Ep344: Nepali Buddhist Nun - Guruma Dhamma Vijaya

Jan 16, 2026

Guruma Dhamma Vijaya, a Nepali Buddhist nun and scholar, shares her life journey from a Newar childhood in Kathmandu to her extensive training in meditation traditions. She discusses her transition from Vajrayāna to Theravāda Buddhism, inspired by feminist ideals she encountered during her studies in the USA. Guruma offers insights on meditation techniques, emphasizing breath awareness as the essence of practice, and highlights the challenges faced by bhikkhunīs in Nepal. Her reflections illuminate the intersection of spirituality and social change.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

First Encounter That Sparked Ordination

Guruma describes seeing a group of shaved, robed nuns at a Parita chant and feeling a strong calling to ordain.
That meeting led her to study with the teacher who invited her into monastic life and gave her texts to read.

ANECDOTE

Studies Abroad Shaped Her Path

Guruma recounts being sponsored to study in Taiwan and later in India, doing comparative Mahayana–Theravada studies and earning a PhD.
The overseas study shaped her practice and academic focus on Buddhist feminism.

INSIGHT

Breath Practice As The Core Teaching

Guruma emphasizes anāpānasati (mindfulness of breathing) as the core of the Buddha's teaching and the path to awakening.
She says awareness of breath reveals appearance and disappearance, the fundamental truth the Buddha realized.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

In this episode, filmed on location in Kathmandu, Nepal, I am joined by Buddhist nun Guruma Dhamma Vijaya. Guruma recalls her childhood in Kathmandu Valley, the religious life of her Newar Vajrayāna family, and why she turned to Theravāda Buddhism and took ordination as a nun. Guruma recounts her extensive training in Mahasi and Goenka meditation styles, compares tantric techniques to ānāpānassati, and offers her understanding of the essence of Buddhist teaching. Guruma details her educational journey, describes her life-changing encounter with feminism while studying in the USA, and tells the story of obtaining a PhD on the subject of Buddhist Feminism. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep344-nepali-buddhist-nun-guruma-dhamma-vijaya Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.  … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - Homage to Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha 01:54 - Blessing and welcome 02:33 - Question etiquette in different cultures 03:17 - Guruma’s Newar childhood in Kathmandu Valley 06:11 - Guruma’s education pathway to PhD 06:36 - Family dynamics 07:30 - First meeting with Buddhist nuns 09:46 - From Vajrayāna to Theravāda 11:12 - Desire to be a nun 12:48 - Attending a teaching by the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya 13:54 - The loss of the bhikkhunī ordination lineage 14:28 - Becoming a nun 17:54 - 4 years of study in Taiwan 19:20 - Meditation and further studies in Burma and India 20:02 - Studying meditation under Mahasi Sayadaw and S.N. Goenka 26:37 - Mahasi vs Goenka 27:37 - 4 points of Goenka meditation 29:10 - Ānāpānassati meditation is the Buddha’s teaching 29:55 - Guruma’s practie 30:51 - Vajrayāna vs Theravāda 36:27 - Body mantras and Vajrayāna threats 39:15 - Choosing Ānāpānassati over Vajrayāna 43:23 - Freedom from suffering 45:38 - The essence of Buddhist teaching 47:25 - Encountering feminism 54:58 - Messy status of nuns in Nepal 01:03:02 - Theravāda revival 01:05:39 - Tragic reason why Guruma’s teacher became a nun 01:08:14 - Buddhist pilgrimage sites 01:08:54 - Life is precious and exhortation to practice 01:1341 - Dedication prayer and blessing … Kathmandu Interviews playlist: - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU487LhF_mF4AkGek&si=4U8rRVEHKA4Z28oF Find out more about Guruma here: - http://tartaruspress.com/russell-rampa.html - https://www.arthurmachen.org.uk/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James