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50 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE
The Buddha Dharma
has no Gender
By Ven Dr Tenzin Dadon
Venerable Tenzin Dadon (Sonam Wangmo) was born in Bhutan in 1977.
She became a novice nun at the age of 16 in 1993 and received her
sramaneri ordination from HH The 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamsala in
1999. Venerable Tenzin holds a B.A. in Buddhism from Jamyang Choling
Institute, India, M.A. in Buddhist Studies from Delhi University, India
and International Buddhist College, Songkhla, Southern Thailand, and
Ph.D. in Gender and Religion from University of Malaya, Malaysia. She
has participated in many Sakyadhita International Conference for
Buddhist Women, as presenter, translator and moderator. She received
the Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards on 2 March 2012 at
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, for her contribution to Buddhist
women in the Himalaya region. Benny Liow interviewed Venerable
Tenzin about her life as a Buddhist nun and her projects to help Buddhist
Receiving the Outstanding Buddhist Women
Award, Bangkok, Thailand, 2012 women, including nuns, in Bhutan and in the Himalayan region.
Benny: You chose to become Bhutan talking about going to India
a nun at the young age of 16 to study in a nunnery, and I asked if
when other teenagers your age they could take me along. They then
would be more attracted in spoke to a Bhutanese nun leading a
movies, dating, and other worldly nunnery in North India who said I
attractions. What motivated you could join them. After I made up my
to renounce at such a young age? mind, I told my parents and siblings
Puja for devotees at the Thrangu Dharma about my decision as I needed
Retreat centre, Ipoh, 2017. Tenzin Dadon: Yes, I became a nun money to travel to India.
at the age of 16 but I was a nun from
heart since I was six or seven years Both your B.A. and M.A degrees
old. I used to tell my mom I wanted were on Buddhism, and your
to be a nun but she never allowed Ph.D. was on gender and religion.
me to. Since young I never had How did your academic study
interest in worldly matters. I prefer help you in your spiritual practice
to wear dark colored clothes like the as a Buddhist nun?
elders, visit temples and do prayers
Delivering a Dharma talk at the Selangor and during school holidays. I was very I have progressed much in my
Kuala Lumpur Paramita Buddhist Society, 12 happy with such activities and understanding and practice of
Oct 2019
never thought of dating or going to Buddhism after obtaining my
the movies. When I was 16 years academic qualifications, which also
old, I heard some Zanskari nuns in helped to broaden my horizon.
