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.