The Love That Will Not Die

Pema Chödrön, originally named Deirdre Blomfield-Brown, was born in 1936 in New York City. She pursued her education at Miss Porter’s School, Connecticut, followed by the University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, Pema devoted many years of her life to teaching elementary school in both New Mexico and California. A mother of two and a grandmother to three, she has always been a guiding light for her family.

In her mid-thirties, Pema’s life took a spiritual turn during a visit to the French Alps where she met Lama Chime Rinpoche. Under his guidance, she took her novice nun vows in 1974 in London. During this time, she was fortunate to be ordained by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, who was visiting England. A few years later, she encountered her root teacher, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Under his mentorship, from 1974 till his demise in 1987, Pema deepened her connection with Buddhism. By 1981, she was fully ordained in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in Hong Kong.

Dedicated to spreading Buddhist teachings, Pema took on the role of director at Karma Dzong in Boulder. Later, in 1984, she relocated to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, to lead Gampo Abbey, fulfilling Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche's vision of establishing a monastery for westerners. Pema now primarily focuses on teaching in the US and Canada while also dedicating time for solitary retreats under Venerable Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche's guidance. She has authored several insightful books including "The Wisdom of No Escape", "Start Where You Are", and "Smile at Fear", aiming to share her wisdom and help establish monastic traditions in the West.