Kathmandu: The Office of Tibet in Nepal and its affiliate Himalayan Buddhist Library and Cultural Centre hosted the second Non-Sectarian Tibetan Buddhist Scholars’ Conference on 16 August 2024 in Nepal at the Kopan Nunnery.

This conference was particularly hosted for the nuns from various non-sectarian nunneries across Nepal. The event was mainly centred around in-depth discussions followed by Q&A sessions on ‘The Four Noble Truths’.

Ven Shri Chusang Rinpoche was called upon as the chief guest of the conference, while Tsepri Lopan Tulku Ngawang Chokdup, the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet in Nepal, was accorded as the special guest. The event also saw the presence of abbots representing different Tibetan Buddhist traditions, Tibetan Parliamentary Tashi Dhondup, former Tibetan parliamentarians Tsering Paldon and Dolma Tsomo, Tibetan settlement officers, heads of the Local Tibetan Assembly, members of the Regional Tibetan Women Association, and representatives from various NGOs and non-governmental organisations. Notably, the conference was also attended by the presidents of the Tibetan associations from the three provinces.

In addition, 250 nuns from non-sectarian nunneries in Nepal and 70 girls from Tibetan Schools in Nepal, including Namgyal Higher Secondary School, Namgyal Middle Secondary School, and Songtsen Bhrikuti Boarding High School, actively participated in the conference.

Moreover, the conference commenced with a representative introducing the seminar. It was effectively managed and led by Geshe Lobsang Jinpa, who presided over a rigorous dialectic debate between speakers from Kopan Nunnery, Nun Lobsang Khando, and Lobsang Rigsel, speakers from Pangshing Nunnery, Nun Tenzin Jamphel, and Thupten Paldon, and attendees from Tibetan schools.

The Vice-Chairman of the Nepal Buddhist Associations, Geshe Thupten Jinpa, and the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet in Nepal delivered concluding speeches at the culmination of the conference. Subsequently, the secretary, Karma Gyaltsen, delivered the vote of thanks speech.

–Filed by the Office of Tibet, Nepal