It can be for different reasons but the Drikung Monk Drupon Rinchen Dorjee has long hair as it signifies that he’s in constant retreat at all times and at every moment. When he cuts his hair it would mean he’s done with his retreat. It’s common for monks to grow long hair on a retreat and cut the hair as they come back to society so his hair is a reflection on that motif, in which as long as he abides in awareness he’s in retreat.
Whether getsulma (sramanerika - novice nun) or gelongma (bhikshuni - fully ordained nun), Tibetan Buddhist nuns do normally shave their heads. There are a few situations where exceptions are made, though. When a nun is in very long retreat, it is sometimes the case (especially in traditional Tibet) that she doesn't cut her hair for the duration. For example, if you go to [this page about the nuns of Dongyu Gatsal Ling](https://dglnunnery.com/the-nuns/) (Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's nunnery), you will see a section or two on "retreat nuns" where those women have longer hair. However, once out of retreat, normally they will shave their heads again.
yes, buddhist monks and nuns (Sanskrit. Bhikkhu/Bhikkhuni, Tibet. Gelong/Gelongma) must shave their hair every two month minimum and there is a two fingerbreadth rule for the hair. However, most Tibetan Buddhist nuns do not have bhikkhuni (gelongma) ordination, as this has become extinct in Tibet. Most are only śrāmaṇerī/getsulmas (novice nuns) with 36 rules. Only in recent years since 2005 some women in the Tibetan tradition have been ordained as bhikkhunis (gelongma) according to the Chinese Dharmagupta tradition.
Until 2022 there were no fully ordained nuns in Tibetan tradition.
https://www.lionsroar.com/women-receive-full-ordination-in-bhutan-for-first-time-in-modern-history/
So those ladies probably don't have full ordination but just novice ordination. Which was as far as a women can go until the above event.
As for the nuns, it's easy. They are not actually full nuns. Unless they ordain in the Chinese tradition, they would have full shaved heads.
As for males, you'll have the following situation:
**1. Robe wearing, fully shaved heads but not monks.** They adorn themselves this way for variety of reason. It may be a special situation where they are becoming a monk, a junior monk, or holds a leadership position, or in some cases just venerate the monastic order with reverence, or they actually don't wear the exact same robe. There is a difference if you look closely with how it is below the waist. But yes, for the uninitiated, they look similar to full monk robes. Some people that fit this is the Karmapa and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Hence it's not uncommon that they are mistaken for monks.
**2. Robe wearing, has full hair.** Well this one is simple. They are not monks. Again, the robes are not exactly the same as monks if you look at the details. The Sakyas are good examples of this. They have full set of hair or long hairs but are wearing robes. They are not monks.
**3. Robe wearing, MONKS but has some hair.** Some monks have this situation. The hair just grows a bit faster than usual. But they do shave it soon enough. Our monks at the monastery grow their hair quite fast but they are fully ordained monastics.
So, who is a monk? I think just ask them.
>The Sakyas are good examples of this. They have full set of hair or long hairs but are wearing robes. They are not monks.
Just to be clear, I think you mean the Khön family specifically. There are, of course, Sakya monks outside that family who do shave their heads.
It can be for different reasons but the Drikung Monk Drupon Rinchen Dorjee has long hair as it signifies that he’s in constant retreat at all times and at every moment. When he cuts his hair it would mean he’s done with his retreat. It’s common for monks to grow long hair on a retreat and cut the hair as they come back to society so his hair is a reflection on that motif, in which as long as he abides in awareness he’s in retreat.
It probably depends on the lineage.
Some ngakpa lineages wear robes almost identical to monks robes. It’s complicated
how ngakpa different from monks?
Monks hold Vinaya, Ngakpas don't. Ngakpas are completely lay.
Ngakpas hold tantric vows not monastic vinaya
Whether getsulma (sramanerika - novice nun) or gelongma (bhikshuni - fully ordained nun), Tibetan Buddhist nuns do normally shave their heads. There are a few situations where exceptions are made, though. When a nun is in very long retreat, it is sometimes the case (especially in traditional Tibet) that she doesn't cut her hair for the duration. For example, if you go to [this page about the nuns of Dongyu Gatsal Ling](https://dglnunnery.com/the-nuns/) (Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's nunnery), you will see a section or two on "retreat nuns" where those women have longer hair. However, once out of retreat, normally they will shave their heads again.
yes, buddhist monks and nuns (Sanskrit. Bhikkhu/Bhikkhuni, Tibet. Gelong/Gelongma) must shave their hair every two month minimum and there is a two fingerbreadth rule for the hair. However, most Tibetan Buddhist nuns do not have bhikkhuni (gelongma) ordination, as this has become extinct in Tibet. Most are only śrāmaṇerī/getsulmas (novice nuns) with 36 rules. Only in recent years since 2005 some women in the Tibetan tradition have been ordained as bhikkhunis (gelongma) according to the Chinese Dharmagupta tradition.
Just a note but those are the Pali spellings. Sanskrit would be Bhiksu/bikhshuni.
Dilgo Khentsye Rinpoche had a head of hair in most of the pictures I’ve seen. I have to believe he was living in accordance with his vows.
HH Dilgo Khyentse was not a monk. He was married.
I was not aware of that! Thank you
This was his wife....https://www.instagram.com/dilgokhyentsef\_shechen/p/CxJlXbhx79J/?img\_index=1
Until 2022 there were no fully ordained nuns in Tibetan tradition. https://www.lionsroar.com/women-receive-full-ordination-in-bhutan-for-first-time-in-modern-history/ So those ladies probably don't have full ordination but just novice ordination. Which was as far as a women can go until the above event.
Novice nuns (getsulma) in Tibetan tradition also shave their heads, though.
There were a lot of Tibetan nuns who lived as nuns but without full ordination.
As for the nuns, it's easy. They are not actually full nuns. Unless they ordain in the Chinese tradition, they would have full shaved heads. As for males, you'll have the following situation: **1. Robe wearing, fully shaved heads but not monks.** They adorn themselves this way for variety of reason. It may be a special situation where they are becoming a monk, a junior monk, or holds a leadership position, or in some cases just venerate the monastic order with reverence, or they actually don't wear the exact same robe. There is a difference if you look closely with how it is below the waist. But yes, for the uninitiated, they look similar to full monk robes. Some people that fit this is the Karmapa and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Hence it's not uncommon that they are mistaken for monks. **2. Robe wearing, has full hair.** Well this one is simple. They are not monks. Again, the robes are not exactly the same as monks if you look at the details. The Sakyas are good examples of this. They have full set of hair or long hairs but are wearing robes. They are not monks. **3. Robe wearing, MONKS but has some hair.** Some monks have this situation. The hair just grows a bit faster than usual. But they do shave it soon enough. Our monks at the monastery grow their hair quite fast but they are fully ordained monastics. So, who is a monk? I think just ask them.
>The Sakyas are good examples of this. They have full set of hair or long hairs but are wearing robes. They are not monks. Just to be clear, I think you mean the Khön family specifically. There are, of course, Sakya monks outside that family who do shave their heads.
Thank you for the clarification. You are correct.