Pema Chodron
Pema Chödrön (born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown in 1936) is a beloved American born Tibetan Buddhist nun, teacher and best selling author. She is highly renowned in the West for her accessible, down-to-earth approach to applying Buddhist wisdom—particularly lojong (mind-training) teachings—to modern struggles like anxiety, uncertainty, and grief.
Background & Lineage
- Ordination: She was one of the first American women to be fully ordained as a bhiksuni (nun) in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
- Teacher: She is a devoted student of the late meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
- Abbey Role: She served for years as the director and resident teacher at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, the first Tibetan monastery in North America established for Westerners.
Core Philosophies & Teachings
- Embracing Discomfort: Instead of running from fear or uncertainty, she teaches that the only way through emotional pain is to lean into it and befriend your own nervous system.
- Pain vs. Suffering: She emphasizes that pain is a natural part of human life, but the stories we build on top of that pain are what create unnecessary suffering.
- Unconditional Friendliness: She advocates for maitri, which translates to developing loving-kindness and unconditional friendliness toward oneself, even when we feel broken or flawed.
Notable Books & Legacy
She has authored numerous books that have become spiritual staples:
- When Things Fall Apart
- Start Where You Are
- The Places That Scare You
- Comfortable With Uncertainty
To explore her teachings or find guided resources, you can visit the Pema Chödrön Foundation or read about her background on the Tricycle Buddhist Review platform.
If you're interested in her work, let me know if you'd like:
