Respected Dharma friends, supporters and well-wishers, Sincere greetings from Jamyang Choling Institute Nunnery. We hope this finds you all well and in good health.
Introduction
Jamyang Choling Institute (JCI) is an Educational Institute for Himalayan Buddhist women who would otherwise have little opportunity to study and practise. Jamyang Choling Institute provides a comprehensive education program in Tibetan/Ancient Indian Nalanda Buddhist wisdom. Our aim is to nurture the spiritual and intellectual potential of Buddhist women within this tradition.
Currently, there are 149 students and 8 teachers, a total of 157 at JCI. The students range in age from 11 to 70 and come from the Himalayan regions of Kinnaur, Lahaul, Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar, Garhwal, Bhutan, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nepal and Tibet. There are also a few international students. The Institute has a program that requires over 17 years of intense study to complete and is equivalent to the program of study required for a Master Degree. The program also includes Tibetan, English, computers and modern Science. Buddhist understanding of logic and 21st century scientific disciplines have interesting parallels which our nuns are increasingly able to explore.
Classes and educational activities
Classes are held Monday – Saturday. Sunday is a holiday, allowing the nuns to clean the Institute's campus and wash their clothes. Classes run from March to June and August to January. There is a summer break during the month of July and winter break in February. During these times, students may visit their families or do self-study and practice at JCI. There is a semester exam at the end of June and an annual exam at the end of December.
Current class batches:
- 4th batch nuns are participating in 3rd year PhD Geshema exam in 2024
- 5th batch nuns are participating in 1st year PhD Geshema exam in 2024
- 6th batch nuns are studying Vinaya 2nd year
- 7th batch nuns are studying Madhyamika-Middle Way-Uma 1st year
- 8th batch nuns are studying Perfection of Wisdom Prajnaparamita-Parchin 6th year.
- 9th batch nuns are studying Perfection of Wisdom Prajnaparamita-Parchin 1st year.
- 10th batch nuns are newly admitted and are learning how to read and write.
- Nuns also have Tibetan Grammar Classes, Science, English and Computer Classes.
1st batch 2nd batch and 3rd batch nuns:
These nuns have competed 17years of study. Some of these senior nuns are now giving Dharma teaching in their home towns as volunteers, some are looking after smaller, remote nunneries. Some are taking teacher training at Sara College, Dharamshala.
Many of our nuns wish to stay in retreat. JCI does not have retreat rooms so it is a bit difficult to manage but still many nuns stay in retreat for short and long periods.
His Holiness has advised our nuns to study continuously, work hard, and eventually return to different regions of the Himalayas where most of them come from in order to serve other nunneries and the people thereby teaching and sharing what they have learned. Jamyang Choling Institute supports our nuns in these endeavours. We are deeply blessed and grateful to His Holiness for imparting precious teachings and lectures to us and would like to thank him from the bottom of our hearts. So far, our program has gone well under the blessing and guidance of HHDL and the support of our Dharma friends and well–wishers from around the world.
Executive Committee
The nuns of Jamyang Choling Institute elected the current Executive Committee in June 2021. The nuns voted for a General Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, senior and junior Accountants and senior and junior Cashiers.
On 7th July 2022, Jamyang Choling Institute Nunnery celebrated the inauguration of our new abbot Geshe Tsering Nyarna la, from Drepung Loseling Monastery (Narye Khamtsan) south India.
On 7th July 2022, Jamyang Choling Institute Nunnery celebrated the inauguration of our new abbot Geshe Tsering Nyarna la, from Drepung Loseling Monastery (Narye Khamtsan) south India.
- Geshe Tsering Nyarna (Abbot)
- Geshema Tenzin Deden (Senior Cashier)
- Geshema Tenzin Zangmo (Senior Accountant)
- Ven. Tenzin Choedon (General Secretary)
- Geshema Rinchen Pal (Junior Accountant)
- Ven. Choeying Zangmo (Junior Cashier)
- Ven. Karma Dolma (Assistant Secretary)
The seven- member Executive Committee takes full responsibility for the management of Jamyang Choling Institute, being responsible for the day-to-day running of the nunnery. In addition, the Committee holds meetings every three months to discuss administration, education, health care, ways of problem solving and decision making as well as planning for the Institute's future. Jamyang Choling Institute is unique and among the first Buddhist women's educational projects to be fully managed and administered by its own community of nuns.
Participation
- 12th March to 30th March 2023, seven of our nuns Ven. Tenzin Youdon, Ven. Thupten Lhadon, Ven. Tsering Yangskit, Ven. Tenzin Choeying, Ven. Lobsang Dolma (B), Ven.Rigzin Dolma and Ven. Tenzin Choenyi had the opportunity to participate in the final nuns Science leading workshop course organized by the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives .
- 16th May to June 21st 2023, Ven. Tenzin Mentok, Ven. Choeying Lhamo, Ven. Tenzin Petsal, Ven. Jinpa Tharchin Gurung, Ven. Tenzin Ningchat, Ven. Tsering Drema ,Ven. Tsering Yangdon, Ven. Tsering Yangchin, Ven. Tsering Lhamo, Ven. Lobsang Tseyang, Ven. Tenzin Chozom (B), Ven. Tenzin Norzom participated in the 3rd Summer Intensive program for nuns run by Emory Tibet Science Initiative at Drepung Loseling Monastery, south India.
- 21st to 24th June 2023, Ven. Tenzin Yangzom and Ven. Lobsang Kunzom participated in anon-sectarian Dharma lineage discussion on the perception of awareness, organized by the Department of Religion & Culture, Central Tibetan Administration.
- In August 2023, Ven. Rinchen Lhamo had the golden opportunity to join the 7th cohort of the Tenzin Gyatso Science Scholar program in USA. This two-year program is organized by Emory Tibet Science Initiative, Emory University, Atlanta.
- 12th and 13th September 2023 at Town Hall Kalimpong, Geshema Tenzin Lhadron attended the National Conference on Nalanda Buddhism in West Bengal organized by IHCNBT (Indian National Sangha Council)
- 29th and 30th October 2023, Ven. Dolma Tsering (B),Ven. Rigzin Dolma (A), Ven. Tenzin Choying, Ven. Tenzin Youdon, Ven. Tsering Yangkit, Ven. Thupten Lhadon, Ven. Lobsang Dolma (B), Ven. Tenzin Norzin (B), Ven. Penpa Yangzom, Ven. Tenzin Choeny, Ven. Lobsang Dolkar, Ven. Rigzin Dolma (B) participated in classes about the appearance in the mind of the apparitional mode of reality; the manifestation to the eye of how things are; the manner of being, situation, condition and circumstances organized by Library of Tibetan Works & Archives LTWA.
- 20th December, 2023 Geshe ma Tenzin Deden, Geshema Tenzin Zangmo, Geshema Tenzin Lhadron, Ven. Lobsang Palmo, Ven. Thinley Choezom participated in the International Sangha Forum 2023 in Bodhgaya, Bihar.
- 17th and 18th January 2024 Geshema Tenzin Lhadron participated in the Asian Buddhist Conference for World Peace in Delhi.
- 21st February to 31st March 2024 Geshema Tenzin Zangmo attended a teacher workshop at Sara College organized by Department of Religion & Culture Central Tibetan Administration.
- 11th to 31st March 2024 eight of our nuns had the opportunity to participate in the second round Science leading workshop course organized by Library of Tibetan Works & Archives LTWA. Ven. Tenzin Norzin, Ven. Choeying Zangmo, Ven. Tenzin Menthok, Ven. Yangchen Dolma (A), Ven. Karma Dolma, Ven. Tenzin Thinley, Ven. Lobsang Wangmo, Ven. Tsering Lhamo.
- 12th and 13th March 2024, Ven. Lobsang Palmo and Ven. Tenzin Choedon attended the Consortium Conference of Tibetan Digital Library organized by Department of Religion & Culture Central Tibetan Administration.
Geshema degree
Before joining the final four-year Geshema Examination program, nuns have to complete at least 17 years of Buddhist philosophy in the five major texts (Perfection of Wisdom Sutra-Parchen, Madhyamika-Middle Way, Pramana-Logic, Abhidharma-Dharmkirti’s Pramanavartikka and Vinaya Doulwa Hoeden) and languages study in our respective nunneries and institutions. The degree will open avenues of employment and opportunity for the nuns.
We are very happy that the first Geshema exam was hosted at Jamyang Choling Institute in 2013 and everything went very well. Our first batch of six nuns completed the Geshema degree in 2016.
Second Batch: Eight nuns Ven. Pema Angmo Gurung, Ven. Yanchen Dolma (B), Ven. Tsering Chodon, Ven. Tenzin Pema, Ven. Karma Wangmo, Ven. Tenzin Dolkar, Ven. Kalzang Youdon and Ven. Nyima Yangzi will take 3rd year exam in 2024.
Third Batch: Nine of our nuns will participate in 1st year exam in 2024. In 2023, the Geshema Examinations were again hosted at Jamyang Choling Institute Nunnery. These coincided with Chokhor Duchen, one of the holiest days in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, which celebrates the first teaching by Buddha Shakyamuni. The candidates gathered in the nunnery 25th June for a preparation period of one month and the examinations began on 21st July with 132 nuns from seven different nunneries in India and Nepal.
Jamchoe Nuns Annual Debate
From 25th October to 18th November 2023, 54 nuns with two teachers, Geshe Konchok Jinpa and Geshema Lobsang Choedon attended the annual nuns’ debate at Bodhgaya. This is always a wonderful and exciting opportunity for nuns to share knowledge and wisdom. It also deepens our understanding of Buddhist reasoning and logic.
Our deepest respectful and heartfelt thanks we offer to our kind hearted teachers who have always been sources of strength and inspiration. Through their guidance, we have been able to make great progress educating the nuns.
Completed Projects
Three projects were completed in 2023.
- A three-storied building containing 42 rooms which provide living quarters for up to 84 nuns. Communal bathroom facilities are included.
- A 5000 litres cement water tank to provide drinking water.
- An additional cement path within the grounds.
Jamyang Choling Institute Nunnery is deeply thankful to all our supporters and friends for their kind financial assistance. We could not have achieved these projects without you. The aid rendered has brought immense joy to the lives of the nuns and also has taught them the happiness of sharing, loving and giving to those who have less.
Proposed Projects
Debating Hall: Jamyang Choling nuns practise debate, their primary learning method, for two sessions a day. Currently they have 3 hours when they do their debate practice outside on the grass. During the rainy season they are unable to continue with their debates outdoors and so their studies are affected. We would like to build a roofed debate area so the nuns can practise debate during the monsoon.
Admission
In 2023, six new nuns were admitted to our nunnery. Young women continue to apply to join our nunnery to access a spiritual path, a good education and facilities.
Appeal for Sponsorship and Donations
Individual sponsorship of a nun is a top priority at the moment. Sponsoring a nun is a wonderful way to personally impact the life of a young Himalayan Buddhist woman. Each of them needs USD 30 per month or USD 360 per year to sustain their living and studying.
We would like to call on friends and well-wishers around the world to please help us sponsor an individual nun. This is the best way to help the Institute function continuously and smoothly in the role of providing Dharma education and training to less privileged nuns and lay woman.
Funds are used to cover basic living expenses as well as medical care, teachers' salaries, maintenance and improvement projects. It is an ongoing struggle to find sufficient funds, and any donations are greatly appreciated.
We thank all our friends and supporters for your generous and caring support for our educational program, which we value so much. We are also grateful to those who have donated their time and energy to our nunnery, and to those who have encouraged and appreciated our work.
We wholeheartedly thank you for your continuing support of Jamyang Choling Institute.
With much universal love,
Tenzin Chodon/Nun
General Secretary
Jamyang Choling Institute
