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2019 Fall Newsletter

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2019 Fall Newsletter Tibetan Nuns Project Fall 2019 The 25th Annual Jang Gonchoe uuu Inter-Nunnery Debate The 25th Annual Tibetan Buddhist debate is an essential part of Jang Gonchoe monastic education in the Tibetan tradition Inter-Nunnery Debate combining logical thinking with a deeper understanding of Buddhist philosophy. The uuu practice of debate takes many years to fully master The Jang Gonchoe and it is critical to fostering the nuns’ ability to Endowment Fund fully understand their philosophical tradition and assume roles as qualified teachers of that tradition. uuu The annual inter-nunnery debate is a major project for the Tibetan Nuns Project each year and wouldn’t 50 Tibetan Nuns be possible without the generous support of donors Sit Geshema Exams who help fund the nuns’ food and travel costs. in August 2019 Tibetan Buddhist nuns debate outdoors at Kopan Although the nuns do now debate within their Nunnery in Nepal. They were taking part in the month- own nunneries, it is only by attending the annual uuu long inter-nunnery debate called the Jang Gonchoe. month-long inter-nunnery debate, for extended debate with their peers, that they are able to Nunnery Updates This is a special year for the annual inter-nunnery advance their knowledge and gain the necessary debate, called the Jang Gonchoe. 2019 marks the uuu confidence and experience to pursue the Geshema 25th annual debate event for the nuns. The name degree (Geshe for monks), equivalent to a doctorate Emergency at Jang Gonchoe means “winter debate at Jang” and in Tibetan Buddhism. refers to the centuries-old debate event for monks Shugsep Nunnery As in past years, the final week of the Jang in Tibet. For many nuns, taking part in this event is and Institute Gonchoe will have the formal pre-degree damcha an essential component of working towards higher debate with the Geshema candidates, followed by uuu academic degrees, such as the Geshema degree, the Geshema graduation ceremony. In August, roughly equivalent to a Ph.D. in Tibetan Buddhist 7 nuns took their fourth and final year of Acts of Generosity philosophy. Geshema exams, and we are happy to report all of Traditionally, Buddhist nuns have not had the them passed and will receive their degrees at the uuu same access to education as monks. Prior to the conclusion of this year’s Jang Gonchoe session. A Nun’s Story 1990’s, Tibetan Buddhist nuns did not receive training in debate. The Tibetan Nuns Project uuu has worked hard to open up this opportunity for the nuns and make debate a core part of their Our Project education. The first Jang Gonchoe inter-nunnery Wish List debate was held in 1995, and, since 1997, thanks to our supporters, the Tibetan Nuns Project has been uuu fully supporting the annual month-long event. This year’s historic event will be held in the holy city of Bodh Gaya, where 2,600 years ago Gautama Buddha attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. In past years, the event has rotated among participating nunneries, such as Kopan in Nepal in Nuns line up to debate with the 10 Geshema nuns. 2018. At least nine nunneries from India and Nepal This event is called a damcha and is the final hurdle are planning to take part this year. The scheduled for the new geshemas, as any and all are able to dates are October 25th to November 30th. challenge them in debate. The Jang Gonchoe Endowment Fund It is our wish to make the annual debate event Tibetan Nuns sustainable by fully funding an endowment to support it. In 2014, the Tibetan Nuns Project Project launched a Jang Gonchoe Endowment Fund so that the inter-nunnery debates can continue Established in 1987, the for decades to come. To date, $230,000 of Tibetan Nuns Project provides education the $600,000 goal has been raised, leaving a and support to more than 700 nuns funding gap of $370,000. in northern India. The mission of the project is to: The Jang Gonchoe Endowment Fund, when fully funded, will help to preserve Tibetan Educate and empower nuns of the religion and culture at a time when they are Tibetan Buddhist tradition as teachers and leaders; severely under threat. The Fund will sustain the opening of this centuries-old tradition to nuns, Establish, strengthen, and support empowering them to become great teachers in educational institutions to preserve the Tibetan religion and culture. their own right. Supporting the Jang Gonchoe Endowment Patron Fund is a profound opportunity to build His Holiness the Dalai Lama capacity and equality for the nuns, to foster the dharma for future generations, and to ensure India Office Rinchen Khando Choeygal that this unique tradition continues and grows. Founding Director and Special Advisor Mrs. Nangsa Choedon, Director We are still fundraising for the Jang Gonchoe Endowment Fund Ms. Tsering Diki, Assistant Director so that the inter-nunnery debate can be self-sustaining. The benefit U.S. Office of this is inestimable and will be an enduring legacy for generations Dr. Elizabeth Napper, U.S. Founder and Board Chair to come. Lisa Farmer, Executive Director Sponsorship Tenzin Dasel, India Office Reebee Martz, U.S. Office Many thanks to the following people who contributed to the design, content, and editing of this newsletter: Tsering Diki, Tenzin Dasel, Ven. Delek Yangdon, Ven. Delek Yangchen, Heather Wardle, and Anita Veen WEBSITE: www.tnp.org India: c/o Dolma Ling PO Sidhpur 176057 Dist. Kangra, H.P. Email: [email protected] Phone: (91-9805) 783104 USA: 815 Seattle Blvd. S, Suite 216, Seattle, WA 98134 Email: [email protected] Phone: 206 652 8901 An archival photo from the early 1990’s when the nuns had to practice debate in the fields. 50 Tibetan Nuns Sit Geshema Exams in August 2019 From August first to twelfth, 50 Tibetan Buddhist nuns sat various The results have just been posted by the Department of levels of the four-year Geshema exams. This year, the exams were Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Administration. Seven nuns held at Jangchup Choeling Nunnery in south India. sat their fourth and final year of exams, and all passed. Now In 2012, an historic decision was made to allow Tibetan they will take part in a week-long formal debate session in front Buddhist nuns the opportunity to take examinations for the Geshe of hundreds of nuns at the Jang Gonchoe inter-nunnery debate degree, known for women as the Geshema degree. Prior to this session. The graduation ceremony will be held in Bodh Gaya, at time, it was only open to monks. The Geshema/Geshe degree the conclusion of the Jang Gonchoe. is the highest level of training in the Gelugpa tradition and is We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported our equivalent to a Ph.D. in Tibetan Buddhism. 2019 Geshema Exams Fund. Your gifts enabled the nuns to take To be eligible to take their Geshema exams, the nuns must first their exams by covering their travel and food costs for the study complete at least 17 years of study. The Geshema examination and exam periods. process is extremely rigorous and takes four years to complete, involving both written and debate exams and also the completion and defense of a thesis. Each year the nuns preparing to sit various levels of the four- year examinations gather together for one month of final exam preparations and then for about 12 days of exams. This year the nuns received over 100 messages of good luck from our friends around the world. Nunnery Updates date of the nuns’ final exams to October Each winter, the nuns take part in the Dolma Ling because the nuns would not have time Kagyu Monlam Chenmo prayer festival 229 nuns to return from Bodh Gaya for December in Bodh Gaya presided over by the head Rinchen Khando Choegyal, Founding exams and reach His Holiness the Dalai of Kagyu lineage and senior lamas. In Director and Special Advisor to the Lama’s teachings in South India on time. 2019 it was held from December 15-21 Tibetan Nuns Project, has always and in 2020 the 37th Kagyu Monlam is encouraged the nuns to assume leadership Shugsep scheduled for January 28 to February 9. roles in their nunneries and to serve their Before the start of the prayer festival, a different communities. Thus, Dolma 92 nuns special initial teaching by senior lamas is Ling has hired two Geshemas – Geshema In January, the majority of the nuns given to all nuns, monks, and lay people. attended the Nyingma Monlam Prayer This is followed by several days of practical Festival in Bodh Gaya, after which they examinations on daily actions and enjoyed a winter vacation. Classes began conduct, with results announced at the on April 5th and this year the nuns have end of the Kagyu Monlam. Tilokpur nuns new Tibetan and English language are pleased that they got 1st position once teachers. The nuns’ committee members in the past. also changed and it was also decided that The 2019 Kagyu Monlam lasted for a Khenpo will be appointed as the head of eight days during which all the nuns, the nunnery. monks, and lay people took sojong vows On May 16th, the nuns performed and fasted after lunch. The Monlam a Chöd Tsok offering to commemorate concluded with a special prayer for the the anniversary of the death of Shugsep well-being of all sentient beings and the Jetsunma, the former abbess of Shugsep lightning of butter lamps. The nuns also Delek Wangmo and Geshema Tenzin Nunnery in Tibet and a recognized participated in a debate competition Kunsel – as philosophy teachers.
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