Ani is a prefix added to the name of a
nun in
Tibetan Buddhism. Thus, for example, the full title of a nun whose name is Pema becomes Ani Pema (akin to, for example, "Sister Anne" among
Catholic nuns)In Tibetan, the word ani also translates as
aunt, which has special significance in Buddhism as the
Buddha's aunt,
Mahaprajapati, is said to have been the first Buddhist nun. Concern over the status implied by the term Ani is said to have led some
Vajrayana Buddhist nuns in
India to prefer the prefix Cho-la (a Buddhist practitioner) or Tsun-ma (reverend lady) (see reference below).
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