Historic Moment for Buddhist Women

By Tenzin Samten / May 16, 2016;

Nuns must take both written and oral (debate) test
Photo: tibet.net

Twenty Tibetan nuns have completed their Geshema degree: the first ever women to take the examination.

The nuns sat their fourth and final examination at Gaden Choeling nunnery in Dharamshala. Geshe or Geshema for women is equivalent to a Doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and is the highest level of training in the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. The 12-day examination, which started on May 1, consisted of two parts: debate and written, on the five major texts of Buddhist studies.

A total of 44 nuns from five nunneries in India and Nepal were sitting various examinations, including the 20 taking their final Geshema degree exam. Formerly, only men could achieve the Geshe degree and in 2012, His Holiness the Dalai Lama announced the decision that from then on nuns would be eligible to sit the Geshema degree examination. His decision was reached following a two-day meeting with high lamas and nuns’representatives. He had raised the need for Geshema degrees for nuns in 1995 and asked religious leaders to compile a course for them. The 20 nuns taking their examinations now will be the first Tibetan women with the highest degree of Buddhist study in the history of Tibet.

“Nuns who complete 17 years of studies, gaining an aggregate of 65 percent, can sit for the Geshema examination,” said Mr Pema Chhinjor, Minister of the Department of Religion and Culture at the Central Tibetan Administration.

Nuns taking part in oral test which is debate
Photo: Tibetan Nuns Project website

“There were many hardships while studying this vast subject. However, I feel fortunate and joyous to appear for the examination, which makes the hardship negligible,” said Tenzin Kunsel, Geshema candidate from Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute.

The Tibetan Nuns Project, which was founded in 1987, and whose primary goal is to provide education and humanitarian aid to Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India, stated that earning Geshema degrees will make nuns eligible to assume various leadership roles in the monastic and lay community which were previously reserved for men.

This year’s 20 Geshema candidates are from the Dolma Ling, Geden Choeling, Jamyang Choeling, Jangchup Choeling and Kopan nunneries. Those who have successfully passed their final examination will receive their Geshema degrees from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in October 2016.