Dharamshala: Sikyong Penpa Tsering attended the closing ceremony of the two-day conference on Women’s Empowerment in Tibetan Buddhism held at the auditorium of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamshala, in his capacity as the incumbent Kalon (Minister) of the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
The conference, which commenced on 20 May, was inaugurated by Kyabje Kundeling Tatsak Jedrung Rinpoche. It sought to highlight His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s vision and concrete contributions toward strengthening the education, ordination, and recognition of Buddhist women through institutional and spiritual reforms.
Key discussions over the course of conference focused on the institutionalisation of the Geshema degree, the recognition of 21 Tibetan and Indian female Mahasiddhis, and the possibility of establishing Bhikshuni ordination within the Tibetan Mulasarvastivada Vinaya tradition.
Jointly organised by the Department of Religion and Culture and the Dalai Lama Trust, with support from the Tibetan Nuns Project and the Tibetan Women’s Association, the conference also deliberated on the curriculum development in nunneries, institutional support for the Tibetan Nuns Project, the leadership role of Geshemas in society and monastic institutions, and prospects for greater international recognition of Buddhist women.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were former Kalon Rinchen Khando; Youdon Aukatsang, member of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project; Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture Dhondul Dorjee; Secretary of the Dalai Lama Trust Jamphel Lhundup; His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s longtime English interpreter Geshe Thupten Jinpa; Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives Geshe Lhakdor; President of the Tibetan Women’s Association Tsering Dolma; Ven. Thupten Yarphel; Academic Principal of Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, Geshema Delek Wangmo; Additional Secretary of the Department of Education (CTA) Tenzin Pema; and Head of the Women’s Empowerment Desk at the Department of Finance (CTA) Tsering Kyi, among others.
A total of 86 participants from 13 nunneries across India and Nepal attended the conference, representing all schools and traditions of the Tibetan Buddhism and Yungdrung Bon.
During the closing ceremony, Sikyong Penpa Tsering stressed that it was due to the astute and visionary leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that Tibetan Buddhism has continued to be preserved in exile, including the unprecedented conferment of Geshema degrees, regarded as a landmark reform in Tibetan Buddhism.
While expressing concern over the dwindling number of Tibetans joining monasteries and nunneries, Sikyong also highlighted a positive aspect of this trend: the growing participation of Himalayan communities in these institutions. He noted, “Leadership positions in these religious institutions are also increasingly being filled by Himalayans, such as the 102nd Gaden Tripa, Kyabje Rizong Sras Rinpoche, who is of Ladakhi origin.” Sikyong further remarked that this trend also helps ensure the continued use of the Tibetan language, which forms the foundation for the study of Tibetan Buddhism.
Touching upon the education system in monasteries and nunneries, Sikyong emphasised that their curricula and degrees should align more closely with the mainstream education system in order to create broader opportunities and livelihoods for those who, for any reason, are unable to continue their spiritual journey within monastic life.
