Western Bhikshuni Timeline

A History of Western Bhikshunis in the Tibetan Tradition

In the 1960s, Western spiritual seekers connected with Tibetan Buddhist masters in Asia. As a result, Western Buddhist monastics emerged in the Tibetan tradition for the first time in history. Among them were women who not only ordained as novice nuns in the Tibetan tradition, but also received full ordination in the Chinese tradition. Learn about these nuns and other developments to revive the full bhikshuni ordination for women in the Tibetan tradition.