The Geshe degree is the highest level of training in the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.
These women pioneers, now Geshe-mas, are among the first nuns to have accomplished this level of scholarship.
Their success fulfils a longstanding wish of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and marks a new chapter in the development of education for ordained Buddhist women and is a major accomplishment for Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhist women.
The Geshe-ma examination process is an extremely rigorous one that takes four years in total. During the 12-day exam period each year, the nuns must take both oral (debate) and written exams. They are examined for the entirety of their 17-year course of study of the Five Great Canonical Texts in an individual nunnery. Many young nuns are now now inspired to study hard and aim at doing this course. It is a challenge and honour they can strive for.
In 2022, 10 nuns from Jamyang Choling Institute will participate in the Geshe-ma exam.
