Biography of Geshema Lobzang Chhodon
Origin and Childhood :
- Born on April 26, 1977, in Hansa, a high-altitude village in the Spiti region. Lobzang Chhodon grew up in a modest farming family with six siblings.
- She completed her primary education at the local government school and showed an early interest in learning and teaching.
Religious Commitment and Monastic Education:
- At the age of 13, she went to Dharamsala to become a nun with the help of senior Spiti nun Ven. Jangchup from Gaden Choling Nunnery.
- She joined the Jamyang Choling Institute, where she undertook a rigorous education in Buddhist philosophy, studying the five major texts under the guidance of esteemed teachers: Geshe Dhamchoe Gyaltsen la, (Director of IBD) Khensur Wangdak la, (Ex-abbot of Namgyal Monastery), Geshe Tsultim Gyatso la (Ex-abbot of Jamyang Choling Institute), Geshe Gyatso la, (Senior teacher of IBD), Geshe Nawang Tsultim la, (formal senior teacher of Jamyang Choling Institute)
- She received her ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1992.
Debates and Training:
- She participated in numerous philosophical debates, including the first Jang-Gunchoe for nuns in 1995, and received many teachings directly from HH. Dalai Lama.
- Simultaneously, she played a key role in the administration of her institute.
- In 2005, she underwent thyroid surgery, which left her without a voice for a year and a half. Through intense spiritual practices (including 100,000 prostrations), she gradually regained her voice.
- In 2011 following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes she has attended the four years Modern Science course organized by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives and Emory University.
National and International Contributions:
- She took part in several international conferences on Buddhism and Vinaya (monastic discipline), including in Taiwan (2002)
and Germany (2007).
She also served as a speaker and teacher at various Himalayan Buddhist events.
Achievement of the Geshema Degree :
In 2013, she was among the first group of nuns to sit for the historic Geshema exams – the female equivalent of the Geshe degree traditionally reserved for monks.
She earned the degree in 2016, becoming one of the first Geshemas in history.
Recent Activities :
- Buddhist philosophy teacher at Jamyang Choling since 2017.
- Active member of the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition.
In 2025, she was part of the delegation received by the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday
- Speaker and teacher at numerous events, retreats, and debates up to 2025.