My name is Samten Choedon/ Pema Angmo Gurung. I was born in Marang village in Upper Mustang, Nepal. Both my parents are farmers. In my early years, I attended the local school in my village until class 3.
In 1997, at the age of 13, my uncle Rigzin Wangyal wished for me to become a nun and travelled with me a long distance from Nepal to assist me in becoming a nun at Samten Tse Retreat Centre Mindrolling, Mussoorie, Dehradun headed by Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche. At Mindrolling,I first learnt Tibetan language,handwriting,calligraphy and prayer rituals, chanting,performing musical instruments and torma making.Then, after a few years of Buddhist practice at Mindrolling, in 2002, I was admitted to Jamyang Choling Institute in order to do further higher studies in Buddhist philosophy. In 2003, I was fortunate to receive ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.At Jamyang Choling, the study program includes detailed and extensive study and debate of the five major texts (Prajnaparamita, Madhyamika philosophy, Pramanavartika, Abhidharma and Vinaya). I spent 22 years studying and practising at Jamyang Choling and finished the study of the five major texts in 2020. Then, I entered the Gelug Geshema examination and I graduated with the Geshema degree in 2025, I received my Geshema graduation and the Geshema damcha was conducted in Bodhgaya from November 4-6. My wish to study the major texts and practice the dharma is to cultivate my own mind and to be able to benefit others. I dedicate all of my virtues created from study, reflection and practice to the flourishing of the Buddhist teachings in general and the teachings of Je Tsongkhapa in particular to flourish. I dedicates all of my merits for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, all compassionate spiritual teachers and all the nuns of Jamyang Choling to flourish in their spiritual path. I extends my deep gratefulness to the Jamyang Choling community for giving me an opportunity to study and practice the dharma. I also dedicates for all wars and violence in the world to end and peace to prevail in the world
