The construction of the Ratna Menling Nunnery started in 2002 on the opposite side of the valley of Dholanji. It is the only Bonpo nunnery outside Tibet. It houses about 80 nuns. About 20 senior nuns studying the 12 year academic program of Geshe degree at Bon Dialectic School of the Nunnery which was started in the year of 2010 by His Holiness the 33rdd Menri Trizin Rinpoche and more than 60 young girls are attending Sambhota Tibetan School in the village and also training the life of an ordained nun.
The academic program of the Tsungon Ratna Menling Nunnery is exactly the same as those of the monks at the Menri Monastery. The course of study includes philosophy, logic, Tibetan literature and calligraphy, poetry and grammar, astrology, Tibetan Medicine, rituals and meditation. The nuns also intensively study and practice the Bon traditions of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen.
The First Geshe Graduation Ceremony of Tsungon Ratna Menling Nunnery
In February 2021, His Holiness bestowed the title of Karampas to the first batch of five would be the first nun Geshe outside Tibet. In March 2022, the first ever Geshe Graduation Ceremony was held at Tsungon Ratna Menling Nunnery where the first batch of five nuns graduated and were entitled as Geshe.
His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche, His Eminence Menri Ponlob Rinpoche, Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup (Lopon of the Bon Dialectic school of Menri Monastery), Geshe Tenzin Kunchap (the head teacher of Bon Dialectic School of Nunnery), all of the Menri monks and Ratna Menling nuns participated in the ceremony and witnessed the historical event.
In the debate session, all nuns of Nunnery’s Bon Dialectic school and Geshes of Menri Monastery debated with the five nuns. The General Secretary to the Department of Religion and Culture of CTA was also there to represent the CTA.
Name of the first Geshes of Tsungon Ratna Menling:
- Geshe Sherab Palzin
- Geshe Samten Palzin
- Geshe Tsultrim Sangmo
- Geshe Phuntsok Tsulzin
- Geshe Tongyi Wangmo
View more photos of the ceremony.
HOW YOU CAN HELP Ratna Menling Nunnery
You can help the Ratna Menling Nunnery in the following ways:
- Sponsor a nun for $400USD/year (Provides food, clothing, stationery and other basic needs)
- You can also make regular or one time donations to support the following projects:
- General Fund
- Continuing education fund
- School uniform and clothing fund
- Health and medicine fund
- School supplies fund (for books, notebooks, pens, pencils, etc.)
- Tell a friend about the Ratna Menling Nunnery