Jamyang Choling Institute Nunnery 2025 Annual Report

General Information

Jamyang Choling Institute (JCI) is an educational institute forHimalayan Buddhist Women who would otherwise have no opportunity to study and practice. Jamyang Choling Institute provides a comprehensive education program of Tibetan/Ancient Indian Nalanda Buddhist tradition wisdom that nurtures the spiritual and intellectual potential of Buddhist women.

Current Situation

There are 155students and teachers, a total of 160 at JCI. The students range in age from 6 to 73 and come from various parts of the Himalayan region, including Kinnaur Lahaul, Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar, Garhwal, Bhutan, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nepal and Tibet.

There are also a few international students. The Institute has a program that requires over 21 years of intense study to complete. The completion of the 17 years of study of the five major texts along with the 4 years of the Geshema studies program is equivalent to the program of study required for a PhD degree in Buddhist philosophy. Along with their philosophical studies, other subjects which are important in the 21st century such as Tibetan, English, Computer, Science are also taught at the institute. 

The approach of study applied at the institute is one of dialectics, discussion and debate. The Buddha himself emphasised his students to analyseand examine his teachings and not to believe everything that Buddha has taught simply based on blind faith. So, applying logic and reasoning tools to analyse and understand the meaning of texts is considered very important at Jamyang Choling Institute. 

Classes and educational activities

Classes are held form Monday – Saturday. Sunday is a holiday. Classes are held from March – June and August – December. There is a summer break during the month of July and winter break in January.During these times, students go for pilgrimage to holy sites and also visit their families. There are two exams held in a year: a mid-year exam at the end of June and a final exam at the end of December. 

In 2025, Jamyang Choling had eight study batches:

1. 4th batch nunsgraduated with theGeshema Degree PhDin November 2025 with excellent marks.
2. 5thbatch nuns are participating for 3rd yearGeshemaPhD exam.
3. 5th batch nuns are participating in the 2nd year of GeshemaPhD exam. 
4. 6th batch nunshave completed their 17-year studies on the five major texts and are participating in the 1st yearGeshemaPhD exam in 2026.
5. 7th batch nuns havecompleted theirMadhyamika- Middle Way- Uma course.
6. 8th batch nuns have completed their Perfection of wisdom studies- Prajnaparamita Pharchin studies.
7. 9th batch nuns have completed their2nd year (Dangye / Definite and Interpretable teachings of the Buddha) of their Perfection of wisdom studies- Prajnaparamita / Pharchin studies.
8. 10th batch nuns started their first year of philosophy classeson Dudra – Collected Topics. 

Apart from the regular classes of Buddhist philosophy, students alsohave classes on Tibetan grammar, Tibetan literature, calligraphy, Science,English and computer studies.

Executive committee

The Board of executive committeeelected by Jamyang Choling in 2024 continued to work in 2025 with 7 executive members. The committee includes:

1. Geshe Tsering Nyarna(Abbot)
2. Ven. Tenzin Norzin (General Secretary) 
3. Ven. Tenzin Jampal (Accountant) 
4. Ven. Thinley Chozom (Cashier)
5. Ven.Chhering Lamo (Examinator)
6. Ven. Lobsang Lamo (Assistant Secretary)
7. Ven. Yangchen Dolma (Examinator) 

The seven members are theexecutive board of committee and they take full responsibility for the management of Jamyang Choling Institute. The committeeheld a meeting every month to discuss about administration, education, health care, problem solving, and decision making as well as planning for the Institute's future. Jamyang Choling Institute is unique and among the first Buddhist women’s educational projects to be fully managed and administered by its own community of nuns.

Participation in Conferences, Seminars and Courses in 2025:

• Science for Nuns Course organized the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 24th March to 12th April 2025: Ven. Choeying Sangmo, Ven. Tenzin Metok, Ven. Tenzin Thinley, Ven.Tsering Lhamo and Ven. Lobsang Wangmo had the opportunity to participate in the science course.
• Conference: The Dalai Lama Center for Tibetan and Indian Ancient Wisdom - April 3rd – 4th 2025: Ven. Tenzin Lekzom speaker and Ven. Dolma Tsering presented at the two days conference in Bodh Gaya organized by The Dalai Lama Center for Tibetan and Indian Ancient Wisdom.
• 25th Anniversary Exhibition and conference of the Science for Monks and Nuns program, April 15th to 18th 2025:Twenty nunsparticipatedin the 25th Anniversary Exhibition and conference of the Science for Monks and Nuns program. The conference included an exchange of knowledge between Science and Buddhist scholars, monks and nuns in collaboration with library of Tibetan work and Archives funded by Sager family foundation and John Templeton Foundation.
• Tenzin Gyatso Monastic Science Scholar, May 2025: Ven Rinchen Lhamo graduated from her two years of academic study in Emory University, Georgia, USA as a Tenzin Gyatso Monastic Science Scholar as part of the Emory Tibet Science Initiative.
• 8th Annual Rime Conference of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, May 4th to 7th2025: Ven.Geshema Rinchen Pal and Ven. Lobsang Lhamo participated in the 8th Annual Rime Conference of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries held for 4 days ZongsarShedain Chontra.
• Emory- Science Summer Intensive Program, May to June 2025: Ven. Tenzin Mentok, Ven. Choeying Lhamo, Ven. Tenzin Pedtsel, Ven. Jinpa TharchinGurung, Ven. Tenzin Ningchat, Ven. Tsering Drema, Ven. TenzinYangdon, Ven. Tsering Yangchin, Ven. Tsering Lhamo, Ven Lobsang Tseyang, Ven. Tenzin Chozom(B) and Ven. Tenzin Norzom participated and graduated from their 6-yearEmory Tibet Science Initiative – Summer IntensiveProgram at DrepungLoseling Monastery, South India.
• Conference: International Buddhist Confederation, July 13th, 2025: 90th birth anniversary of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama –15 Nuns participated in a Seminar organized on the occasion of 90th birth anniversary of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama by International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).
• 15th Tibetan Religious Leaders Meeting, 2nd to 4th July 2025: Geshema Tenzin Deden participated in the 15th Tibetan Religious Leaders Meeting which took place in the assembly hall at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s residence.
• Seminar about mind, artificial intelligence and ethics,14th to 16th September 2025: Ven Tenzin Dolkar participated in a seminar about mind, artificial intelligence and ethics in Dharamsala.
• Mind and Life dialogue, 18th October 2025: Four nuns participated in a Mind and Life dialogue conference about Buddhist and Western models of emotion at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
• Science Translation Workshop, 2nd to 6th December, 2025: Ven Rinchen Lhamo, Ven Tenzin Petsel and Ven Lobsang Tseyang attended a translation workshop dedicated to discussion on translation of Scientific terms from English to Tibetan. The event was held at DrepungLoseling Science Centre, South India. 
• Science ResearchTraining Program, 7th to 20th December, 2025: Ven Kelsang Choedon, Ven Jinpa Tharchin and Ven Rinchen Lhamo participated in a research training program at DrepungLoseling Science Centre, South India. 
• Seminar on foreign exchange law and regulations, 3rd to 4th December, 2025: Ven Tenzin Jamphel participated at a seminar on foreign exchange law and regulations for organisations in northern and north-eastern India held for two days at Dharamsala.
• 2nd Global Buddhist Summit, 24th -25th January, 2026:15nuns participated at the 2nd Global Buddhist Summit organized by IBC held in Delhi, India.
• Offering of memorization of Buddhist texts for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birth anniversary, 5th-6thFebruary: 28 nuns participated in the oral examination of Buddhist texts to celebrate the 90th birthday anniversary of His Holliness of Dalai Lama. All the participant nuns got good results on the oral examination. 
• Tibetan Digital Library Association Gathering, 12th -13th March 2025: Ven Tenzin Youdon and Ven Tenzin Lhadonparticipated in the 3rd meeting of the Tibetan DigitalLibrary Association organized by the ministry of religious affairs of the organization. This meeting was focused how to preserve old books in the institute library.

GeshemaDegree:

Nine Nuns Graduated with the Geshema Degree in 2025

On 6th November, 2025, 9 nuns:GeshemaPema Angmo Gurung,GeshemaYanchen Dolma (B), GeshemaTsering Chodon, GeshemaTenzin Pema, GeshemaKarmaWangmo, GeshemaTenzin Dolkar,GeshemaKalzang Youdon,GeshemaNyima Yangzi, Geshema Rinchen Dolkar graduated with the Geshema degree (equivalent to a PhD) in November 2025 in the sacred land of Bodh Gaya with excellent marks. GeshemaPema Angmo Gurung was also successful in ranking 3rd place out of all the Geshema exam participants. The Geshema examination process is a rigorous four-year exam process where nuns are examined on the five major texts, Tibetan and Science subjects. Prior to entering the four-year exam, students must complete at least 17th years of Buddhist philosophy study in the five major texts (perfection of wisdom sutra/ Parchen, Madhymika/ middle way, Parmana/ Logic, Abhidharma/DharmkirtisParmanavrtiks and Vinaya Dulwa). The degree will open avenues of opportunity to the nuns.

On 21th – 22th February, 2026, we celebrated the graduation of the new Geshema graduates with a Geshema Debate damcha ceremony for two days in the new Debate Hall. All the nuns debated the Geshemas in the presence of our respected abbot, teachers and their family and relatives.

Participants in the 2025Geshema Examination

• 4th Year Exam Participants Nine nuns:GeshemaPema Angmo Gurung,GeshemaYanchen Dolma (B), GeshemaTsering Chodon, GeshemaTenzin Pema, GeshemaKarmaWangmo, GeshemaTenzin Dolkar,GeshemaKalzang Youdon,GeshemaNyima Yangzi, Geshema Rinchen Dolkar participated in the Geshema PhD 4th year exam and successfully graduated with the Geshema degree.
• 2rd Year Exam Participants Six nuns: Ven.Rinchen Choezom Ven. Kalsang LhamoVen.Tsering Yangchen Ven.Tenzin Yingsel  Ven.Thupten Wangmo Ven. Sonam Palmoparticipated in the Geshema PhD2rd year exam in 2025.
• 1st Year Exam Participants Two nuns: Ven Tsering Lhamu and Ven Tashi Dolkar participated in the Geshema PhD 1rd year exam in 2025.

Jang Gunchoe/Nuns annual debate

From 5th October to 11th November, 2025,thirty-four (nuns) with two teacher GesheKonchok Jinpa and GeshemaPema Angmo Gurung attended the annual nun's debate at Bodhgaya. This is always a wonderful and exciting opportunity for nuns to debate and share knowledge and wisdom with nuns from different monasteries. It is essential to deepen their understanding of Buddhist reasoning and logic.After the arrivalback in thenunnery, they prepared for theirannual examinationswhich was held the end of 2025.

Completion of the debate hall andmeditation center project

The construction of the new debate hall and meditation center project was successfully completed on 13th February, 2025. The nuns now use the debate hall for their daily debate classes where the nuns practice debate, their primary learning methodfor two sessions a day. The hall is also used for monthly night debate events and for other programs. Prior to the debate hall being completed, the nuns debated outside which was problematic during the rainy season as it affected their studies. The project to build this debate hall started on 17th November, 2024. We would like to thank all of the sponsors and donors from around the world for their kindness and generosity in supporting the debate hall project. 

AdmissionSuggestions

We are looking forward to provide many education opportunities as possible so that we can teach many nuns to foster afoundation of peacemakers in the world. We hope to offer admission to new studentsfrom isolated areas where they cannot access good education so they can join our nunnery and get the opportunity to learn. At the moment, there are enough living rooms available at the Institute campus. However, classroom space and operating expenses are still a challenge.

Vision for a Retreat Centre

Many of our nuns wish to stay in retreat. However, so far, we do not have any dedicated retreat rooms for them. We hope in the future, we can construct a dedicated retreat centre for the nuns, especially those who have completed their study program. His Holiness advised the nuns during his visit to Jamyang Choling in 2009 to study continuously, work hard, and eventually returns to different regions of the Himalayas where most of them come from and serve other nunneries and the people by teaching and sharing what they have learned at Jamyang Choling Institute. We are deeply blessed and grateful to his Holiness for always imparting precious teachings and lectures to us and will always persevere to live up to his vision. So far, everything has gone well under the blessing and guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our dharma friends and well–wishers from all around the world.

Appeal

We need considerable funds to cover basic living expenses as well as education and medical care,teachers' salaries and repairing especially the classrooms. It is an ongoing struggle to find sufficient funds, and any donations or sponsorships are greatly appreciated. 

Sponsorship for Nuns

Another top priority at the moment for the Institute is to find Individual sponsorship for nuns. Each of them needs USD 30 per month or USD 360 per year to sustain which their living and studying you can also make a donation for specific purposes such as the building project, education, living expenses, medical care and so on. 

We would like to call for friends and well- wishers around the world to please help us sponsor these sincere nuns so that this Institute can function continuously and smoothy in providing dharma education and training to the less privileged nuns and lay women.

We thank all our friends and supporters for your generous and caring support for our educational program, which we value so much. We are also grateful to those who have donated their time and energy to our nunnery, and to those who have encouraged and appreciated our work.

Your support is indispensable for our ongoing success, and we give thanks and prayers for the well-being of all our supporters and friends each day. 

Yours sincerely,

Tenzin Norzin /Nun

Chief functionary

Jamyang Choling Institute