Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo is a prominent and vocal advocate for women’s rights within Buddhism, particularly in relation to full bhiksuni ordination.
She supports the following organisations which are actively helping women and other marginalised people gain access to, and flourish in Dharma.
Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery
At the request of her Teacher, the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Jetsunma’s vision was to found a Nunnery to give young nuns of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage the opportunity to realise their intellectual and spiritual potential after so many centuries of neglect, and also to reinstate at the nunnery the Togdenma (yogini) tradition.
The Nunnery was named ‘Dongyu Gatsal Ling’ by the Spiritual Director His Eminence the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche Shedrup Nyima. It means “Garden of the Authentic Lineage” and was chosen because “Dongyu Nyima” was the name of the previous Khamtrul Rinpoche, who was Tenzin Palmo’s personal Guru.
The Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns
Jetsunma is the co-founder of the The Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns along with Tsunma Sangmo from Thosamling and Geshe Kelsang Wangmo from IBD.
The Alliance of Non-Himalayan Nuns (ANHN) is a international, non-sectarian organization committed to supporting women ordained as Tibetan Buddhist nuns from beyond traditional Tibetan Buddhist regions. ANHN is open to all and seeks to advance all existing organisations and communities committed to supporting these nuns.
Sakyadhita
Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women is nonprofit organization founded in 1987 at the conclusion of its first conference and registered in California in the United States in 1988. Sakyadhita holds an international conference every two years, bringing together laypeople, nuns, and monks from different countries and traditions around the world.
International Network of Engaged Buddhists
Jetsunma recently agreed to become an honorary advisor of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB).
INEB’s objectives are to promote understanding, cooperation, and networking among inter-Buddhist and inter-religious social action groups by acting as an information resource and facilitating conferences, education, and training based on Buddhist values.
