According to the Buddha, the ongoing existence of the Dharma depends on the four factors: preservation of upasaka, upasika, bhikshus and bhikshunis—male and female lay and fully ordained practitioners. If one of them disappears the Dharma will also disappear, predicted the Buddha. Therefore it is crucial to preserve them.

The beauty of monastic ordination, among others, is that the lineage of ordination uninterruptedly flows directly from the Buddha to the monks and nuns of our time. This is important, because ordination can be transmitted only through an uninterrupted lineage.

Male full ordination has been preserved in most Buddhist countries. On the other hand, full ordination of nuns—bhikkhuni, bhikshuni or gelongma ordination, as it is known in different traditions—had disappeared in several places and became rare and endangered. Its preservation was primarily responsibility of the nuns themselves, nevertheless, they often lived in places where nuns were regarded inferior, less capable and received less support.

Today, many nuns aspire for full ordination and the voices in favor of reviving it often come from traditionally non-Buddhist countries, from western women who take gender equality for granted. Skepticism against it is usually related to the purity of the lineage and the question if male monastics can ordain female ones. While the popular discourse is often culturally tinted and not always friendly, the core question of reviving ordination is scholarly and based on thorough research of the Buddha’s teachings on the Vinaya and its commentaries, opened to giving up one’s habitual tendencies if proven wrong.

The discussions culminated on the International Congress on Buddhist Women’s Role in the Sangha, held 18–20 July 2007 at the University of Hamburg, which included key figures such as the Dalai Lama, Master Sheng Yin, Bhikkhu Bodhi, Ayya Tathaloka Bhikkhuni and other scholars and researchers who presented their findings. Prevailing research showed that monks had the authority to grant full ordination to nuns without the participation of bhikshunis and that this was practiced already during the Buddha’s time.*

Today Bhikshunis are still rare and few between. While there are countries in Asia that hold a strong lineage of fully ordained nuns and offer support to the nuns—for example, China, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam—nuns in other countries can experience great difficulties in seeking full ordination.

Buddhist communities tend to maintain their peaceful existence in part because they are slow in implementing changes. These institutions are conservative rather than revolutionary. However, once the change comes, it can be fully implemented. We’ve seen that in the education of the nuns in the Tibetan tradition. Himalayan nuns at first did not seem to aspire for geshema or khenmo scholarly status, yet early discussions led to new reflections, and after the first geshema degrees were granted in the Gelugpa school , other schools followed and now monks and nuns are receiving increasingly equal education. The monks themselves are often the nuns’ strongest supporters. Slowly implemented changes like that tend to be stable and pleasing for all.

In the Tibetan tradition, the ordination problem also concerns the tradition from which it has been received. While they can travel to a few available places in Asia to receive bhikshuni ordination in Dharmaguptaka lineage—if they can cover high costs and face plenty other difficulties—Tibetan lineages are Mulasarvastivada. Consequently, very few Western nuns received Dharmaguptaka ordination and Tibetan nuns did not pursue it.

Now this has changed.

From 14–20 November 2025, around 270 nuns received gelongma ordination in the Mulasarvastivada tradition in Bhutan. This was the second year that His Holiness the Je Khenpo, the main spiritual authority in Bhutan and renown Vinaya expert, has granted ordination. What makes it particularly significant is that in addition to Bhutanese nuns, this year it included two buses of Tibetan/Himalayan and non-Himalayan nuns from outside of Bhutan.

The new gelongmas came from Bhutan filled with joy, deeply moved and grateful to the Je Khenpo, the King, the Queen, and the Bhutan Nuns Foundation, which organized it, as well as Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, who was invited to ordain more nuns. Here are the reflections of Dr. Tashi Zangmo, the executive director of the Bhutanese Nuns Foundation, and the nuns themselves. These are followed by accounts from Bhutanese nun Gelongma Chojay Wangmo, Tibetan nun Gelongma Yeshe Tsomo, and Western nuns Gelongma Ngawang D. Dolma and Gelongma Yeshe Tsomo.

Organizer, background of the event

Dr. Tashi Zangmo

Himalayan Women on a Spiritual Journey: From Revival to Responsibility

For centuries, Himalayan women in monastic life have walked the Buddha’s path with deep devotion, yet without access to its highest monastic ordination. Many nuns believed that the only way to attain full ordination was to be reborn as a man in a future life. As one nun shared after receiving the first bhikshuni ordination from 21–23 June 2022:

I never thought this would be possible in this lifetime. I prayed only to be reborn as a man so that I could receive Bhikkhu ordination. I am deeply grateful that this became possible in this very life.

Traditionally, women in monastic communities were told that there were “other paths” to enlightenment and that full ordination was not essential for attaining buddhahood. While this may be true in many respects, an important question remained: why should female monastics have fewer choices? Why shouldn’t all paths be equally open, allowing women to choose what best supports their spiritual aspirations, as men have always been able to do?

As with all historic beginnings, the revival of bhikshuni ordination in Bhutan was met with hesitation and criticism. Objections were raised, written appeals submitted, and voices spoke out against the initiative. However, His Holiness the Je Khenpo made it unequivocally clear that this was the right time and the right thing to do. He remarked that if the Buddha himself were present, he would have said, “Shintu ney lekso”—“super excellent.”

With this confidence and clarity, the first ordination proceeded with full faith. On the opening day, as the ceremony began inside the tent, auspicious signs appeared—rainbows arched simultaneously above the ordination tents, the stupa, and the Great Buddha Thangka depicting the Vinaya precepts. The rainbow lingered for a long time. Her Majesty the Queen Mother observed quietly, “We may lie, but the divine beings above will not.” The sacred site itself carried profound significance, having been founded by Gelongma Palmo, the Indian princess and historical Bhikkhunī. The spiritual energy of the place was deeply felt by all present.

Due to limited capacity and uncertainty among some nuns—many of whom feared social consequences—not all interested candidates could participate in the 2022 ordination. However, once the ceremony concluded successfully and the newly ordained bhikshunis spoke of their profound spiritual transformation, inspiration spread widely. Requests soon followed for another ordination.

Organizing such an international event is complex. It requires substantial financial resources, an appropriate venue, and the availability of fully qualified preceptors. Ensuring the safety, logistics, and well-being of international participants adds further responsibility. As a result, it took three years to organize the second bhikshuni ordination.

While 21 June—the National Nuns’ Day and the birth anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck, Royal Patron and the founder of the Bhutan Nuns Foundation—remains the ideal date for major BNF events, the second ordination was strategically planned for 15–20 November 2025. This was done to commemorate the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan. Fortuitously, it coincided with the Global Peace Prayers convened by the Royal Government.

The five-day ceremony culminated in the conferral of full ordination on 265 nuns from 14 countries. One of the most moving moments was the alms round on the final day through the streets of Thimphu—an ancient practice rarely witnessed in modern times. Citizens made offerings with deep reverence, creating a powerful and visible bond between the sangha and the community. The bhikshunis received their first alms from their Majesties the King and Queen, and the ceremony concluded with a red-carpet welcome by the prime minister, ministers, and senior officials—an unprecedented public recognition of the newly ordained bhikshunis, honoring them with dignity, respect, and status.

While Mahayana traditions in countries such as China, Korea, and Vietnam have preserved bhikshuni ordination continuously, Vajrayana lineages long believed the lineage to be irretrievably broken. That belief changed in 2022 through the unwavering support of Their Majesties and His Holiness the Je Khenpo. After centuries of exclusion, Himalayan nuns finally received this long-denied opportunity.

Yet this is not the end; it is the beginning. Sustaining the lineage is now of paramount importance. History has shown that once a lineage is broken, revival is extraordinarily difficult. Continuous Vinaya education, regular rains retreats, mentorship, and strong institutional support are essential to preserving the integrity and sanctity of the bhikshuni ordination. We therefore humbly appeal to established Bhikkhunī Saṅghas around the world to guide, mentor, and walk alongside these newly ordained sisters.

From the outset, Her Majesty the Queen Mother envisioned a global Training and Research Centre where Buddhist nuns from around the world could come together to learn and grow in solidarity. Although still under development, the center was able to host the second bhikshuni ordination in November 2025—an important milestone and a profound fulfilment of this long-held vision.

We now look toward the final phase of this journey: the construction of a dedicated conference hall capable of hosting up to a thousand bhikshunis for future ordinations, Vinaya teachings, international conferences, and educational gatherings. This facility will not only support the preservation of a once-lost lineage, but will also stand as a lasting home for women’s spiritual leadership within the global Buddhist community.

We humbly welcome the support of those who believe in this cause—philanthropists, friends of the Dharma, and institutions who recognize the transformative power of investing in women’s spiritual education. Your generosity will help ensure that this historic revival continues to flourish for generations to come.

Even to follow a spiritual path is not easy for those who wish to grow. It is only easy if one chooses not to dream further. Dreamers inevitably face resistance, yet progress has never come without challenge. As Shantideva wisely advised, rather than trying to remove all the thorns from the path, it is better to wear leather sandals and walk forward with courage and care.

May our bhikshunis journey securely toward enlightenment. Much has been accomplished, yet the journey continues. May bhikshunis around the world come together in solidarity, supporting one another, leaving no one behind, and ensuring that this sacred lineage remains alive, vibrant, and accessible for generations to come.

Dr. Tashi Zangmo, executive director of the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF)

Bhutanese Nun’s Experience

Gelongma Chojay Wangmo

I never imagined that I would one day become part of the true sangha community. In my youth, I had many ambitions and dreams of accomplishing worldly pursuits. I never thought that I would join the community of nuns after completing my studies. However, life unfolded in ways I could not have foreseen.

My entry into monastic life was marked by an exceptionally auspicious occasion. I received my initial ordination from His Eminence Dorji Lopon Ngawang Sonam Jamtsho in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Gyalyum Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck, Dr. Tashi Zangmo, executive director of the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), and other officials at Pungthang Dewa Chhenbi in Punakha. This moment remains one of the most significant milestones of my life, accompanied by many auspicious signs at the time of my ordination as a nun. Perhaps this is the nature of karma, we do not know what is written for us or where our path will ultimately lead.

While working with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation on the Second Gelongma (bhikshuni) Ordination, I initially felt uncertain about receiving full ordination myself. I lacked confidence and felt it might be inappropriate, as my responsibilities with the foundation required frequent travel to meetings and workshops. However, I was deeply inspired by the unwavering support of Her Majesty the Queen Mother for women, and by Dr. Tashi Zangmo’s constant emphasis on the importance of bhikshuni ordination for women within the sangha.

Through this work and reflection, I came to understand that fully ordained bhikshunis can bring about profound and positive change within society. The shared vision of Her Majesty and the Bhutan Nuns Foundation that “nuns should be agents of social change” resonated deeply with me. Nuns can serve as social workers, leaders, educators, advocates, and role models within their communities. Through their service, they can contribute significantly to the well-being of individuals and communities, both locally and globally. This vision has been a great source of motivation for me.

I feel deeply fortunate to have received full gelongma ordination from His Holiness the 70th Je Khenpo, Ngawang Jigme Chhoeda, the spiritual head of Bhutan, from whom I also received my novice vows. I am truly blessed to be part of the authentic sangha of the Buddhist community. This achievement would not have been possible without the guidance and support of Her Majesty the Queen Mother and the Bhutan Nuns Foundation without them, I may not have received this ordination in my lifetime.

This ordination marks a historic event in Mahayana Buddhism, as it signifies the revival of the bhikshuni lineage after a long period of disappearance. It affirms that women have equal opportunities to receive full ordination, pursue enlightenment, give teachings, and assume positions of authority within the Buddhist community. It also reflects the growing presence and leadership of women in Buddhism worldwide.

As a gelongma, I now feel that beyond our commitment to uphold the vows, we carry a profound responsibility. Looking ahead to the next ten to twenty decades, bhikshunis are expected to be able to confer full ordination independently within the sangha, ensuring the continuity and strength of the lineage.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to His Holiness for his blessings, to Her Majesty for her guidance, and to the Bhutan Nuns Foundation for its invaluable support to the Buddhist community.

May the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha continue to flourish.

Kardrenchoe la.

Gelongma Chojay Wangmo

Tibetan Nun’s Experience

Gelongma Rigzin Dolma

On 7 November 2025, all 53 of us left Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery for Bhutan for the bhikshunis ordination.

On 10 November 2025 at 7:00 p.m., we reached Druk Ralung Shedrup Choeling Monastery in Thimphu, where we would be staying for the next two weeks.

The next day, after noon, we all went to visit some of the nearby pilgrimage sites. One of them was Jagpa Melen. We also performed the Mahakala Puja there.

Over the next three days, all of us nuns went for the Kalachakra Empowerment from early in the morning until 4 p.m. The empowerment was given by His Holiness the Je Khenpo, Tulku Jigme Chhoeda. The weather was very cold in the morning and evening. Because of this, a cold that I caught during the trip worsened. But it didn’t bother me much, because my focus was mostly on taking bhikshuni ordination, receiving the Kalachakra Empowerment, and the subsequent pilgrimage. We were very busy, so I didn’t have much time to worry about my cold.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the living conditions in Bhutan. The food, the environment, the people. Everything was lovely.

There were nuns from different monasteries taking the ordination of a nun there. So we were around 265 women present there to take the full gelongma ordination, and it took five days to complete.

The vows were granted between 15 and 19 November. I received the bhikshuni vows on the 16 November 2025 at 2:06 p.m. from the Je Khenpo. He gave us new names. Mine is Jigme Tandrim Zangmo. At that time, I was so happy that tears of joy came to my eyes. All of this seemed very surreal but incredibly joyful. I felt as if a wish of mine had been fulfilled, which was very intense. Another important event was that all of us bhikshunis were going for an alms round, so for a moment I felt as if we had all reached the times of our ancestors.

It seems so amazing to me that even though times have changed so much, we are still following the discipline expounded by the Buddha. During the alms round I felt lucky and grateful. There was a celebration of giving donations among the people, not only this but all those who were donating were doing so sincerely with body, speech, and mind. It felt good to see the kindness and compassion in all of them. Seeing this incredible display of generosity, I felt lucky to be a part of this unique event.

I had thought we would go to Bhutan only to take bhikshuni ordination and then return to DGL. But once there, we had the auspicious opportunity not only to take bhikshuni ordination but also to visit several major pilgrimage sites, all in the precious company of our dear Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo.

The pilgrimage will stay in my memory for a long time. We had the good fortune to visit many holy places in Bhutan. We visited various temples, monasteries, and nunneries in places such as Paro, Thimphu, Trongsar, Punakha, and Bumthang. 

During our visit to Paro Taksang, we were very tired because there was a lot of climbing to reach the top. After visiting the temples in Taksang, we went to visit some different temples and from there we visited many incredible caves and holy places in the area. The path there was not good. Still, after visiting all the caves, we went down through the jungle while crossing the entire circuit of Paro Taksang. We had a couple of slips here and there but even after such a difficult climb, I felt very relaxed.

I liked Trongsar very much, because there we visited the Dzong which was the place of the Parinirvana of the Eighth Khamtrul Rinpoche, Dongyu Nyima. We recited some prayers there and Venerable Jetsunma told us some stories of Rinpoche. Tears welled up in everyone’s eyes. Not only this, we also got the auspicious opportunity to see the original belongings of Venerable Eighth Khamtrul Rinpoche Ji. As soon as we entered there, I felt an interesting feeling, I don’t know how to explain it.

I am incredibly thankful to Jetsunma, His Holiness the Je Khenpo, and everyone who gave me the opportunity to take the gelongma vows on this auspicious occasion. I will continue to strive to keep this vow as purely as possible. This is not only my responsibility, but also my duty.

Western Nuns’ Experiences

Gelongma Ngawang D Dolma

Complete – Grateful – Responsible

After the Gelongma ordination, I was asked what feelings arose in me. Three stood out immediately: completeness, deep gratitude, and responsibility.

When I decided to become a nun, after 20 years of being self-employed and running my own business in Europe, I made this decision with my whole heart—not halfway. I dedicated my life to the Dharma for the benefit of all sentient beings fully, not just partially. Before I was ordained as a getsulma, I studied many texts and the conference papers on restoring the gelongma ordination in the Mulasarvastivada tradition. It saddened me deeply to learn about the resistance rooted in the patriarchal structures of Tibetan Buddhism, yet at the same time a quiet hope grew within me—a sense that when the right time and the right spiritual leaders step forward, it would become possible.

And finally, His Holiness the Je Khenpo of Bhutan found both the courage and the proper Vinaya-based way to make it a reality. He first offered the gelongma ordination in 2022, and now again in November 2025, as part of the Global Peace Prayer Festival, granting full ordination to 265 nuns from all over the world. It was undoubtedly a historic moment.

During the ceremony of receiving the vows, I could not stop my tears from falling. I was so deeply moved by the feeling that, at last, I was becoming a complete nun. It was an overwhelming sense of wholeness, immense gratitude, and pure joy. Even now, my eyes fill with tears when I recall that moment.

My gratitude toward the Je Khenpo of Bhutan, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, and all the main figures who made this possible is beyond words. But I also wish to honour the many quiet helpers in the background: the assistant khenpos who patiently answered the questions of nervous nuns, who quietly adjusted our upper robes before we entered the temple, who guided us with such gentleness and who radiated happiness throughout the ordination days. There were also the countless helpers who served lunch and tea, who cleaned, who supported us with simple yet heartfelt acts of kindness. And, of course, all the members of the Bhutan Nuns Foundation who worked tirelessly for years to make this become reality.

The second most emotional day, after the ordination itself, was the day of the alms round that began at the home of the King and led through Thimphu. I had expected a few people along the way—perhaps offering an apple or an egg, but I could not have imagined what truly happened. First, we received a generous offering and warm personal congratulations from the Fifth King and the Gyaltsuen, which was so kind and touching. Then we continued into Thimphu, and to my astonishment the streets were filled with hundreds, even thousands of people who were overjoyed to see us and who offered alms with such devotion. It was beyond anything I had imagined—deeply moving and indescribably beautiful. At the end, the prime minister also offered alms, and lunch was offered to all. The kindness, love, and devotion of the Bhutanese people still leave me speechless. I have never experienced anything like it.

Now, I feel a deep responsibility to be an inspiration for future nuns. In the past, nuns were told that holding the full set of vows would be too difficult, while monks were never questioned in this way. Today, the Je Khenpo and other Vinaya teachers emphasize the importance of understanding the meaning behind each vow—why the Buddha established them, and how to bring their essence into the 21st century. As new gelongmas, it is our responsibility to uphold the vows with integrity and understanding, and to be examples for the younger nuns who will follow.

Gelongma Yeshe Tsomo

I am an Australian Nepalese nun undertaking monastic studies and philosophical dialectics at Jamyang Choling Institute in Dharamsala, India. Our academic curriculum is centred on the study of the Five Major Texts taught in Gelug monasteries.

I have long aspired to receive full bhikshuni ordination. My first Buddhist teacher who has introduced me to Buddhism was Ven. Thubten Chodron, the abbess of Sravasti Abbey who has been a bhikshuni for 40 years now. I am deeply inspired by her and her community, seeing how meaningful it was to live life ethically, with a simple lifestyle in service to others. My aspiration to ordain was further reinforced by encounters with Bhutanese gelongmas who expressed the significant positive impact the ordination had on their Dharma practice.

Buddhist teachings consistently emphasize that both suffering and happiness arise from the mind, therefore systematic mental training is essential for cultivating genuine well-being for oneself and others. Ethical discipline (sila) is regarded as the indispensable foundation for all higher stages on the path towards liberation and enlightenment. From this perspective, monastic life structured by vows provides a suitable framework for practicing the spiritual path. The Buddha’s own teachings state that a region may be considered a central land—a place where the Dharma flourishes—only when the fourfold assembly of bhikshus, bhikshunis, laywomen (upasika), and laymen (upasaka) are present. Since we appreciate the Dharma and hope that it will continue for a long time, it is very important to ensure that all four groups continue to exist.

For those of us who received ordination, the experience cultivated a strong sense of individual commitment and responsibility, dedication to take the precepts seriously and to fulfil our duties as members of the Sangha with integrity and care. At the communal level and with a long-term perspective, this ordination is also important in ensuring that future generations of nuns have causes, conditions, and supportive environment for receiving ordination. Our lives are very short, but I hope we can do our part to make sure that the ordination and the vows endure also in the continuum of the future generations of nuns.

The gelongma ordination was conferred by Je Khenpo over five days during the Global Prayer Festival in Bhutan. The event was made possible through the support of the Bhutanese royal family, particularly Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Tsering Yangdron Wangchug.

What particularly stood out to me was that since the moment we arrived in Bhutan, there was genuine support and encouragement from everyone, including the Bhutan Nuns Foundation, the royal family, the Desuung staff, all of the khenpos and loponmas, nuns, monks, and the lay community. Throughout the ordination the encouragement of monastics and lay communities alike reflected a strong collective commitment to the preservation of the gelongma lineage.

Another especially meaningful moment was the alms round in Thimphu. The alms round illustrates the reciprocal relationship between the monastic and lay communities that has existed since the time of the Buddha. It was moving to see the lay community, from elderly grandmothers to young kids, teenagers, families, and many monks and nuns come to join the procession and make offerings. Many had tears of joy in their eyes, a lot of town folks closed their shops to contribute to the alms, taking time from their busy life to support the monastics.

A monastic life is unique and precious. It gives us guideline on how to train our minds to develop self-discipline, how to be satisfied with few things, how to control our body, speech and mind to create a lifestyle that is focused on simplicity, so that we have more energy and time for meaningful aspirations, such as trying to benefit our community and develop our spiritual goals, living in harmony with the environment and all sentient beings. If you understand monastic life deeply, you can see the entire path to liberation in it.

The experience of gelongma ordination felt significantly different to my novice ordination, although it was very meaningful, nevertheless, when I received full ordination, I finally felt like a full member of the sangha. 

Sometimes people ask me about the amount of the vows that we now keep. Since ordination, I never felt in any way that there are too many vows. Far from experiencing them as restrictive, I feel that the vows function as the Buddha’s practical guidance to support us in training our body, speech, and mind. It is said that the more vows we have, as long as we keep them properly, our merit increases.

Since returning to India, I’ve felt deep gratitude for everybody’s support—my teachers, the monastic community and lay community. Everyone has been immensely supportive in helping me integrate back into the nuns’ community in Dharamsala, including providing Vinaya texts and helping with studying and practicing the monastic vows and participating in monthly activities such as Sojong. After the ordination, many nuns in Dharamsala also expressed their heartfelt wish to take full ordination in the future.

I hope that we may always have the fortune to receive and practice the gelongma vows in all our future lives. I hope that we will always be mindful of our ethical precepts for the rest of our lives and that we eventually attain the perfection of ethics.

* Establishment of the Bhikshuni Nuns’ Order in India (Study Buddhism)

See more

International Congress on Buddhist Women’s Role in the Sangha Bhikshuni Vinaya and Ordination Lineages
Bhutan Nuns Foundation
Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns

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Daughters of the Buddha: Unmun-sa, a Wellspring of Bhikshuni Ordination in South Korea, Part One
Daughters of the Buddha: Progress on the Path of Female Ordination – A Conversation with Ven. Dhammananda Bhikkhuni
Buddhist Women’s Orders Return to their Ancestral Motherlands: First International Theravada Bhikkhuni Ordination in Bangladesh
Buddhistdoor View: New Theravada Bhikkhuni Ordinations a Cause for Joy
Gelongma Dompa (dgeslongma’i sdom pa): The Blessing of Bhikshuni Ordination in Bhutan

About the Authors

Olivier Adam

Olivier Adam, a physicist by training, works as a freelance photographer and teaches photography at a technical college in Paris. He documents the teachings of numerous Tibetan masters around the world, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. For more than fifteen years, he has been working on a photography project focusing on the daily lives of Buddhist nuns in the Himalayas. Olivier regularly collaborates with various French- and English-language magazines and exhibits his work.

In addition, a collection of art prints is available for sale, with proceeds going to associations working to educate nuns in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Tibet.

www.daughtersofbuddha.etsy.com