Pema Chödrön

Pema chodron 2007 cropped

Pema Chödrön (born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown, July 14, 1936) is an American Tibetan Buddhist nun and a notable figure in the dissemination of Buddhism in the West. She is a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and a teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage.

Early Life and Education

Pema Chödrön was born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown in New York City. She attended Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut, and later graduated from Sarah Lawrence College.

Personal Life

Before becoming a Buddhist nun, Pema Chödrön was married twice and had two children. She worked as an elementary school teacher in California and New Mexico.

Buddhist Path

Pema Chödrön encountered Buddhism in her mid-thirties. She studied under the guidance of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a prominent Tibetan Buddhist master. In 1974, she was ordained as a novice nun by the 16th Karmapa, and in 1981, she received full ordination in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in Hong Kong.

Teaching and Writing

Pema Chödrön is the director of Gampo Abbey, a Buddhist monastery in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has authored several books on Buddhist teachings, including:

• The Wisdom of No Escape
• Start Where You Are
• When Things Fall Apart
• The Places That Scare You

Her teachings emphasize the importance of compassion, mindfulness, and the practice of meditation.

Influence and Legacy

Pema Chödrön is widely respected for her ability to convey complex Buddhist teachings in a manner accessible to Western audiences. She has played a significant role in the growth of Buddhism in the West and continues to inspire many through her teachings and writings.

See Also

• Tibetan Buddhism
• Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
• Shambhala Buddhism
• Gampo Abbey
• Buddhism in the West