Our Teachers

These great beings we are related with by transmission and devotion are but a few of the many who have inspired and guide us in this specific part of the path that for us is called Pema Chöling Community. The real truth is that the list is infinite.

With all our love and gratitude we aspire to see this tiny community take roots, become stable and flourish in order to benefit all sentient beings. We also hope to have sound merits to offer for the long life of our teachers.

Ven. Pema Chödrön - Primary Teacher, Mentor, Benefactor

Beloved Buddhist teacher, author, nun and mother, Pema Chödrön has inspired millions of people from around the world who have been touched by her example and message of practicing peace in these turbulent times.

Born in New York City, she encountered Buddhism in her mid-thirties, when she met Lama Chime Rinpoche while traveling in Europe. She received novice ordination from His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa in London in 1974, and full monastic ordination in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong. 

Pema Chödrön's root teacher is Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, with whom she studied from 1974 until his death in 1987. She served as the director of his center Karma Dzong in Boulder, until moving to Nova Scotia in 1984 to be the director of Gampo Abbey, a monastery for western monks and nuns. Since then she has published numerous books and taught throughout North America. 

Currently, Pema spends the majority of her time in solitary retreat in Crestone under the guidance of Venerable Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche. When she is available, Pema generously leads monastic sojong ceremonies at Pema Chöling, which take place twice each lunar month.