Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s decision to become a Tibetan Buddhist nun arose from a convergence of long-standing inner inclination and specific encounters with the Buddhist tradition. From an early age she experienced a strong, almost axiomatic sense that a monastic life was her natural vocation, even though the religious forms available in her Christian environment did not fully resonate. This early spiritual sensitivity created a kind of inner readiness, a space in which a more fitting path could later be recognized when it appeared.

That recognition came when she encountered Buddhist teachings in her late teens. Reading about Buddhism, particularly Tibetan Buddhism, she found that its explanations of mind, suffering, and liberation articulated what she already felt to be true at a deep level. Rather than experiencing Buddhism as something foreign, she perceived it as a confirmation of her own intuitive understanding, and this gave rise to a powerful conviction that this was the path she was meant to follow. The idea of a dedicated monastic life, which had been present since childhood, now found a doctrinal and contemplative framework that matched it.

The decisive turning point, however, came when she met the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche in India. This encounter provided not only an authentic lineage and living example of the teachings she had come to value, but also a concrete context in which her aspiration to be a nun could be fully realized. Under his guidance, the abstract sense of calling crystallized into a clear commitment to the Tibetan Buddhist monastic path. In this way, her early yearning for renunciation, her profound resonance with Buddhist philosophy, and the presence of a root guru all converged, inspiring her to request ordination and to dedicate her life to intensive spiritual practice within the Tibetan tradition.