Pema Chodron

Pema Chödrön is an American Tibetan Buddhist nun, acharya, and devoted disciple of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. She is also the director of Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, Canada, and the author of several widely respected books that have helped bring Buddhist wisdom to a broader audience.

Her teachings are rooted in traditional practice and invite students to look closely at the patterns that shape their inner lives. Each winter, she leads the traditional “Yarne” retreat at Gampo Abbey, while in summer she teaches the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life in Berkeley. A central theme in her work is shenpa, or attachment—the moment when a present experience triggers a familiar cycle of reactive, self-defeating thoughts and behaviors. Through her guidance, participants are encouraged to recognize these patterns with honesty, awareness, and compassion.