Solitary Refinement: How 12 Years in a Cave Can Change the World | Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo Q&A
Channel: Clear Mountain Monastery
Date: 2023-12-28

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo on the topics of Rigpa, training in seclusion and society, debate, female ordination, and much more.

To support the nun's community Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo founded and guides, along with her other initiatives, pleas visit https://dgli.org/tsunma-projects/

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's Biography:
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo was born Diane Perry in England in 1943. Inspired by Buddhism from a young age, she traveled to India in 1964 and was ordained as one of the first Western Tibetan Buddhist nuns by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa and training with the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche. She subsequently undertook a strict 12-year meditation retreat in a remote Himalayan cave. Returning from retreat in 1988, she began teaching internationally at the request of her late teacher. In the decade that followed, honoring his wish to establish a nunnery, she founded Dongyu Gatsal Ling, which now houses over 100 nuns. Recognized for her spiritual accomplishments, she received the title of Jetsunma - "Venerable Master" - from the Drukpa Kagyu Head in 2008 and continues working to promote female monasticism in Buddhism. Her 1998 biography “Cave in the Snow” by Vicki MacKenzie (https://www.amazon.com/Cave-Snow-Vicki-Mackenzie-ebook/dp/B002UM5B5K/) is a must read!

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To support nuns not in the Himalayas, please visit https://allianceofnonhimalayannuns.org/

Tune in with fellow practitioners every Wednesday evening from 6 - 6:45 pm or Saturday morning from 9:30 am - 11 am for a Dhamma Talk and Q&A with Ajahn Kovilo or Ajahn Nisabho. Saturday mornings begin with a thirty-minute meditation. Wednesday evening Q&A's are followed by a discussion on Zoom from 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm. See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

00:00 Introduction
00:23 About Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
01:45 Approaching the refined states of Rigpa
06:39 Advice to a Layperson in the midst of modernity
10:16 The recent book, The Heroic Art, and teachings on the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva
14:10 Study and retreats at the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery
18:58 Analogous to deeper concentration and contemplation in the Thai Forest Narrative, what is happening in that "Room"?
21:50 Integrating with society after 12 years in the cave
24:00 Cultivation of spacious awareness, and how it helped subsequently in more social roles
26:50 What was meant by "those in the cave with you"
28:15 How do we conceive of our path through lifetimes, and how do you conceive yours?
32:15 The state of the Bhikkhuni and Bikshuni Sangha right now
40:28 Ordination by Khamtrul and subsequent ordination in Hong Kong
42:40 The role of debate in a spiritual life
48:45 How should a westerner, new to this realm, conceive of these companions in the cave?
52:38 How can the community support you and your work?
54:28 Gratitude, and invitation to Seattle