This year the exams were held at Jangchup Choeling Nunnery in South India. These rigorous exams take four years to complete, with one set held each year. The nuns are examined on their 17-year course of study.
The nuns must take written and oral exams in the form of traditional Tibetan Buddhist debate. Examiners supervise the debate, making sure that what was said was relevant to the topic; they intervene as needed.
The nuns cannot choose their own debate topics. Instead, they draw slips of paper on which three topics from one subject are written. Each nun can then choose one topic from the three options and debate on that. The nuns are given 15 minutes for each debate.
Deepest thanks to the Pema Chödrön Foundation and everyone who supported our 2019 Geshema Exam Fund to cover the travel costs and food for Geshema candidates. By supporting the education of the nuns, we are helping pave the way for future generations of nuns to follow in their footsteps.
The degree makes nuns eligible to assume various leadership roles in their monastic and lay communities reserved for degree holders. Hence it was previously closed to women.
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