About the nuns

Daily Schedule of the nuns

Nuns of Geden Choeling Nunnery wake up at 5am and begin their daily morning prayers for an hour and half. They have their breakfast at 7 am and begin their classes at 8 am till 12.15pm.  There are seven different levels of classes taught in the nunnery from basic level of Buddhist studies to Pharchin I to VII (Prajnaparamita) and the highest to Uma(middle view school). Besides Buddhist studies, the nuns are also taught English language to communicate and understand knowledge of outside community.  
 

Our Vision

Many of the nuns who have been in residence for some years will go on to study for the degree of Geshe. After attaining the Geshe degree, they will become teachers for the nunnery as well as communities in the area and abroad.

Upon completion of their studies some of the nuns may go on long retreats while others will dedicate themselves to improve the position of nuns and women. They will offer short Dharma and meditation courses.

Our nunnery is not only for Tibetans but for every one who wishes to become a nun and practice the Teachings of the Buddha.

Every one is welcome to our nunnery to renounce the worldly life, and come for the simple life of a Buddhist nun.

All the administrative works of nunnery are look after by nuns themselves. General Secretary and her assistant execute all the administration works of the nunnery. They are elect from the nunnery and are termed for 2 years. Recently, Geden choeling nunnery has elected Tenzin Seldon and Tenzin Choeney as new General, secretary and assistant of the nunnery. There are other responsibilities for all administration work including disciplinary, cashier, kitchen manager, prayer hall manager etc. 

The general secretary works under supervision of abbot, who is the head of the nunnery and termed for three years. The present abbot is Geshe Lobsang Yonten. 

Currently there are nuns from different parts of India, like Ladakh, Spiti, and Himachal pradesh and there are even American women ordained at our nunnery.

The major subjects of the nuns study are:

1. Pramana [logic]

2. Prajna paramita [perfection of wisdom]

3. Madhyamaka [middle way]

4. Abhidharma [treasure of knowledge]

5. Vinaya [monastic discipline]

Besides Buddhist studies the nuns also follow English and Computer classes.

The Abbot [khenpo] of the nunnery is Geshe Loga.  He comes from Tibet and he finisheds his studies in Sera jye monastery in south India. Before he became the abbot, he was a teacher in philosophy at the nunnery.

There are currently five teachers at the nunnery who are teaching philosophy, Tibetan language, history and English.

Debate competition

An important part of the nuns study is debating. It is very useful for the nuns to test their knowledge and understanding of the Dharma and to share their experiences. 

Every year from September 10 to October 10, all the nuns from six different nunneries gather for a debate competition.

The debate competition started in the year 1995 with four nunneries.  The whole contest lasts for one month.  Every year a different nunnery hosts the event; in 2007 it was held in Dharamsala and the year before in South India.

Two hundred nuns take part in it from different nunneries like Nepal, South India and Dharamsala. In 2003 five nunneries participated in the debate competition and in 2006 eight nunneries were included.

In 1995 and 1996 it was held at Geden Choeling nunnery with a group of four nunneries taking part in debate from morning until evening.

During the day there are also classes and group discussions and in the evening a debating section. Every Saturday there is special group debate and during that time many high Lamas and Rinpoches from different monasteries and nunneries are invited.

We really hope in the future more nuns will get this opportunity so that they have the chance to share their own experience.

O holy and venerable Lama,

 from the clouds of compassion

That form in the skies

of your Dharmakaya

wisdom

Please release a rain of

vast and profound

Dharma precisely in

accordance with the

needs of those

to be trained.