Tenzin Palmo

Tenzin Palmo became a Buddhist at the age of 18. She decided to chase her spiritual journey by heading to India to pursue her curiosity in Tibetan Buddhism. Here in India, she met her guru Khamtrul Rinpoche, who she asked if she could become a Buddhist nun and if he could ordain her. On the 24th July, 1964 she was ordained and she is now the second only Western woman to become a Tibetan nun.
Tenzin Palmo has contributed to Buddhism as a living religion through the endless work and fundraising to open the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery.   The nunnery was only achieved due to several years’ worth of fundraising by Palmo.   It opened in 2002 as a result of Tenzin’s hard work and it provided a place where nuns could be educated in Buddhism. This nunnery re-established a lost line of Tibetan Buddhism but also gave Tibetan nuns a place of refuge and sanctuary of equality that allowed the Buddhist nuns to follow their spiritual path. The creation of the nunnery also saw the opportunity for others to receive training and to be supported in spiritual practice. Her nunnery resurrects unique practices to help women achieve Buddhahood. These efforts, as well as her outspoken determination to achieve enlightenment in a female form have an immense benefit in inspiring other women on the spiritual path.
Tenzin Palmo not only dedicated her time to nuns who would otherwise not be able to receive an education but also to the wider public. Palmo has travelled the world giving seminars and teaching about Buddhism, which has contributed to Buddhism as a living religion. She has used her seminars and literature to address serious issues such as sexual misconduct, honouring the feminine, family and householder practice and anger. Tenzin Palmo has contributed to a raised awareness of Buddhism in the western world, in particular through her seminars and literature.
Tenzin addresses the struggle for equality and she fought for equality of female adherents which resulted in the allowing of the...