VEN. JETSUNMA TENZIN PALMO

BIOGRAPHY

On February 16, 2007 in Katmandu, Nepal, Venerable Tenzin Palmo was given the title of Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo at an enthronement ceremony given by His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa. This was bestowed on her in recognition of Tenzin Palmo's special qualities of body, speech, mind and activity. View the videos of Tenzin Palmo's enthronement Venerable Tenzin Palmo was born and raised in London. She traveled to India when she was 20, met her teacher, H.E. the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, and in 1964 was one of the first western women to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun.

After six years of study with her teacher, he sent her to the Himalayan valley of Lahoul to undertake more intensive practice. She lived with a small group of nuns in a monastery there for another six years, doing frequent retreats in the long winter months. Seeking more seclusion and better conditions for practice, Tenzin Palmo found a nearby cave where she stayed and practiced for another twelve years, the last three years in strict retreat. The story of her life and experiences in her remote Himalayan cave is described in the book Cave in the Snow: A Western Woman's Quest for Enlightenment by Vicki Mackenzie.

She left the cave in 1988 and went to stay in Italy where she taught at various Dharma centres.

Before her guru passed away in 1980, he had, on several occasions, requested her to start a nunnery. In 1992, the lamas of her monastery again made this request. This time Tenzin Palmo was ready to take on the formidable task and committed herself to this mission.

Due to the efforts of Jetsunma and the kindness of the many people who have responded, the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery is a thriving community, with the shrine room now nearing completion. Her focus has broadened to helping other communities of nuns throughout Southern Asia, and she has been able to help many nuns in situations of extreme hardship, who wish to study and practice.

Tenzin Palmo travels each year to give teachings and to raise funds for Tibetan nuns.

For information on Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's teaching schedule, her work, and Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, visit http://www.tenzinpalmo.com.

MEETING WITH HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA
by Tenzin Palmo

On the morning of Thursday the 6th June 2002 the staff and nuns Dongyu Gatsal Ling all crowded into a local hired bus and set off for the two hour drive to Dharamsala. This audience had been set up by Liz Thompson, the Australian film-maker who is producing a TV documentary on the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery. The first part was an interview between His Holiness and myself mainly concerning the issue of women's role in Buddhism such as the bhikshuni or higher ordination for nuns which is not available in the Tibetan tradition. Liz asked him if women could attain enlightenment and His Holiness said "What a stupid question!" and went on to explain that since all beings have buddha potential, how could women not also? He was surprised when I informed him that certain lamas had assured me that while women can certainly travel the bodhisattva path, at the last moment they would need to transform into a male body in order to attain buddhahood!

After the filmed interview which lasted nearly an hour, His Holiness emerged from the audience room to greet the nuns and staff who awaited him outside. He gave a short talk to the nuns, encouraging them to study and practise and assuring them that their female form was no impediment to spiritual advancement. Then he met each nun and staff member in turn, asking where they were from and handing each a large envelop containing photographs and blessed pills.

BOOKS AND TEACHINGS

• Into the Heart of Life


• Reflections on a Mountain Lake


• The Four Noble Truths


• How Negative Thoughts Create Our Difficulties


• Incorporating Buddhism Into Everyday Life


• Living a Meaningful Life


• The Six Perfections


• The Three Yanas