Jang Gonchoe: Annual Debate Session
The Jang Gonchoe is a month-long program involving monks from various monasteries, who gather in a place called Jang in Tibet to practice their debating skills. Debate is an important method for deepening understanding of Buddhist philosophy, and the practice has been continued by the Tibetan monasteries in exile. In the past, nuns did not participate in the Jang Gonchoe, but in 1995 a debate program was organised for nuns from several nunneries in exile. Since then, BWES has supported this important annual event. It is a powerful means for nuns to strengthen their self-confidence and share knowledge with each other.
Geshema Program
BWES has played a pivotal role in enabling nuns to gain the Geshema degree. The groundbreaking decision to offer this degree to women was reached in 2012 in a meeting of senior Tibetan abbots and scholars. Preparation for the examinations take place in the nunneries and the exams are presided over by scholars from the various monastic universities. Once they obtain a Geshema degree, besides being in possession of a treasury of knowledge, nuns can more effectively assume leadership roles in the monastic and lay communities.
December 22, 2016 marked an important day in the history of Tibet as twenty nuns became the first Tibetan women to receive their Geshema degrees, equivalent to a Doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. The first batch of graduating nuns came from five nunnery: Kopan Nunnery in Nepal, Jangchup Choeling Nunnery in South India, and Jamyang Choeling Nunnery, Geden Choeling Nunnery, and Dolma Ling Nunnery in and around Dharamsala. They take the exams over a four year period, all four levels being given to the different batches each year. The exams are overseen by representatives from each participating nunnery, from the Department of Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, and from the Tibetan Nuns Project. 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 women. This occasion is also a milestone for the Tibetan Nuns Project, which was founded in 1987 to provide education and humanitarian aid to Tibetan Buddhist nuns living in India.
Geshema exams
The Geshema examination was, in 2016 , the year the first batch of Geshemas graduated, handled by the Department of Religion and Culture of the CTA. From 2017 onward, the administrative responsibilities were handed over to the nunneries, who then established the Geshema Committee which is made up of three members selected from the participating nunneries who serve a three-year term. The Department of Religion and Culture still remains involved offering their valuable support.
The examination takes place over a period of 4 years. The question papers are created by scholars from the three great monastic universities: Sera, Ganden, and Drepung. The exams are held on a rotational basis in Dolma Ling, Geden Choeling, Jamyang Choeling and Jangchup Choeling
Examinees must score above 40% in all main subjects. Students are also tested in Tibetan Language, Science and Tibetan history. The answer sheets are checked by the examiners appointed by the three monastic universities after which the results are sent to the Geshema Committee
2025 Geshema exams report
Tantric studies Program
After the monks have attained their Geshe degree, in order that they can become fully qualified masters capable of teaching their complete tradition, it is necessary for them to study the Tantric Treaties. Whereas the monks normally join one of the two main Tantric Colleges to do this, our original proposal was that the TNP would set up a program at Dolma Ling for all the recently graduated Geshema nuns from India and Nepal. Accordingly, in 2018 when 23 of the 26 nuns in the first two batches of Geshemas to graduate arrived, we started the program at Dolma Ling itself.
However, later it was arranged that the nuns would attend classes at Gyuto Tantric University where they anyway would have to go to receive the necessary empowerments and transmissions for the senior monks. This course of study generally takes around 12 months to complete.
The consequence is that between 2018 and 2024 the Geshe-mas were accommodated and provided with food and study facilities at Dolma Ling. However, the strain placed on Dolma Ling to accommodate them restricted how many young nuns could be taken into Dolma Ling. Therefore we added an accommodation floor to Yangchen Lophel (our new lay students study centre alongside Dolma Ling) which was under construction at that time. This provides 16 double rooms specifically designed to accommodate Geshe-mas studying at Gyuto monastery. They travel daily by jeep or on foot to Gyuto Tantric University for their studies each day. These arrangements are currently funded by the TNP under the Geshe-ma Tantric Education Fund.
2025 Tantric Geshema Program
This year, the 7th batch of thirteen Geshema nuns undertook the one-year Tantric Geshema program at Gyuto Monastery. The participants came from four nunneries, Gaden Choeling Nunnery Jangchup Choeling Nunnery, Kopan Nunnery (Nepal) and Dolmaling Nunnery and were accommodated in Yangchen Lophel, though they still are from the Dolma Ling Kitchen.
2026 Tantric Geshema Program
In April 2026 the largest batch of 47 Geshemas will join the Tantric studies program at Gyuto monastery. As 12 are from Dolma Ling, they will remain in their rooms, the 34 who are coming from outside nunneries will be accommodated in the Tantric Geshema quarters in Yangchen Lophel. In order to facilitate such a large number, we will be hiring a cook and starting the kitchen in Yangchen Lophel.
- Introducing science to the Nunneries
- Empowerment workshops
Opportunities for lay people
Yangchen Lophel Buddhist Study Centre
Yangchen Lophel Study Centre has been created as an institute where female lay students can attend Buddhist philosophy, meditation and Tibetan language courses. There are study facilities and accommodation for up to 32 students. This centre is primarily for those Tibetan women over the age 18 from India and overseas who wish to study alongside the nuns but cannot undertake such lengthy programs.
The construction of this facility is now complete and we are working towards the Inauguration in Fall 2027. Information about the Courses, facility and application process will be posted here.