Jetsun Explained

Jetsun or Jetsunma (; the "ma" suffix is feminine) is a Tibetan title meaning "venerable" or "reverend." It is a specific term applied to revered teachers and practitioners of Vajrayana Buddhism. The title is applied to adepts and learned lamas such as Jetsun Milarepa. "Je" (Wylie transliteration: rJe) refers to those of high rank, including kings and nobles; "tsun" (Wylie transliteration: bTsun) refers to 1) those of noble rank, 2) those who are monastics, or 3) those who combine the three characteristics of being learned, noble, and good. The two together emphasize the honorific while "tsun" applies the term specifically to ecclesiastics.^[1]

In terms of Jetsunmas, the title could refer to:

• Jetsunma Chime Tenpai Nyima (rje btsun ma 'chi med bstan pa'i nyi ma) (b. 1756)^[2]
• Jetsun Chonyi Dechen Tsomo
• Jetsunma Dechen Wangmo
• Jetsun Dolma
• Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
• Jétsunma Khandro Yeshé Réma^[3]
• Jetsunma Kushok Chimey Luding, sister of Sakya Trizin^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}
• Jetsunma Niguma
• Jetsun Milarepa
• Jetsunma Mingyur Paldron, Minling Jetsunma Mingyur Peldron (smin gling rje btsun mi 'gyur dpal sgron, (1699-1769),^[9] daughter of Terton Terdak Lingpa^[10]
• Jetsunma Pema Trinle^[11]
• Jetsunma Shukseb, Shukseb Jetsun Choying Zangmo (shug gseb rje btsun chos dbyings bzang mo, (1865-1951)^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}
• Jetsunma Tamdrin Wangmo Kelzang Chokyi Nyima (rje btsun ma grub pa'i rta mgrin dbang mo skal bzang chos kyi nyi ma) (1836-1896)^[16]
• Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, a well-known western yogini
• Jetsunma Thinley Chodron^[12]
• Jetsunma Tsewang Lhamo (1874-1950)^{[17] [18]}
• Jetsun Pema, Queen consort of Bhutan
• Jetsun Pema, activist
• Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche
• Jetsun Namgyal Wangchen (1934-2015) one of Tibets greatest living masters^[19]

Notes and References

1. Das, Sarat Chandra. A Tibetan English Dictionary. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 1991.
2. Encyclopedia: Benard. Elisabeth. Chime Tenpai Nyima. . 2013-08-10. August 2012.
3. Encyclopedia: Ngak’chang Rinpoche. Mother Essence Lineage – Part 4. Aro Encyclopedia. 2013-08-10. 2013.
4. Web site: Jetsün Kushok Chimey Luding. Rigpa Wiki. 2013-08-10. 2010-11-18.
5. Web site: Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding. Rangjung Yeshe Wiki - Dharma Dictionary. 2013-08-10.
6. Web site: Biography of Jetsun Chimey Luding. Sakya Tsechen Thubten Ling. 2013-08-10.
7. Web site: Her Eminence Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding. The Chronicles of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. 2013-08-10.
8. Web site: Her Eminence Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding. buddhistwomen. 2013-08-10.
9. Encyclopedia: Chhosphel. Samten. The Second Dzogchen Drubwang, Gyurme Tekchok Tendzin. . 2013-08-10. August 2011.
10. Web site: Jetsunma Mingyur Paldron. Rangjung Yeshe Wiki - Dharma Dictionnary. 2013-08-10. 2008-11-27.
11. Encyclopedia: Benard. Elisabeth. Pema Trinle. . 2013-08-10. May 2013.
12. Web site: Dharma Fellowship: Library - Women Buddhas: A Short List of Female Saints, Teachers and Practitioners in Tibetan Buddhism. Website of the Dharma Fellowship of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa. 2005-2013. 2013-08-10.
13. Encyclopedia: Martin. Dan. Gyergom Tsultrim Sengge. . 2013-08-10. August 2008.
14. Web site: Shuksep Lochen Jétsün Chönyi Zangmo. Rangjung Yeshe Wiki - Dharma Dictionnary. 2013-08-10.
15. Havnevik . Hanna . 1999 . The Life of Jetsun Lochen Rinpoche (1865-1951) . Journal of Religious Culture - Journal für Religionskultur . 27 . 11 . 1434-5935 . 2013-08-10.
16. Encyclopedia: Benard. Elisabeth. Tamdrin Wangmo. . 2013-08-10. September 2012.
17. Encyclopedia: Ronis. Jann. Tsewang Lhamo. . 2013-08-10. May 2013.
18. Web site: History - the Trirab, the Khenrab, the Jetsunma. 2013-08-10.
19. Obituary for Geshe Namgyal Wangchen from H-Buddhism H-net