Respected all our dharma friends, supporters and well-wishers, Sincere greeting from Jamyang Choling Institute. We hope this finds you all well and in good health.
General Information
Jamyang Choling Institute (JCI) is an Educational Institute for the Himalayan Buddhist Women who would otherwise have no opportunity to study and practice. Jamyang Choling Institute provides a comprehensive education program for Tibetan/Ancient Indian Nalanda Buddhist tradition/Wisdom that nurtures the spiritual and intellectual potential of Buddhist women.
Currently: There are 152 students and teachers, a total of 157 at JCI. The students range in age from 8 to 71 and come from various parts of the Himalayan region, including 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 in Buddhist philosophy. Tibetan, English, computer, Modern Science it has advanced a lot in the 21st century. So, logic is very important in anything in this era. And we have faith in everything and logic in everything. Buddha emphasizes more on the topic of compassion and friendship and administration skills.
Classes and educational activities: held form Monday – Saturday. Sunday is a holiday, allowing the nuns to clean the institute's campus and wash their clothes. Classes are held from March – June and end August – January. There is a summer break during the month of July and winter break in February during these times, student’s go for pilgrimage to holy sites and also visit their families. Once a year semester examination in end of June and annual exam end of January.
We have ten batches:
- 4th batch nuns are participating 4th year PhD Geshma Exam in 2025
- 5th batch nuns are participating for PhD Geshma Exam 2nd in 2025
- 6th batch nuns are completed 17th year studies course.
- 7th batch nuns Madhyamika- Middle Way- Uma 1st year
- 8th batch nuns are studying Perfection of wisdom studies- Prajnaparamita Parchin. 6th year.
- 9th batch nuns studying Perfection of wisdom studies- Prajnaparamita Parchin 1st year.
- 10th batch new admitted learning how to read and write.
- Apart from the regular classes in Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan grammar classes, Science class, English class and computer classes.
Executive Committee.
1. Geshe Tsering Nyarna Abbot (Khen Rinpoche)
2. Ven. Tenzin Norzin (General Secretary)
3. Ven. Tenzin Jampal (Accountant)
4. Ven. Thinley Chozom (Cashier)
5. Ven.Chhering Lamo (Examinator)
6. Ven. Lobsang Lamo (Assistant Secretary)
7. Ven. Yangchen Dolma (Examinator)
The seven members board of committee takes full responsibility for the management of Jamyang Choling Institute. The committee held a meeting every three months to discuss about administration, education, health care, 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.
Retreat: Many of our nuns wish to stay in retreat but so far, we haven't retreat rooms for spread therefore its bit difficult to manage but still many nuns stay retreat for short period and also long period. May 16th 2009: His Holiness advised the nuns to study continuously, work hard, and eventually returns to different regions of the Himalayas where most of them come from the order to serve other nunneries and the people thereby teaching and sharing what they have learned at Jamyang Choling Institute. We are deeply blessed and grateful to Your Holiness for imparting precious teachings and lectures to us and would like to thank you from bottom of our hearts. All have gone well under the blessing and guidance of HHDL and our dharma friends and well–wisher from all around the world.
Participation: 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 participate Emory Tibet Science Initiative from May 9th to June 11,2024 at Drepung Loseling Monastery at South India 3rd Summer Intensive program for nuns from 29 May to 28 June 2024.
Ven. Dawa Dolma. Ven. Lobsnag Palmo. Ven. Ngawang Chozom. Ven. Sherab Lhamo (A) Ven. Sonam Palmo. Ven. Kelsang Kinzom. Ven. Skalsang Dolkar.Ven. Tsering Yangkit Ven. Pema Wamgo. Ven. Sherab Lhamo (B) ten of these nuns participated Asian Buddhist Submit in New Delhi organize by International Buddhist confederation from November 5 & 6, 2024.
Ven.Tenzin Chodon participate Consortium Conference of Tibetan Digital Library organize by Department of Religion & Culture Central Tibetan Administration CTA January 15 & 16, 2025.
Executive Committee: Jamyang Choling Institute elected Board of executive committee as listed: In June 17th, 2024 we elected our new Board of executive committee (seven Team-work) elected by the nuns, 7-member Board comprising a nun, accountants, general Secretary, assistant secretary.
Geshemas Degree: Before joining the final four years Geshem Examinations we have to complete at least 17th years of Buddhist philosophies in the five major texts (perfection of wisdom sutra/ Parchen, Madhymika/ middle way, Parmana/ Logic, Abhidharma/Dharmkirtis Parmanavrtiks and Vinaya Doulwa Hoeden) and languages study in our respective individual Nunneries Institution. The degree will open avenues of employment and opportunity to the nuns, 2013. We are very happy that the first geshema exam hosted at Jamyang Choling Institute and everything went very well. Among that our first batch of Geshema six nuns completed the Geshe-ma degree in year 2016.
Second Batch: Geshema Ven. Pema Angmo Gurung. Ven.Yanchen Dolma (B) Ven.Tsering Chodon. Ven Tenzin Pema. Ven.Karma Wangmo.Ven.Tenzin Dolkar. Ven. Kalzang Youdon. Ven.Nyima Yangzi. Ven. Rinchen Dolkar nine nuns took 3rd year exam in 2024.
Third Batch: Ven.Tsering Lhamu Ven. Thupten Wangmo Ven.Rinchen Choezom Ven. Kalsang Lhamo Ven.Tashi Dolkar Ven.Tsering Yangchen Ven.Tenzin Yingsel Ven.Thupten Wangmo Ven. Sonam Palmo Nine nuns participated PhD Geshma 1st year exam in 2024.
Jamchoe/Nuns Annual Debate: From 25th October to 18th November end, 2024 thirty (47) nuns with a two teacher Geshe Konchok Jinpa and Geshema Lobsang Choedon attended the annual nun's 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. Upon the arrival of the debate participant nuns, prepared the annual examinations. After philosophy examinations in December 2024.
Ongoing project debate hall as Meditation center” Jamyang Choling nuns practice 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 practice debate during the monsoon. Jamyang Choling Institute, which is situated in the village of Gharoh near Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India. (Include Project cost as Title Proposed Debate Hall & Classrooms is attached with this request letter.
Admission As Suggestions: We are looking forward to providing as many education opportunities as possible so that we can teach many nuns good foundation of peacemaker or peace builders. We have planned to offer new admission around 25 more students so young women continue to apply to join our Institute many come from very isolated areas where they cannot access a good education or facilities if facilities allow us. There are enough living rooms available at the Institute campus but classrooms space and operating expense would be great challenge.
Appeal: We need considerable funds to cover basic living expenses as well as education and medical care, teachers' salaries ongoing debate hall and repairing. It is an ongoing struggle to find sufficient funds, and any donations or sponsorships are greatly appreciated.
Sponsorship for Nuns: another top priority at the moment for the Institute is to find Individual sponsorship for nuns. Each of them needs USD 30 per month or USD 360 per year to sustain which their living and studying you can also make a donation for specific purposes such as the building project, education, living expenses, medical care and so on.
We would like to call for friends and well- wisher around the world to please help us sponsor the afore – mentioned nuns so that this Institute could function continuously and smoothly as role of providing dharma education and training to the less privileged nuns a lay woman.
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.
Your support is indispensable for our ongoing success, and we give thanks and prayers for the well-being of all our supporters and friends each day.
You're sincerely,
Kindest regards from the heart
Tenzin Norzin /Nun
Chief functionary of Jamyang Choling Institute /Nunnery
