Program Goal
We believe in a future of both male and female realized beings and Gurus.
Through mentoring, specialized curriculum and scholarships, Dzokden aims to support exceptional female practitioners and cultivate highly-realized female role models who serve as pillars of wisdom for this new era.
Our Aspirations and Why This Matters in our World
To manifest a Golden Age of peace and harmony, we must first address the fundamental imbalance that destabilizes our modern world. Khentrul Rinpoche has observed that the crises we face across many dimensions—environmental, political, educational, and societal—stem from a deep-seated lack of balance between the masculine and feminine aspects. The potential for ultimate happiness and peace is shown through the perfect union and balance of these energies. By empowering the feminine, we are not merely seeking social equity, but restoring the essential harmony required for global transformation.
In the Kalachakra Tantra system, every human being possesses both masculine and feminine aspects regardless of gender. The Masculine represents “method” (upaya)—the active, compassionate energy that engages with the world. The Feminine represents “Wisdom” (prajna)—the empty, luminous, and nurturing space of profound insight. Just as a mother provides the space (the womb) for a life to grow, the feminine aspect provides the “Wisdom space” for enlightenment to occur. Without this nurturing space, the masculine “Method” has nowhere to ground itself. When the masculine and feminine aspects are imbalanced or one is suppressed, our world reflects that chaos. Only when Wisdom and Method are perfectly united can we actualize our ultimate spiritual potential.
Rinpoche is committed to highlighting the feminine aspect of the Kalachakra—including Taranatha’s rare empowerment of Visvamātā. His teachings honor the legacy of great Tibetan Buddhist female masters such as Machig Labdrön and Kunga Trinley Wangmo, ensuring their wisdom guides a new generation of leaders. While Tibetan culture has a long history of intensive training, the search for such potential has historically focused on male candidates.
Current Program Activities
Scholarships for Advanced Dedicated Female Practitioners
Education on the Feminine Aspect in Dharma
Creation of Sacred Art Representations of Female Practitioners