and should not be seen by outsiders, except for an occasional visiting teacher. The architects suggested that a sense of seclusion and invisibility could be achieved by raising the building high above the road so that no one can see into the balconies. The land in front and behind was be planted with flowering shrubs screening the building from outside view. To reduce noise so the nuns can meditate peacefully, the windows have double glazing and fly screens.
Cross section plan of the retreat center. The size and shape of the land posed restrictions.
The second point was to provide the nuns on retreat with a wide-open view to relieve their minds of tension. In the past in Tibet, retreat centers were located high on mountainsides. The position of the retreat center on the hillside overlooking farm land and the wide valley below provides the nuns with an expansive view.
The nuns helped with the construction of the Shugsep Retreat Center.
The size and shape of the land limited the number of individual nuns rooms to 8, two on each floor in two buildings on either side of the central community building. According to the Khenpo, this is sufficient because if all the nuns were to decide to go into retreat at once there would be no one to teach the younger nuns or administer the nunnery. The nuns will rotate who goes into retreat and must agree to a specific duration to allow others the chance to take their place.
Rinchen Khando Choegyal, the Tibetan Nuns Project Founding Director and Special Advisor, with young Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Shugsep Nunnery. Senior nuns are now teaching at the nunnery and will take turns going on retreat.
About Shugsep Nunnery
A Nyingma nunnery, Shugsep traces its rituals and practice to some of the most illustrious female practitioners in Tibetan history. In the previous century, Shugsep Nunnery was home to one of the most famous teachers of her time, Shugsep Jetsunma.
Following the Cultural Revolution in 1959, Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet was completely destroyed. Although the nunnery was partially rebuilt in the 1980s by the nuns themselves, the nuns there faced frequent harassment by Chinese authorities.
In the late 1980s and 1990s many Tibetan Buddhist nuns escaped from Tibet including a large number of nuns from the original Shugsep Nunnery. They lived for many years in cramped conditions before the Tibetan Nuns Project re-established Shugsep Nunnery. It was inaugurated in 2010. Photo from 1991 by Susan Lirakis
Many of the nuns at Shugsep in India came from the original Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet. They were expelled by Chinese authorities for their political activities on behalf of Tibet and escaped over the Himalayas to practice their religion in India.
When the nuns first escaped, they lived in this rented house near Dharamsala.
Shugsep Nunnery was re-established in India in 1992 and the newly built nunnery was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in December 2010. It is one of two nunneries built and completely supported by the Tibetan Nuns Project. The other is Dolma Ling.
Here’s a charming video tour of the nunnery made in 2017. If you can’t see the video, click here.
Thanks to five generous donors, the Research Center at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute opened in March 2026! Here is an interim report with a video about the first three nuns doing research.
Background to the Research Training Center
In the autumn of 2025, the nuns at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute in India asked for help to establish a Research Training Center for the senior nuns, so they could become qualified researchers and inspire other nuns to follow in their footsteps.
The research center at Shugsep opened in March 2026 with three senior Shugsep nuns as trainee researchers: Tsultrim Dolma (right), Pema Dolma (middle), and Thupten Choewang (also known as Tsering Wangmo) (left).
Thanks to the generosity of five donors, the nuns were able to equip the room and launch the program at the start of the new academic year in March 2026. The research center will strengthen the academic and research foundations of the nunnery and enable the nuns to integrate their traditional Buddhist studies with modern research practices.
Here is a video from March 2026 about the start of the program and the first three nuns who are doing research. Can’t see the video? Click here.
The Research Center at Shugsep Nunnery
The Research Center at Shugsep started in March 2026 with three senior nuns who will learn research best practices and start their research projects. Under the guidance of a certified professor and researcher, they will undergo a rigorous one-year training program. After successfully completing the program, the nuns will be able to train future generations of nuns, thereby bridging the continuity of advanced learning within the nunnery.
As part of the programme, the participating Loponmas will also attend workshops with visits by Professor Dr. Dorji Wangchuk of the University of Hamburg in Germany, who has already established similar research programs at Namdroling Monastery, Dzongsar Institute, Gangtok Institute, and other Nyingma monasteries.
One of the senior nuns who began her research training in March 2026 at the new center at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute.
Thanks to our generous donors, the nuns can:
Purchase and install equipment for the center, such as computers, a projector, printer, battery, and bookshelves.
Recruit and hire a certified researcher/professor to conduct the one-year training program.
Support the research program in line with Professor Wangchuk’s curriculum.
Facilitate the Loponmas’ participation in external workshops at the other established research centers in Nepal, South India, Himachal Pradesh, and Gangtok.
Support the process of evaluation and certification of the Loponmas as they complete their research training.
The goal is sustainability. The trained Loponmas will assume the role of teachers, thereby continuing the program for future Loponma trainees to be self-reliant.
Sixteen of the 19 Khenmos from Shugsep had an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on March 13, 2026.
The Development of Shugsep’s Academic Program
Shugsep Nunnery and Institute was re-established in exile in India by the Tibetan Nuns Project. Construction began in 2006 and the nunnery was inaugurated in 2010. This Nyingma nunnery near Dharamsala is currently home to about 100 nuns.
2025 marked the 15th anniversary of the inauguration of Shugsep Nunnery and Institute, now home to about 100 nuns. The original rented house where the nuns lived after their escape is on the left.
Here is a video made in 2006 telling the story of Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet and how it was re-established in India by the Tibetan Nuns Project. Can’t see the video? Click here.
The original Shugsep in Tibet was destroyed in the Cultural Revolution in 1959, and the nuns were forced to leave. The nunnery was partially rebuilt by nuns in the 1980s, but they faced frequent harassment by the Chinese authorities. Seeking the freedom to practice their religion and culture, many Shugsep nuns escaped from Tibet to northern India.
A Nyingma nunnery, Shugsep traces its rituals and practices to some of the most illustrious female practitioners in Tibetan history. In exile, the nuns were given the opportunity to participate in a nine-year academic program of Buddhist philosophy, debate, Tibetan language and English.
The research training center at the nunnery will promote advanced learning for the senior nuns.
Currently, there are 60 Shugsep nuns who have graduated with their Loponma degree, the highest academic degree in their philosophic tradition, roughly equivalent to a Master’s. In February 2026, 19 senior nuns were enthroned as Khenmos at Shugsep’s historic khenmo enthronement ceremony. A Khenmo is the highest scholarly and teaching title for nuns in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is equivalent to the Khenpo title given to monks.
The first-ever Khenmo enthronement at Shugsep Nunnery was held on February 18, 2026, the first day of Tibetan New Year or Losar. Here is a report with photos by the media nuns at Shugsep Nunnery.
At the historic Khenmo enthronement on February 18, 2026 with chief guests. There are only 18 Khenmos pictured instead of 19 because one nun is currently teaching in the United States and was unable to attend the ceremony.
A Khenmo is the highest scholarly and teaching title for nuns in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is equivalent to the Khenpo title given to monks.
A collage of photos showing the ceremonial procession for the historic Khenmo enthronement on February 18, 2026.
The ceremony was led by Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, the main preceptor for the enthronement. The event included traditional ritual prayers, a white scarf (katak) offering ceremony, speeches by various dignitaries, and the presentation of special items such as the red hat signifying the Khenmos’ status.
Nuns playing Tibetan long horns or dungchen, They have a deep, low sound and are played to welcome high lamas and Rinpoches to a monastery or temple.
On this day, in the presence of Khenchen Pema Sherab, all 19 nuns received the Khenmo title through the enthronement ceremony, followed by oath-taking, rituals, the offering of ceremonial scarves, and speeches.
The Khenmos, wearing their red hats signifying their status, are seated in front of huge piles of ceremonial white scarves or kataks given to them as a mark of respect.
The day was also covered by the Voice of Tibet news station, based in Dharamsala. Here is the video. Can’t see the video? Click here.
Special Guests
The guest list included:
– Chief Guest Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile
– Mr. Dhondul Dorjee, Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture, Central Tibetan Administration
– Staff members of the Tibetan Nuns Project India office
– Ms. Nangsa Choedon, Former Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project office in India
– Representatives from nunneries, monasteries, and non-governmental organizations around Dharamsala
Khenchen and Shugsep Khenpo Namgyal shared the history of Shugsep and the significance of the Khenmo title, and expressed gratitude to the Tibetan Nuns Project for its continuous support.
Tibetan Nuns Project Director Youdon Aukatsang, Mr. Dhondul Dorjee (Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture, CTA), and the Chief Guest Khenpo Sonam Tenphel (Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in Exile) also delivered speeches.
Youdon Aukatsang, the Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project office in India, said, “The millennium-old Shugsep Nunnery has reached a momentous milestone with the elevation of its nuns to the Khenmo level. We share a duty to ensure they have the support needed to translate their deep knowledge into a legacy of service for all humanity.”
During the ceremony, Shugsep Nunnery also presented souvenirs to honor Rinchen Khando Choegyal (TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor) and Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Napper (TNP’s U.S. Founder and Board Chair) for their lifelong support and service to the nunneries.
The souvenirs for Rinchen Khando Choegyal and Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Napper and one of the two certificates of appreciation from Shugsep Nunnery marking their decades of dedication to the nuns.
Part of the text on the Certificate of Appreciation reads:
… for the upliftment of Tibetan Buddhist nuns in exile in all aspects — education, healthcare, character building, management skills, resilience and above all self-confidence and community service. Thanks to your unflinching support, many nuns have been successful in graduating with Loponma, Geshema and Khenmo degrees, the highest certification in advanced Buddhist philosophical studies which is unprecedented in the history of traditional Tibetan Buddhist nunneries.
In March, the Khenmos had a special audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Here’s a very nice video about the audience in Tibetan, with interviews with some of the khenmos and with Youdon Aukatsang, the Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India. The video also speaks about this history of Shugsep Nunnery and shows archival photos of the original Shugsep nunnery in Tibet.
What is a Khenmo?
A Khenmo is the highest scholarly and teaching title for nuns in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is equivalent to the Khenpo title given to monks. To become eligible for Khenmo:
A nun must complete nine years of rigorous Buddhist studies.
She has received the Loponma degree, equivalent to a Master’s degree.
After this, she must serve the nunnery for at least four years.
Service includes teaching, administration, guiding students, or other responsibilities.
She must maintain pure discipline, with no record of serious violations.
Unlike the Geshema degree, there is no written examination for the Khenmo title. Eligibility is based on education, years of service, leadership, and moral conduct.
A collage of photos from the historic Khenmo enthronement at Shugsep on February 18, 2026.
The nuns enthroned in February 2026 completed their Loponma studies between 2004 and 2022. Since then, they have fulfilled their required years of service: Some have taught Buddhist texts, some have managed administrative duties, some have guided study and revision programs for junior nuns.
Why This System is New for Nuns
Traditionally, only monks were enthroned as Khenpo. This was because the full nun ordination lineage (Gelongma) was not historically present in Tibet. Without full ordination, nuns could not receive the same monastic titles.
In recent decades, Tibetan Buddhist leaders recognized this historical gap and created a new system. Instead of requiring full Gelongma ordination, nuns who complete higher studies and long-term service can now be enthroned as Khenmo. This change opened the door for nuns to receive equal recognition as scholars and spiritual leaders.
The Khenmos with Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche. Only 18 Khenmos are in the pictures instead of 19 because Loponma Tsering Lhamo was unable to attend the ceremony, as she is currently serving as a teacher at Tara Mandala International Buddhist Community in the United States.
Responsibilities After Enthronement and Impact
The role of the Khenmos is not only scholarly, but also leadership and representation. After receiving the Khenmo title, the nuns will take on greater responsibilities:
Some will continue teaching advanced Buddhist studies.
Some will lead administrative management of the nunnery.
Some will enter long-term retreat.
During major events, Khenmos will represent Shugsep Nunnery in religious gatherings and official functions.
The Khenmo enthronement strengthens leadership among nuns, raises educational standards in the nunnery, ensures self-sufficiency in teaching and training, inspires younger nuns to pursue higher studies, and promotes gender equality in Tibetan Buddhism.
On February 18th, 2026, the first day of the Tibetan New Year, Shugsep Nunnery and Institute will hold its first-ever Khenmo Enthronement Ceremony. A total of 19 nuns will be enthroned as Khenmo, making this a historic milestone for the nunnery.
Shugsep Nunnery follows the education system of Namdroling Monastery and Namdroling Nunnery. Namdroling Nunnery held its first Khenmo enthronement in 2022. Following the same tradition and system, Shugsep Nunnery will now celebrate its own first Khenmo enthronement this year.
The nuns paint sacred Buddhist symbols to welcome Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, the chief guest of the upcoming Khenmo Enthronement.
What is a Khenmo?
A Khenmo is the highest scholarly and teaching title for nuns in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is equivalent to the Khenpo title given to monks. To become eligible for Khenmo:
A nun must complete nine years of rigorous Buddhist studies.
She has received the Loponma degree, equivalent to a Master’s degree.
After this, she must serve the nunnery for at least four years.
Service includes teaching, administration, guiding students, or other responsibilities.
She must maintain pure discipline, with no record of serious violations.
Unlike the Geshema degree, there is no written examination for the Khenmo title. Eligibility is based on education, years of service, leadership, and moral conduct.
A photo from Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet in 1998. After many Shugsep nuns escaped to India in the 1990s, the nunnery was re-established by the Tibetan Nuns Project near Dharamsala. Photo by Julie Brittain.
The 19 nuns being enthroned this year completed their Loponma studies between 2004 and 2022. Since then, they have fulfilled their required years of service: Some have taught Buddhist texts, some have managed administrative duties, some have guided study and revision programs for junior nuns.
Why This System is New for Nuns
Traditionally, only monks were enthroned as Khenpo. This was because the full nun ordination lineage (Gelongma) was not historically present in Tibet. Without full ordination, nuns could not receive the same monastic titles.
In recent decades, Tibetan Buddhist leaders recognized this historical gap and created a new system. Instead of requiring full Gelongma ordination, nuns who complete higher studies and long-term service can now be enthroned as Khenmo. This change opened the door for nuns to receive equal recognition as scholars and spiritual leaders.
On October 28 2022, Shugsep Nunnery and Institute held an important graduation ceremony in which Pharchin, Uma, and Lopon nuns were given their graduation certificates. As of 2023, 49 Shugsep nuns had attained the Lopon degree, equivalent to a Master’s degree – a remarkable achievement given the many obstacles on their path.
The Enthronement Ceremony
On January 29th, the Shugsep nuns welcomed Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, the chief guest of the upcoming Khenmo Enthronement. They presented him with kataks, the Tibetan white scarves given as a sign of respect.
The ceremony will be led by Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, who will serve as the chief guest and main preceptor for the enthronement. The event will include:
Traditional ritual prayers
White scarf (katak) offering ceremony
Attendance by dignitaries from monasteries, nunneries, and government departments
Each newly enthroned Khenmo will receive traditional gifts, including:
A ceremonial hat
A small Buddha statue
A pair of ritual vases
A mandala offering set
A container for the “three whites and three sweets”
A ritual bell and vajra
A new set of monastic robes
A Tibetan Buddhist nun holds a traditional bell and vajra (dorje), essential Tibetan Buddhist ritual items representing the inseparable union of wisdom and compassion. Photo by Olivier Adam.
Responsibilities After Enthronement
At present, there will be no replacement involved in this Khenmo enthronement. According to the nunnery’s administration, this ceremony is not filling a vacant position or replacing an existing Khenpo.
After receiving the Khenmo title, the nuns will take on greater responsibilities:
Some will continue teaching advanced Buddhist studies.
Some will lead administrative management of the nunnery.
Some will enter long-term retreat.
During major events, Khenmos will represent Shugsep Nunnery in religious gatherings and official functions.
Their role is not only scholarly, but also leadership and representation.
Impact on the Nunnery
This Khenmo enthronement will:
Strengthen leadership among nuns.
Raise educational standards in the nunnery.
Ensure self-sufficiency in teaching and training.
Inspire younger nuns to pursue higher studies.
Promote gender equality in Tibetan Buddhism.
Ani Ugyen Dolma
Ani Ugyen Dolma is a senior nun in her 50s, originally from Tibet. She belongs to Shugsep Nunnery in Tibet and was among the very first group of nuns to arrive in Shugsep Nunnery in India. She is one of the nuns who will be enthroned in February 2026.
Ani Ugyen Dolma is one of the nuns at Shugsep who will be enthroned as khenmo on February 18, 2026.
She first arrived in India in 1990, as part of the first batch of 22 nuns who came from Tibet to the new Shugsep Nunnery in exile. Since then, she has remained continuously involved in the growth and development of the nunnery, from its earliest days to the present.
In 2004, Ani Ugyen Dolma completed her Loponma degree, becoming part of the first-ever Loponma graduating batch at Shugsep Nunnery. That historic batch included eight nuns, marking the beginning of advanced Buddhist scholastic education for nuns at Shugsep.
From 2010 to 2017, she served as the Director of Shugsep Nunnery, taking responsibility for the administration, discipline, and overall management of the community.
After the nunnery later invited a Khenpo to strengthen higher Buddhist education in the nunnery, Ani Ugyen Dolma focused mainly on teaching and academic guidance. She has been:
Teaching Buddhist scriptures and philosophy
Guiding the studies of junior nuns
Supporting examination preparation and study programs
She continues to serve in this teaching role today.
Currently, Ani Ugyen Dolma is preparing to receive the Khenmo title in the upcoming enthronement ceremony. After enthronement, she plans either to enter a period of spiritual retreat or continue teaching and guiding nuns at Shugsep.
The Shugsep nuns story is one of perseverance, dedication, and hope. Many Shugsep nuns escaped from Tibet with nothing, not knowing how to read and write, traumatized in the prisons, beaten by the prison guards, and with many health problems. Shugsep Nunnery was re-established by the Tibetan Nuns Project in India. Photo of refugee nuns in 1991 by Susan Lirakis.
Traditionally, Buddhist nuns have not had the same access to education as monks, but your generosity is changing that. We would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who sponsors a nun.
Here are photos showing recent academic competitions at Shugsep Nunnery and Institute, a nunnery built and fully supported by donors to the Tibetan Nuns Project.
Shugsep Annual Tibetan Grammar Competition Day
The nuns at Shugsep Nunnery held their annual Tibetan grammar competition in November. The preservation of Tibet’s unique language and culture remains one of the most critical areas of focus for Tibetans, both inside Tibet and in exile.
Events like this enhance the nuns’ knowledge of various subjects, boost their confidence, encourage creativity, strengthen their communication skills, and provide the nuns with valuable practice in expressing their ideas clearly.
The annual Tibetan grammar competition at Shugsep Nunnery. Tibet has its own language, including a unique alphabet and various written forms. Tibetan calligraphy is beautiful, and there are numerous Tibetan writing styles.
These types of competitions are held in various subjects and topics, depending on the class level. They help the nuns become more comfortable speaking and writing in front of others, and they build a healthy sense of discipline and motivation.
The idea for this competition originated at a staff meeting, when some teachers suggested holding regular activities to enhance the nuns’ overall knowledge and, most importantly, to help build their confidence.
On November 8th, the nunnnery held a Tibetan Language Skills competition that included poem writing and application for the higher grades. The competition had questions such as “Write down five different proverbs,” “What are the elements needed to complete a composition?” and other Tibetan grammar questions.
The Tibetan alphabet has 30 characters or letters and four vowels. Like English, it is written from left to right in horizontal lines. Tibetan writing may be broadly divided into two types: “headed”, called Uchen, and “headless”, called Umeh. These two forms of Tibetan script correspond roughly to printed and cursive writing.
For the younger students, the activities included a reading competition and a spelling exam, where students were asked to write specific names or words.
Around 50 nuns participated, except for those who had already completed their Loponma degrees, roughly equivalent to a master’s degree. A panel of teachers scored the competitions and awarded prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
Annual English Competition and The Alchemist
Here are some delightful photos taken by the nuns during the annual English competition held on December 6th at Shugsep. The event took place in the presence of Khenpo-la (the head of the nunnery) and all the teachers. They watched a lovely drama performed by the children and viewed many beautiful drawings created by the junior students.
It’s never easy standing up in front of your classmates, all your teachers, and your principal. It’s even more challenging when you have to speak a foreign language. Congratulations to all the nuns who took part in the annual English competition. The young nuns performed a drama.
The junior students created many beautiful drawings to reflect daily life at the nunnery and also the Year of Compassion, honouring the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Here are some of the drawings by the junior nuns at Shugsep. The nuns had to describe the images in English to the assembled crowd. This builds confidence and skills in English and public speaking. The picture on the left honors His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, and the middle picture is the “Four Harmonious Friends”, one of the Jataka tales of Buddhist mythology.
As part of the competition, the senior nuns wrote English poems and notices.
Shugsep is now home to about 100 nuns. The senior nuns are writing in front of their classmates and teachers as part of the annual English competition.
The nuns also spoke about the famous novel The Alchemist by Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. The book’s main theme is about finding one’s destiny.
In this photo, two nuns are explaining the introduction of The Alchemist to the audience, highlighting the book’s strong and important vocabulary and philosophical concepts.
The Tibetan Nuns Project aims to elevate the educational standards and the position of women. As TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor Rinchen Khando Choegyal has 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.”
On November 6th, 47 Tibetan Buddhist nuns graduated as Geshemas in the holy city of Bodh Gaya. The Geshema degree is the highest academic degree in the Gelug tradition and was only opened to women in 2012. This is the largest group of Geshema graduates since the first Geshema graduation took place in 2016, bringing the total number of Geshemas to 120.
Congratulations to the 47 Tibetan Buddhist nuns who graduated in November 2025 as Geshemas.
In this blog post, we share photos taken by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns of the special event and news of the annual inter-nunnery debate, the Jang Gonchoe, which started 30 years ago in 1995.
Record Number of Nuns Earn Geshema Degrees
In the summer of 2025, a record number of nuns took various levels of exams for the Geshema degree, equivalent to a PhD in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. The rigorous written and oral are completed over four years, with one set held each year. To be eligible to take their Geshema exams, the nuns must first complete at least 17 years of study.
A collage showing parts of the Geshema graduation ceremony in November 2025. Elements include an oath-taking ceremony and a special debate event, followed by a traditional khata (scarf) offering ceremony.
The Geshemas are paving the way for other nuns to follow in their footsteps. The momentum is building. Not long ago, this increased status of nuns was almost unimaginable. We are so grateful for your support to educate and empower these dedicated women!
2025 marks another new record for nuns taking various levels of the 4-year Geshema exams. The degree was only opened to women in 2012. No exams were held in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID.
The exams were hosted this year by Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute near Dharamsala from July 21 to August 16, 2025. The costs of the nuns’ travel, food, and the exam process were once again covered by the Tibetan Nuns Project’s Geshema Endowment Fund.
In November, the Jang Gonchoe closing ceremony and Geshema certification were held on the same day, attended by chief guests Dr. Mahashweta Maharathi, Secretary of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee and Gen Tenzin la from Namgyal Monastery in Dharamsala.
Here’s a list of the Geshema graduations since the formal approval in 2012:
2024: 13 nuns graduated as Geshemas at the 7th convocation ceremony
2025: 47 nuns graduated as Geshemas in Bodh Gaya
The Annual Inter-Nunnery Debate
From October 5th to November 8th, 460 nuns and 23 teachers from 10 Tibetan Buddhist nunneries in India and Nepal gathered in Bodh Gaya for one month of intensive training in monastic debate.
Tibetan Buddhist nuns from India and Nepal practice debating at the Mahabodhi Temple (literally the “Great Awakening Temple”) in Bodh Gaya, marking the location where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
Monastic debate is of critical importance in traditional Tibetan Buddhist learning. Through debate, nuns test and consolidate their classroom learning.
A teacher guides Tibetan Buddhist nuns during their month-long intensive training in monastic debate in Bodh Gaya. 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the start of the Jang Gonchoe for nuns in 1995.
Although the nuns practice debate daily at their nunneries, the annual Jang Gonchoe debate event provides essential training and practice that is vital for those who wish to pursue higher degrees. The nuns are very grateful to the Kagyu Monlam Office for lending the space since 2019 to the nunneries during Jang Gonchoe and for their continued support.
At the Jang Gonchoe, the nuns take part in structured debate sessions with individual and class-wide debates, followed by an evening inter-nunnery session where two nuns answer questions from a team from another nunnery. Debate strengthens reasoning skills, confidence, and understanding of Buddhist studies.
The inter-nunnery debate helps bring the nuns closer to equality with the monks in terms of learning opportunities and advancement along the spiritual path.
Nuns practice monastic debate in pairs and groups during the month-long Jang Gonchoe. The nuns expressed appreciation to the Kagyu Monlam Office for lending the space in Bodh Gaya for the Jang Gonchoe since 2019 and for their continued support.
1995-2025: The 30th Anniversary of the Inter-Nunnery Debate
The Jang Gonchoe for nuns was first initiated in 1995, making this year its 30th anniversary, though there was a year-long gap during the Covid pandemic when the event could not take place. Because of that missed year, the nuns’ committee has decided to count this as the 29th Jang Gonchoe instead of the 30th.
The inter-nunnery debate has been supported since 1997 by the Tibetan Nuns Project through our Jang Gonchoe Endowment Fund. Now we want to put more of our core programs on a sustainable footing with our Long-Term Stability Fund.
Before 1995, there was no Jang Gonchoe for nuns and this learning opportunity was only open to monks. The Tibetan Nuns Project, with the wonderful support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, played a critical role in opening up this learning opportunity to women. Establishing a comparable debate session for nuns has been an integral part of the nuns reaching their current level of excellence in their studies.
The inter-nunnery debate has been supported since 1997 by the Tibetan Nuns Project. Our Jang Gonchoe Endowment Fund covers costs such as transportation, food, and accommodation for the nuns and teachers who wish to attend.
The following video is a great primer on Tibetan Buddhist debate by nuns. It’s taken from a longer video made by the nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery in northern India. It answers many of the frequently asked questions about Tibetan Buddhist debate, such as the meaning of the hand movements.
“It all happened because of the kindness, generosity, and genuine concern shown by all the wonderful donors who supported us for so many years,” said Rinchen Khando Choegyal, Founding Director and Special Advisor to the Tibetan Nuns Project, in a past interview.
“Much as we had the blessings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the vision, determination, and courage to pursue this matter to the full, without their generosity we would not have been able to have the Jang Gonchoe every year, which was and is the moving force behind every step of progress in education the nuns have made,” she said.
In 2025, 460 nuns from ten nunneries took part in the annual inter-nunnery debate, the Jang Gonchoe. The event began in 1995. Prior to that, nuns did not have this opportunity.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has often spoken of the need to examine the teachings of the Buddha closely and with an inquisitive mind. “This is the 21st century and we need to understand the Buddha’s teachings in the light of reason. When we teach, we need to do so on the basis of reason,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama told the nuns at the end of the 2014 Jang Gonchoe.
His Holiness added, “Nowadays, the Nalanda tradition of approaching the Buddha’s teachings with logic and reason is only found amongst Tibetans. It’s something precious we can be proud of and should strive to preserve.”
A portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is placed at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, marking the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the patron of the Tibetan Nuns Project.
Support Long-Term Stability
The annual Geshema exams and the inter-nunnery debate are both funded by endowments and are now self-sustaining thanks to our generous supporters.
We are extremely grateful to the 159 donors to the Geshema Endowment, 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 all those who sponsor nuns and help them on their path.
Now we want to put more of our core programs on a sustainable footing with our Long-Term Stability Fund. Thank you for supporting this vision. You can learn more and donate here.
Tibetan Buddhist nuns from five nunneries in northern India reconnected with a rare spiritual tradition ahead of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.
As part of the upcoming celebrations for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday on July 6, 2025, the Tibetan Nuns Project organized a deeply meaningful workshop to help preserve a rare and fading tradition.
Nuns at Tilokpur Nunnery gathered for a workshop on the ancient, rare spiritual tradition of Phowa Dhoshak, dating back many hundreds of years.
From May 27th to 30th, 2025, Mr. Dorje Rinchen led a series of sessions at five nunneries: Dolma Ling, Shugsep, Tilokpur, Geden Choeling, and Jamyang Choeling. The workshops focused on the unique role of Lama Manipas (wandering Buddhist storytellers) and the ritual practice of Phowa Dhoshak, the symbolic act of breaking a stone on the abdomen for healing ailments and rare diseases.
At the end of May, nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute learned about the meaning, structure, and purpose of the rare practice of Phowa Dhoshak. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.
Rooted in the legacy of Saint Thangtong Gyalpo, Phowa Dhoshak is more than a ritual. It is also a powerful expression of spiritual strength. Through detailed presentations and demonstrations, Gen Dorje Rinchen introduced the nuns to the meaning, structure, and deeper purpose of this rare practice. For many of the nuns, it was their first encounter with a tradition they had only heard about in passing.
Gen Dorjee Rinchen categorized the practice into 13 key topics and delivered a presentation on them, including the origins of the practice, the associated visualizations and recitations, and the reasons behind this spiritual tradition.
Dolma Ling Principal Geshema Delek Wangmo (left) and teacher Dorje Rinchen during the workshop at the end of May. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.
The sessions sparked enthusiasm and a deep reflection. Many of the nuns voiced a strong desire to learn more, to understand the physical ritual, and to explore its spiritual and historical roots. This dialogue has opened up new possibilities for research and study while assisting the nuns to feel more connected to a lineage that has long shaped Buddhist culture.
Nuns at Shugsep Nunnery gather in the library for a workshop on a rare Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
At a time when many such sacred practices are at risk of fading into obscurity, the Tibetan Nuns Project’s efforts are making sure that the next generation of Buddhist nuns is not only aware of these teachings, but also feels empowered to carry them forward.
Change from Male Principal to Leadership by the Nuns
On April 17, 2025, the nuns celebrated big changes in the leadership at Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute. For the first time since the nunnery was inaugurated 20 years ago, Dolma Ling has transitioned from having a male principal to leadership by the nuns themselves.
Three Tibetan Buddhist nuns have taken on the leadership of Dolma Ling Nunnery. From left to right: Venerable Ngawang Palmo, Rinchen Khando Choegyal (TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor), the former principal who is stepping down, Nangsa Choedon (Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India), Geshema Delek Wangmo (new principal), Geshema Tenzin Dolma, Tenzin Palkyi (Assistant Director, TNP India).
In a change that reflects a shift toward a more collective approach to leadership, responsibilities will be divided between three nuns instead of having one principal. The leadership terms will last three years. After that, the Tibetan Nuns Project and the Nuns’ Committee will decide if they want to keep the nomination process or switch to an election system.
Tibetan Buddhist nuns gather outside the prayer hall at Dolma Ling carrying kataks, traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarves that they will offer the three nunnery leaders as a sign of respect and congratulations.
For the academic side, Geshema Delek Wangmo will take on the role of the nunnery’s principal, handling all academic matters. Two other nuns, Venerable Ngawang Palmo and Geshema Tenzin Dolma, will share the responsibility for the administration of the nunnery.
The Three Nuns Taking on the Leadership
“It is so inspiring to see the nuns taking on the leadership of Dolma Ling and becoming even further role models for their community,” says Lisa Farmer, Executive Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project. “We are so grateful to our supporters for their kindness and generosity. Our work would not be possible without their dedication to the nuns.”
Rinchen Khando Choegyal (right), TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor, and Nangsa Choedon, Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India, present kataks to the leaders of the nunnery at a special celebration on April 17, 2025.
Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute of Buddhist Dialectics is a non-sectarian nunnery located in the Kangra valley near Dharamsala, northern India. The large campus is currently home to about 300 nuns. It is one of two nunneries built and fully supported by the Tibetan Nuns Project. Here are brief biographies of the three nuns now leading the nunnery.
Principal Geshema Delek Wangmo
Geshema Delek Wangmo’s journey to become a principal, Geshema, teacher, and a role model has been long and arduous. Her remarkable life story exemplifies resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to spiritual growth, inspiring others on their paths to enlightenment.
Born in 1970 in Litang in the Kham region of eastern Tibet, Delek Wangmo was ordained at 15 with Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. Her village, Detsa, did not have a school and she spent most of her time tending animals with her nomadic family.
When she was 19, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche led her and other nuns on an 18-month, 950-mile pilgrimage from their home province to Lhasa with the group prostrating the entire way. She began learning the Tibetan alphabet on the pilgrimage. After escaping from Tibet in 1990, she and other nuns lived in a rental house funded by the Tibetan Nuns Project, studying in the early morning and late evening while actively participating in the construction of their new nunnery, Dolma Ling.
Geshema Delek Wangmo, the new principal of Dolma Ling, being offered Tibetan ceremonial scarves as a act of respect and congratulations. She was virtually illiterate when she escaped from Tibet and now holds the highest degree in her tradition. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.
Venerable Ngawang Palmo knew from the time she was little that she wanted to be a nun. She and her friends used to pretend to teach each other scriptures when they were playing. She was born in 1975 to a farming family in Central Tibet. She had some opportunities for education in Tibet. At age 7, she went to school for three months a year and began learning Tibetan, but the 9-month gaps in learning made it hard to progress.
On April 17, 2025, the nuns and special guests gathered in the prayer hall at Dolma Ling to celebrate the nuns taking on the leadership of the nunnery. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.
At 13, she became ordained as a nun and lived at Gari Nunnery until 1992. However, because of Chinese restrictions, she received no proper and systematic education there. Moreover, after some of the Gari nuns celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, Chinese authorities arrested and expelled many nuns. In 1992, Ngawang Palmo escaped on foot from Tibet seeking education and the freedom to practice her religion.
Venerable Ngawang Palmo brings a wealth of experience to her new role. In addition to her years of studies, she has held many administrative positions at Dolma Ling, including as librarian and treasurer. She served in the Changdzö office, which is responsible for the nunnery’s finances and property. The Changdzö nuns have several duties. They receive and distribute offering money. They also run the nunnery store and make purchases for the nunnery. Venerable Ngawang Palmo was one of seven nuns on the Administration Committee overseeing major decisions for the institution.
Geshema Tenzin Dolma
Geshema Tenzin Dolma was born in Kinnaur, a small village in the Indian Himalayas. Her family were farmers and she spent a lot of time working in the fields and helping her mother at home. There was a nearby Indian government school. However, her school life was brief. She attended primary school until Grade 5, then dropped out to help her family.
After a nun from Dolma Ling came to her village for holidays, Tenzin Dolma decided to become a nun and pursue her education. She became a nun at 18 and came to Dharamsala, joining Dolma Ling first as a day student before she got full admission in 1999. She found the early days challenging because she couldn’t read and write Tibetan, and she struggled to learn the alphabet. Also, the temporary living conditions for the nuns were difficult. She recalled, “During those days, Dolma Ling Nunnery was under construction and we had to help the builders most of the days. We didn’t even have a proper kitchen and we didn’t use gas. We had to go out to find wood for cooking.”
When Tenzin Dolma joined Dolma Ling as a day student in 1998, the nunnery was under construction. Here’s an archival photo of a nun holding a paper model of the nunnery in front of the construction site. Thanks to your support, Dolma Ling is now a thriving educational center.
Tenzin Dolma worked hard and excelled. She earned her Geshema degree, equal to a PhD in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, in 2017. She was one of the second group of nuns to achieve this. Like Principal Geshema Delek Wangmo, in 2019 she completed a year-long course in Tantric Studies at Gyuto Tantric Monastery. This groundbreaking program funded by Tibetan Nuns Project donors provides dedicated senior nuns training in tantric theory, rituals, and mind-training techniques used by those engaged in advanced meditation.
“I have learned lots of new things at Dolma Ling. I think to myself that if I were in my village, I would have missed all these opportunities to develop myself and find a meaning and value of life.” Geshema Tenzin Dolma is very grateful to the supporters of the Tibetan Nuns Project and to Dolma Ling.
About Dolma Ling
Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute of Buddhist Dialectics is a non-sectarian nunnery near Dharamsala, northern India. The large campus is now home to about 300 nuns.
Rinchen Khando Choegyal, the Tibetan Nuns Project’s Founding Director and Special Advisor, with a nun at Dolma Ling at the celebration on April 17th.
Officially inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on December 8, 2005, the nunnery is fully funded by the Tibetan Nuns Project and was the first institute dedicated specifically to higher Buddhist education for Tibetan Buddhist nuns from all traditions.
Dolma Ling is unique because it offers a 17-year curriculum of traditional Buddhist philosophy and debate, as well as modern courses in Tibetan language, English, basic mathematics, and computer skills. The nuns also receive training in the ritual arts such as sand mandalas and butter sculpture. The nunnery was completed after 12 years of hard work. The nuns helped to build the nunnery and work diligently to maintain it.
For the first nuns who fled to India, such academic and leadership successes would have seemed almost impossible. Almost all the nuns who arrived as refugees had received no formal education. Many could not even write their names.
Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India building Dolma Ling. Photo by Jessica Tampas.
When the nuns arrived in India, they were ill, exhausted, traumatized and impoverished. Many nuns had faced torture and imprisonment at the hands of the Chinese authorities in Tibet and endured immense physical and emotional pain. The existing nunneries in the struggling Tibetan refugee community in India were already overcrowded and could not accommodate them.
The Tibetan Nuns Project, with your support, had to focus on the basics of education. This included setting up classes, building a curriculum, ensuring regular attendance, and administering tests. Those who have always had access to education might take these systems for granted. However, for the nuns, every part of an education system had to be established from scratch.
The new academic year began at Dolma Ling on March 17, 2025. In April, we launched a project to help build special housing for elder nuns. The Tibetan Nuns Project has set up a Long-Term Stability Fund to support our main programs. These include education, food, shelter, clothing, and basic medical care for the nuns.
In April, the two Tibetan Buddhist nunneries built and fully supported by Tibetan Nuns Project donors held their annual graduation ceremonies. We are delighted to share this news and the nuns’ photos. We send deepest thanks to all those who sponsor a nun at the nunneries.
Shugsep Nunnery Graduation Ceremony on April 5, 2025
Shugsep Nunnery and Institute, now home to about 100 nuns, is a Nyingma nunnery re-established in northern India and inaugurated 15 years ago in 2010. On April 5, the nunnery held its annual graduation ceremony. The chief guest was Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, alongside our Founding Director and Special Advisor Kasur Rinchen Khandro, Secretary Dudrul Dorjee from the Department of Religion and Culture, and Nangsa Choedon, Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India.
Rinchen Khando Choegyal, the Tibetan Nuns Project Founding Director and Special Advisor, at the annual Shugsep graduation ceremony on April 5, 2025.
The ceremony recognized the nuns’ various achievements. The Speaker presented certificates to 4th, 7th, and 9th-year students. Other dignitaries awarded certificates to first-year philosophical college students, as well as to first-year and 4th-year students, primary school students, and those who received special recognition for root text memorization.
Chief guest, Venerable Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, presented certificates and the Shugsep graduation ceremony.
In his address, the Parliamentary Speaker emphasized the special responsibilities inherent in monastic life, stressing the importance of continuous mindfulness beyond routine practices. Drawing from the teachings of Acharya Vasubandhu, the Speaker outlined the core monastic educational path, which includes maintaining discipline, engaging in comprehensive study and contemplation, and dedicating oneself to diligent meditation. He noted that this approach has formed the foundation for accomplished scholars across all Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Nangsa Choedon, Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India, at the Shugsep Graduation ceremony.
The Speaker provided detailed explanations of these educational pillars, including maintaining discipline through adherence to monastic vows; learning through study by pursuing education with focused attention; contemplation, which involves repeatedly examining teachings through scriptural authority and reasoning; and meditation, which focuses on internalizing knowledge to transform one’s life.
He emphasized that true education should lead to visible personal transformation, stating, “If you remain unchanged year after year, your study, contemplation, and meditation are inadequate.” The Speaker urged students not only to change themselves but also to positively influence those around them.
The Tibetan Nuns Project’s Founding Director and Special Advisor, Kasur Rinchen Khandro, and Nangsa Choedon, Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India, both spoke at the event.
Quoting from Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara, he said, “There is nothing that does not become easier through familiarization,” and added the Tibetan proverb, “All activities are practice; who is skilled among practitioners?” to underline the idea that consistent effort inevitably yields results.
The Speaker further highlighted the importance of diligence and comprehensive education, quoting The Words of My Perfect Teacher to discuss the relationship between wisdom and diligence. He noted that moderate wisdom, paired with excellent diligence, can yield superior results compared to excellent wisdom coupled with poor diligence.
Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, said that, in addition to traditional knowledge, students should also pursue modern sciences and languages to maximize their contributions to Tibetan religion, culture, and society.
The Speaker warned of the irreparable damage that educational deficiencies can cause, particularly concerning cultural and linguistic preservation. He concluded by calling for harmony among all present, quoting Bodhicharyavatara: “May the Sangha always be in harmony, and may the purposes of the Sangha be fulfilled.”
Annual Award Ceremony at Dolma Ling Nunnery
On April 9, 2025, the Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute held an award ceremony to honor the top achievers of the 2024 final examinations.
Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute of Buddhist Dialectics is a non-sectarian nunnery near Dharamsala and is home to about 277 nuns. It was inaugurated in 2005 and was the first institute dedicated to higher Buddhist education for Tibetan Buddhist nuns from all traditions.
The Dolma Ling academic award ceremony on April 9, 2025. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.
Kabjye Yongzin Ling Choktrul Rinpoche was the Chief Guest at the award ceremony. Secretary Dhondul Dorjee from the Department of Religion and Culture and Secretary Jigme Namgyal from the Department of Education attended the event as special guests.
Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling receive academic awards from special guest Kabjye Yongzin Ling Choktrul Rinpoche at a ceremony on April 9, 2025.
It was also attended by the Tibetan Nuns Project’s founding director and special advisor Kasur Rinchen Khando, and Nangsa Choedon, the Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India.
Over 270 Tibetan Buddhist nuns gathered in the debate courtyard at Dolma Ling on April 9th for the annual ceremony honoring academic achievements. Photo by the Dolma Ling Media Nuns.
The ceremony began with the principal’s report on the history and educational activities of the Dolma Ling. Then the distinguished guests gave the awards of academic excellence to the top-performing students.
How You Can Support Nuns’ Education
Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India rely on outside support. There are many ways that you can help educate and empower the nuns including:
