Tenzin Palmo
United Kingdom·Drukpa Kagyu·Female·20th century
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo is a prominent Western Buddhist nun known for her extensive meditation retreat in a remote Himalayan cave and her advocacy for the rights and education of nuns. She is a teacher and the founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, dedicated to providing training for women from Tibet and surrounding regions. Tenzin Palmo has also taken on the cause of re-establishing extinct lineages of yoginis within Tibetan Buddhism.
Key Facts
- ›Born Diane Perry in England in 1943, she became a Buddhist at age 18 and moved to India at 20.
- ›She was ordained as a novice nun (śrāmaṇerī) in 1964 and received full bhikṣuṇī ordination in 1973.
- ›From 1976 to 1988, she lived in a remote Himalayan cave, undertaking a three-year strict meditation retreat.
- ›She is the founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India, established to educate Buddhist nuns.
- ›Tenzin Palmo advocates for equal rights and opportunities for Buddhist nuns.
- ›In 2008, she was granted the title Jetsunma by the head of the Drukpa Lineage, recognizing her spiritual achievements and advocacy.
Important Relationships
- 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche
- Vicki Mackenzie
- Ven. Bhiksuni Heng-ching Shih
- Ven. Bhiksuni Wu-yin
- Dalai Lama
- the Heroic Heart: Awakening Unbound Compassion. A Modern Commentary On the 37 Verses On the Practice of A Bodhisattva
- Into the Heart of Life
- Reflections On A Mountain Lake: Teachings On Practical Buddhism
- Three Teachings
Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh, India, Lahaul Area, Indian Himalayas, Tayul Gompa, Hong Kong
English
- BhikṣUṇī
- śRāMaṇErī
- Vow To Attain Enlightenment In the Female Form
Bbc's 100 Women List
About Tenzin Palmo
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, born Diane Perry in England in 1943, is a highly respected bhikṣuṇī (nun) within the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. She is widely recognized for her profound spiritual dedication, which included spending twelve years in a remote Himalayan cave, three of those in strict meditation retreat. This period of intense practice, during which she endured extreme conditions and lived in isolation, is a cornerstone of her spiritual journey.
Life and Historical Context
Born in Hertfordshire, England, Diane Perry discovered Buddhism at age 18 and moved to India at 20. In 1964, she became one of the first Western women to be ordained as a novice nun in the Vajrayana tradition, receiving the name Drubgyu Tenzin Palmo. Recognizing the limitations placed on nuns in the Tibetan tradition at the time, she later received full bhikṣuṇī ordination in Hong Kong in 1973. Her experiences living among monks highlighted the gender-based discrimination within monastic institutions, fueling her later activism.
Major Contributions and Activism
After emerging from her cave retreat in 1988, Tenzin Palmo dedicated herself to advocating for the rights and educational opportunities of Buddhist nuns. She has traveled extensively, raising funds for the establishment of Buddhist nunneries. In 2000, she founded Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India, to provide education and training to women from Tibet and surrounding border regions. She has also been instrumental in re-establishing the extinct lineage of Togdenmas, a Drukpa Kagyu yogini order.
Recognition and Notable Works
In recognition of her spiritual achievements and advocacy for female practitioners, Tenzin Palmo was awarded the title Jetsunma by the head of the Drukpa Lineage in 2008. Her life and work have been the subject of books, including Vicki Mackenzie's "Cave in the Snow." She is also an author of several books, including "The Heroic Heart: Awakening Unbound Compassion" and "Into the Heart of Life," which compile her teachings and insights on practical Buddhism.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo?
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, born Diane Perry, is a Western Buddhist nun in the Drukpa Kagyu lineage. She is an author, teacher, and the founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in India. She is recognized for her dedication to spiritual practice and her advocacy for nuns.
What is Tenzin Palmo best known for?
She is best known for being one of the few Western yoginis trained in the East, particularly for her twelve years living in a remote Himalayan cave, with three of those years spent in strict meditation retreat. She is also renowned for her vow to attain enlightenment in the female form.
What is the significance of the cave retreat?
Tenzin Palmo lived in a cave in the Himalayas for 12 years, including three years in full retreat. During this time, she practiced deep meditation, grew her own food, and endured extreme conditions. This period of intense practice is central to her spiritual journey and recognition.
What is Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery?
Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery was founded by Tenzin Palmo in 2000 with the aim of providing education and training to women from Tibet and the Himalayan border regions. It also works to re-establish the lineage of Togdenmas, a Drukpa Kagyu yogini order.
What is Tenzin Palmo's stance on the status of nuns?
Tenzin Palmo is a strong advocate for equal rights and opportunities for Buddhist nuns. She experienced firsthand the discrimination faced by female practitioners and has dedicated much of her work to improving their access to education and ordination.
What does the title 'Jetsunma' mean?
The title Jetsunma, meaning 'reverend lady,' was bestowed upon Tenzin Palmo in recognition of her spiritual achievements as a nun and her significant efforts in promoting the status of female practitioners within Tibetan Buddhism.
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