Thank you to everyone who sent good luck messages to the nuns taking their Geshema exams this summer! We’ve compiled all the messages and will share them with the nuns before the exams begin on August 7th.
The Geshema degreeΒ (or Geshe degree for monks) is roughly equivalent to a PhD in Tibetan Buddhism. Until recently, this degree was only open to men.
Due to the pandemic, the Geshema exams were cancelled in 2020 and 2021. The nuns have been waiting for a long time for this educational opportunity. The candidates are gathering on July 6th at Geden Choeling Nunnery for a month of final exam preparations.
A smiling Tibetan Buddhist nun enters her Geshema exams equipped with ruler and pens. The written and oral exams last two weeks and are based on 17 years of study. Photo by the Nuns’ Media Team.
Here’s a little video about the 2018 Geshema exams. [Can’t see the video? Click here.]
Geshes and Geshemas are the most educated monastics, carrying much of the responsibility for preserving the Tibetan religion and culture.
The Geshemas are paving the way for other nuns to follow in their footsteps. This degree makes them eligible to assume various leadership roles in their monastic and lay communities reserved for degree holders and hence previously not open to women.
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.
Some Short Facts About the Geshema Degree
- The Geshema Degree is roughly equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy. For males, it is called the Geshe degree.
- It is the highest level of training in the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.
- Until recently, this highest degree could only be earned by monks.
- In 2011, a German nun, Kelsang Wangmo, who spent 21 years training in India, became the first female to receive the Geshema title.
- The historic decision to confer the Geshema degree to Tibetan Buddhist nuns was announced in 2012 by the Department of Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Administration, following a meeting of representatives from six major nunneries, Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, and the Tibetan Nuns Project.
- Candidates for the Geshema degree are examined on the entirety of their 17-year course of study of theΒ Five Great Canonical Texts.
- To qualify to begin the Geshema process, nuns must score 75% or above in their studies to be eligible to sit for the Geshema exams.
- On December 22, 2016, His Holiness the Dalai Lama awarded 20 Tibetan Buddhist nuns with Geshema degrees at a special graduation ceremony held at Drepung Monastery in Mundgod, South India.
Thank you for the opportunity to wish the nuns success with their exams.
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Congratulations on your achievements! Sending wishes for deep and heartfelt happiness to all of you!
I wish you the very best for your exam day. I know you have given your best in preparation for this special event in your life
May your minds be clear and at ease during the examinations, may your bodies be healthy and relaxed, may your wisdom shine through without obstacles! And when you have been awarded your degrees please come to the West and teach us the precious Dharma!
Congratulations for advancing this far. Your skillful effort and right understanding will carry you through and will benefit all beings.π
Wishing all the Nuns all the very best for your exams.
Wishing you all the best of luck. I know you will do well!
Sending you strong support from Atlanta, Georgia, USA for your exams. You are still pioneers in working on your Geshema degrees. We benefit greatly from Geshema Kelsang Wangmoβs teachings on the internet and look forward to learning from all of you as well.
You have worked hard for many years to come to these exams. As another poster wrote, may your minds be clear, your bodies relaxed and healthy, and your hearts and spirits at rest during this next step. May you all demonstrate the wisdom and compassion you have acquired so that you may go forward to spread both wisdom and compassion everywhere you find yourselves, as your own stores of both qualities steadily increase.
May the thousands Buddhas be with you in your courageous intentions of holding the light of dharma up. My prayers and prostrations of this summer will be for you, so you can benefit myriads of sentient beings with your efforts. Blessings, success in the path and a lot of love β€οΈ
GOOOOOOOD LUCK GESHEMAS TO BE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, thank you. You are my inspiration :):):)XXXOOO
My wish to all Nuns to be very successful in their examination. You are all precious and beautiful
Good Luck to all of You and congrats to Your achievements. Thank You so much for spreading compassion-energy to all sentient beeings β€οΈππ»βοΈ
My best wishes to all nuns. May your joyful efforts benefit all sentient beings!
All of us await to be taught the most profound teachings from you all! Good luck ππ» And please remember, you are all incredible to have come thus far already!
Wishing all the precious future Geshemas for your exams. Thank you for spending so many years studying and for all your effort for the benefit of all sentient beings. Wishing you all the best for your future endeavours and wish that you will become great teachers and leaders who benefit our communities.
Wishing you clear minds and joyous hearts…Good luck to you all… Sending a huge heartfelt thankyou for all your incredible teachings and contributions to one and all…. sending loads of love, light and best wishes from Wales, UK.
Decades ago, I remember women asking HH the Dalai Lama why nuns could not take this exam. He agreed that it should include nuns but said it was not his decision. So I was thrilled that it finally happened.
Congratulations on all your work for wisdom, serenity, and peace! You are an inspiration to all of us!
This comes to you from West Virginia, in Appalachia, United States.
Best of luck to each of u let the breath guide u as will the compassion of all beings I look forward to see your name on the pass listππΌππΌππΌππΌππΌππΌπ
May the opportunities to spread the Dharma grow with your ascension to this high level of achievement. May energy and health remain with you. I wish you all the very best of luck.