Tenzin Palmo

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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo (born Diane Perry in Hertfordshire , England on June 30, 1943 ) is a British Buddhist nun in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism .

Life

Diane Perry grew up in London , where she first encountered Buddhism in her youth . In 1964 she traveled to India in search of her spiritual path and there met Khamtrül Rinpoche from the Drukpa lineage , who became her guru . She stayed at the Khampagar Monastery in Tashi Jong in Himachal Pradesh , India , for six years . She was one of the first occidental women to receive full ordination as a Tibetan Buddhist nun and has lived under the name Tenzin Palmo since then. Khamtrül Rinpoche sent them to a small monastery in Lahaul . She later described the disadvantage that women experienced there in Buddhist monasteries with the words “When I lived in the small monastery in Lahaul, I had to realize that nuns were given no opportunity to study and had no access to higher knowledge, no matter how intelligent and devoted they were too. This made me extremely sad because the monks received all the teachings and were able to withdraw. Nuns, on the other hand, were simply overlooked and treated as servants. "

retreat

In 1976 she decided to meditate in the greatest possible seclusion to deepen her spiritual practice and lived for twelve years in a mountain cave on the border between Himachal Pradesh and Tibet . The cave was about three meters wide and less than two meters deep. She took care of herself and practiced according to the Buddhist rules under sometimes extreme conditions, for example through the practice of only sleeping three hours a night in a sitting position, but also persevering in extreme weather conditions of minus 35 ° C.

activities

In 1988 she finished her retreat , left India and settled in Italy , where she taught in Buddhist centers. The self-experienced inequality of men and women in access to Buddhist teachings as well as the request expressed by her teacher on several occasions led to the plan to found a nunnery, in which she was supported by the lamas of the Khampagar monastery. After extensive preparations, she founded the Dongyu Gatsal Ling nunnery in Himachal Pradesh in 2000. 57 Buddhic nuns now live, practice and teach there (as of 2016). The monastery offers courses in Buddhist philosophy , introductions to meditation, but also Tibetan and English language courses, as well as the possibility of retreats for guests.

meaning

In 2008, Jigme Pema Wangchen at Druk Amitabha Mountain in Kathmandu awarded her the title of Jetsunma (Venerable Master) in recognition of her own spiritual experiences and her achievements for women in Tibetan Buddhism.

On the one hand, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo has an important meaning with regard to the emancipation of women in Buddhism, especially with regard to access to the teachings and the development of a female spirituality . On the other hand, it plays an important role in communicating Buddhist practice and teaching in Western countries. She teaches in European and American Buddhist centers and gives introductions to Buddhist meditation practice.

Fonts in German

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo at Drukpa Germany
  2. ↑ Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery
  3. ↑ Tenzin Palmo on Dakini Power

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Palmo, Tenzin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin (full name); Perry, Diane
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British Buddhist nun in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism
DATE OF BIRTH June 30, 1943
PLACE OF BIRTH Hertfordshire , England