Opening Ceremony
The 11th Arya Kshema Winter Dharma Gathering for Nuns Begins in Bodhgaya
10 November 2026
This year 371 nuns have gathered at Tergar Monastery in Bodh Gaya to spend four weeks in study, debate and ritual. The nuns come from seven different nunneries in India, Nepal and Bhutan. The Arya Kshema is sponsored by Kun Kyong Charitable Trust, and this year’s gathering is being organised by Thrangu Tara Abbey.
The day began before dawn at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya when all the participants took Mahayana Sojong, for the restoration and purification of vows. The ceremony was presided over by the spiritual director of this year’s Arya Kshema, Kyabje Adzin Rinpoche of Palgne Monastery in Boudha, Kathmandu. The traditional offerings of robes and alms bowls were then made before the sacred golden Buddha statue in the lower temple of the Mahabodhi stupa.
Later in the morning, back at Tergar Monastery, an image of the Gyalwang Karmapa was carried in a grand procession from his private quarters in the monastery and enthroned on his seat in the main shrine hall.
After a mandala offering, everyone enjoyed celebratory sweet rice and Tibetan butter tea.
The nuns then offered the practice called: ‘A Ritual for Women’s and Especially Nuns’ Dharma to Flourish, Based on the Inseparability of Noble Chenrezig and Noble Ananda’, specially composed by the Gyalwang Karmapa before the inaugural Arya Kshema gathering in 2014. It includes the Mahayana Sojong ritual, recitations from the Bhikshunivibhanga and other vinaya scriptures, as well as supplications to Ananda and verses of auspiciousness. Ananda has a prominent position in relation to the nuns because it was he who argued for female ordination after the Buddha had refused it. A huge thangka hung behind the Gyalwang Karmapa’s throne depicting Avalokiteshvara. In this thangka, Avalokiteshvara is standing, Indian style, clothed in a saffron-coloured lower-garment, with Bhikshu Ananda emanating from his open right-hand palm and resting in space. The image illustrates the inseparability of Avalokitesvara—the Bodhisattva of compassion—and Ananda. At the front of the shrine hall, below the throne and thangka, an altar, with an abundance of offerings, had been erected.
Khenpo Choegyal, the general secretary of Thrangu Tara Abbey, concluded the inauguration ceremony with an opening speech to officially launch the 11th Arya Kshema.
Adorned with the vibrant patterns of eloquent teachings and the garments of scriptural reasoning,
Upholders of wisdom lift it high with the shaft of the three higher trainings, Radiantly crowned by the pinnacle of definitive-meaning meditation,
May the victory banner of the Muni's teachings wave proudly in all ten directions!
