On Tara Day (20th December 2023) it was a delight and honour to welcome a woman who really needs no introduction within the world of Tibetan Buddhism, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, who is now an unbelievable eighty years old. Jetsunma’s activities are hard to describe in a few words, as she is like an emanation of Noble Tara or Vajrayogini in human form, yet I will try. One of the first western fully ordained Buddhist nuns in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Jetsunma has pioneered by action and example the empowerment and recognition of the great capacities and potential of female practitioners and nuns, not only by spending twelve years in retreat in an isolated cave in the snow, but also from her founding and leading an extremely beautiful and thriving Dongyu Gyatsal Ling nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India. In addition, her accessible, relevant lively, passionate and honest teachings and love of the Buddha Dharma.

Jetsunma is also a passionate advocate against ethical misconduct and female inequality in Buddhist cultural traditions, but also an animal-lover who practices what she preaches with a vegetarian diet.

Turning eighty years old this year, Jetsunma is still going strong in terms of Dharma activities and giving teachings, attending Buddhist conferences and going on Buddhist pilgrimages, as well as kindly and graciously agreeing to the interview.