It does not really change anything to complain to a young male Tulku that his organization isn't producing women Rinpoches, the question is more like how many women teachers are you going to send to teach us from your predominantly monastic institution? There will be nine that graduate the 3 year retreat at Shechen, those are nine women who potentially could teach you something within your own tradition (see first link below*), nothing is really stopping you from inviting one or two of them to come teach in the West if you seriously want to arrange it. It would be wise for the institution send women teachers to the West, giving them that equal opportunity, but perhaps if they aren't thinking about giving those opportunities to the women then you can think about starting to ask them from the practitioners side.Sonam_Phuntsok wrote:I asked Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche why there were no female Tibetan Rinpoches? My Dharma sisters have been discussing this issue for a while. They feel like they have no future in Tibetan Buddhism, and that as women, they will never be given the respect to teach like their male counterparts. I personally view my dharma sisters as equals to my dharma brothers.
I also asked Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, why does he travel around the rest of the world and teach when even in Tibetan Buddism they could not get rid of the disturbed mind which views women as ones of lower rebirth, and that this is having a negative impact on the dissemination of dharma around the world and subsequently the treatment of women according to Tibetan Culture.
He has about 15 Tibetan male tulkus studying at Shechen but not one is female. Also his Nuns which are in Bhutan make prayers to become men. He said that it is because of karma but did not wish to elaborate on the matter.
I asked him why his grandaughter from his previous life, Rabjam Rinpoche's mother, does not teach dharma even though she has attained the same realisation as him, and he said that her job was to be a mother not a teacher.
Mindroling have a female Tibetan Rinpoche so why doesn't Shechen?
You've said there are 15 males Tulkus and many monks as well, so as you know the male teachers will be coming to teach whether you invite them or not, usually the institution chooses a few star male monks based on their learning skills (potential as teachers) or Tulkus and just supports them to come over to the West, airline tickets bought, tour arranged, papers in order, places to stay, many institutions are like this, but most monks and Tulkus at Shechen and elsewhere won't have women pop into their heads when they think about who they are going to send to the West on the next teaching tour. Shechen's core is monastic, so it's not so much because a woman can't teach, or that there have been no realized women's voices, but it does have quite a bit to do with offering equal opportunities, as in so many things, if there's not much "demand" for women teachers then why would a monastic institution be thinking of sending a woman teacher to teach you.
*http://shechen.org/spiritual-developmen ... g-nunnery/
There have been numerous accomplished women teachers:
Chadud Rinpoche has said: "My mother was revered throughout Tibet for her extraordinary powers as a lama, but she was more famous for being a delog (pronounced DAY-loak)"
http://www.tibetantreasures.com/product ... duct=16924
The Sangyum: Recognized as a manifestation of White Tara and of Yeshe Tsogyal
http://www.tersar.org/sangyum-rikzin-wangmo/
Read some of the previous Dharma Wheel Topics on closely related subjects:
Dakini Power: Buddhist Women Speak Out
http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=17654
related:
"Dakini Power" by Michaela Haas w/Lama Tsultrim Allione
https://vimeo.com/64409587
Dudjom Sangyum in Thukdam
http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=17434
Female Masters of the past.
http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=7777
Which Buddhist tradition has treated women the best?
http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=18329
eligibility for enlightenment based on gender -- question
http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=20046