Our Residents

Bhikshuni Thubten Saldon - Senior Resident Nun

Bhikshuni Thubten Saldon was born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay. Prior to meeting the Dharma, she settled in Spain, where she explored party life as a photographer in Ibiza island before choosing a simple country life working as an artisan. As luck had it, nearby where she settled in the Spanish countryside was a meditation retreat center founded by the late Lama Yeshe and Lama Zöpa Rinpoche. She visited the retreat center often and soon got into the practice and study of the Gelugpa tradition. She followed that path for 12 years, and attended Lama Zopa's teachings in Europe, Nepal and India. She feels forever indebted to their precious Lamrim teachings, and grateful to have been warned on time that her “hair was on fire” (there's no time to waste).

As a dedicated Buddhist practitioner, in 1997 she was offered a position at a nunnery in a remote village in Ladakh (India). It was in the silence and solitude of that isolated, bare, sandy valley, surrounded by impressive mountains, that Thubten Saldon realized the monastic life was the best option to maximize the benefits of her present, precious human rebirth. Subsequently she took anagarika vows in 1998, novice vows in 1999 with Lama Zöpa Rinpoche, and full ordination in Taiwan in the year 2000. 

Yearning to go back and participate in the challenge of bringing the monastic tradition to the West, she moved to Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, Canada in 2002. While there, her education about the Vinaya and  Kagyu lineages was furthered under the guidance of  Ven. Pema Chödrön.  Since that time, she has been a close student of Ven. Pema Chödrön.

During the last 15 years Bhikshuni Thubten Saldon has also taken time to visit and spend time at different monasteries like Sravasti Abbey and Vajradakini Nunnery. She also has been attending -- and sometimes organizing -- the yearly Western Buddhists Monastic Gathering. These monastic gatherings have provided opportunities to share and offer perspective on the challenges and beauty that monastic life represents for Western monastics.

Under the close guidance of Ven. Pema Chödrön, and with the kindest advice of her monastic seniors and friends around the globe, she has established Pema Chöling Monastic Community in Crestone, Colorado (USA).  Having established this community fulfills one of her aspirations, being able to support the Western sangha. 

Bhikshuni Tsering Lhamo, born and raised in Quebec- has trained at Gampo Abbey Monastery for 10 years. She was ordained as a novice by Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche and received her full ordination by Ven Master Thích Nhất Hanh at Plum Village, France .

She is acting as Pema Chöling’s Tenzo (kitchen master), a very important role in any community. The tenzo bears the responsibility of caring for the community's meals.