Episode 3: Geshema Tenzin Lhadron | Three Cups Podcast

In this episode, we speak with Geshema Chopa Tenzin Lhadron, who comes from Zanskar and has spent many years within the traditional Buddhist monastic education system, studying at Jamyang Choling Institute and becoming one of the early candidates for the Geshema examinations. She draws on her experience as a nun, scholar, and teacher, to share reflections on the transmission of Buddhism in Zanskar, the changing relationship of younger generations with Buddhist education and monastic life, and teaching students from different backgrounds. We discuss how traditional shedra methods can be adapted for diverse learners, the importance of gradual study, questioning, and developing a deeper understanding of Buddhism as both a philosophy and a way of life. The conversation explores opportunities and challenges for Buddhist nuns, including education, teaching, leadership, gender and status within monastic institutions, generational changes, and the importance of teacher training. Geshema also reflects on her experiences beyond the traditional monastic environment and offers advice to younger nuns about their education, practice, and future roles. Topics: 01:44 – You were born in Zanskar, where Buddhism has traditionally been deeply connected with community life. How did Buddhism influence your life when you were young, and how do you see its role in the lives of young people in Zanskar today? Is there a difference between your generation and today’s youth? 08:32 – Have you seen the village where you come from making efforts to preserve the old traditions of Zanskar? 11:56 – In the past, children learned Buddhist stories from their parents, families performed rituals at home, and during winter people spent time reading scriptures. These traditions are gradually being lost. What is the community doing to preserve them? 14:42 – How many years have you been teaching different kinds of students, including foreigners? What have you learned from teaching people from different backgrounds, and how has their way of understanding Buddhism influenced your own experience? 15:19 – What has your experience been teaching people from different backgrounds, particularly foreign and Himalayan students? 22:53 – When teaching foreign students, do you use traditional shedra methods, or do you sometimes introduce different methods because shedra methods may not always work for them? For example, memorizing long passages, debating, and studying texts over many years – are these methods also applicable to foreign students? 23:56 – Many people turn to Buddhism today not necessarily seeking enlightenment or Nirvana, but looking for practical solutions to everyday problems, stress relief, and peace of mind. When teaching these people, how do you approach Buddhism? 27:05 – Some Buddhist philosophical topics are difficult to explain very briefly, especially when trying to make them accessible to students. How do you manage this? 29:12 – Have you developed your own particular methods or strategies in teaching over the years – for example, how you summarize texts or present difficult topics? 31:01 – When you were young, there were much fewer opportunities for nuns to study. Today, nuns have much better opportunities and places to study. If nuns want to go beyond the monastery and benefit people through spreading Buddhism, what opportunities do you see for them? 40:12 – Do you feel that geshes and khenpos have more power and status in society, with greater expectations placed on them? Do nuns themselves sometimes feel inferior to monks or see monks as superior? 43:06 – Do you see any difference between the young girls who became nuns during your time and the girls who become nuns today? How do they think differently, and what are the differences in their aims and aspirations? 48:02 – You have had many experiences in your life – you speak English well, have traveled to different countries, and have taught different audiences. What advice would you give younger nuns to help them find their own path? Many nuns may not have a bigger aim and simply remain in the monastery. What advice would you give them? 54:36 – If nuns gain valuable experience by going out and traveling, how can they explore the outside world and gain experience if most of their lives are spent inside the monastery? Find out more about the SINI Three Cups Initiative and Teacher Trainings: https://www.sinithreecups.org/ Hosted by Gangar Metok Produced by Stephen James Pigott (https://www.guruviking.com) and Senge Catherine (https://www.sinibridge.org/team/)