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Latest comment: 3 months ago3 comments3 people in discussion
Embarrassing. How was an editor able to publish this page with the wrong name?
Lesson:
1. A monk is an ordained man ; a nun is an ordained woman.
2. The word 'lama' is a title, bestowed by a wisdom holder on a nun or monk who has gained wisdom.
3. Not all monks are lamas.
4. Again, nuns can also be lamas.
5. If a lama progresses to become a Khenpo or Khenmo, you call them Khenpo or Khenmo.
6. If a Khenpo or Khenmo becomes a Rinpoche, you don't keep on referring to them as Lama.
7. Likewise, you would never refer to a head of a Tibetan Buddhist school - the Karmapa, Dalai Lama, Sakya Trinzen - as just a lama, since they've progressed far beyond that title.
8. There are monasteries (monks) and nunneries (nuns). So-called 'lamaseries' do not exist - and using the word reveals a lack of comprehension.
9. Example : In hospitals, if a floor sweeper is not a nurse, you don't call them a nurse. If a medical technician or a doctor is being written about, you don't automatically call them a nurse - each has different levels of educational attainment, of professional requirements. Simple. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 49.126.21.197 (talk) 11:32, 19 June 2024 (UTC)Reply
10. Equal to Khenpos/Khenmos are Geshes/Geshemas. Their titles signify their doctoral degrees in Buddhist philosophy.
11. Exceptions : The word Lama can be found in proper names, as in the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Sonam Lama who was Machik Labdron's teacher, and the like.