Jetsun Kachod Wangmo

Jetsun Khacho Wangmo, also known as Ani Sherab Chotso Rinpoche, is one of the few female Lamas in Tibet.  She has the authorization to give empowerments and teaching, and has been recognized by many to be a living emanation of Tara, a Bodhisattva and important female representation of enlightenment and compassion in Tibetan Buddhism.  In her immediately preceding incarnation, Jetsunma was Chimey Wangmo a physician and accomplished yogini, and the daughter of the great Adzom Drukpa (1842-1924). Her brother at that time, Pema Wangyal, is also her brother, Adzom Rinpoche, in this lifetime. They continue their Dharma activity together to benefit all beings and carry on the teachings of the Adzom lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Born in Eastern Tibet in 1975, Jetsunma entered a monastic college when she was 7 and began a rigorous study of Buddhist texts. At 13, she took vows and officially became a nun. In 2001 at the age of 26, her studies were interrupted when she was within a year of attaining the highly respected degree of Khenpo under the late HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche. Only her recognition as a Tulku enabled Jetsunma to receive such a thorough education, and both she and Adzom Rinpoche are deeply committed to making such training available to all nuns in Tibet. She also works tirelessly to support nuns’ practice by improving their health and living conditions.

Since her early childhood, Jetsunma has had visions of Green Tara. She once told a newspaper reporter, “It does not change. It just gets stronger. It brings forth a lot of joy and a lot of bliss. The hope is that the student will have the same joy and the same bliss.”
Although usually working behind the scenes during Adzom Rinpoche’s teaching tours, Jetsunma has offered Green Tara and Chenrezig initiations throughout the US. Her Tara empowerments usually cause a significant number of the recipients to weep with love. Many report that her incredible sweetness and inner and outer beauty confound them; they cannot take their eyes off her.

The radiant purity of Jetsunma’s voice has the same inspiring effect. She has sung innumerable times for public programs, or at special occasions during retreats around the country. Her three CDs:

are available from the bookstores at Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, CO, and Dawn Mountain in Houston. Laughter of the Dakinis is also carried by Snow Lion Publications. In addition, she has recorded three practice liturgy CDs for those who have received the appropriate teachings.

In December, 2004, Adzom Rinpoche, Jetsunma, and many of us from the White Jewel Mountain Sangha made our first visit to what is now our land grant. At that time, Rinpoche predicted that in future years Jetsunma would reside on this land and train Western monastics. She looked around the land, gave us a Mona Lisa smile and quietly nodded. We have already invited her for a couple of months each summer to teach and direct retreatants. She has accepted our invitation----for when we have a place for her to stay.  What a wonderful reason to get our first building constructed as quickly as possible.