Pema Chödrön
Shambhala Buddhism · b. 1936
“You are the sky. Everything else — it’s just the weather.”
Pema Chödrön is an American Tibetan Buddhist nun and one of the most beloved spiritual teachers in the contemporary world. Her teaching addresses the places most of us try to avoid: groundlessness, fear, anxiety.
Born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown, she became a nun in 1981 under Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Her approach speaks directly to the modern experience of suffering without mystifying it.
Her books have reached millions who would never enter a monastery. She meets people where they are, with warmth and an unflinching honesty.
Key teachings
Groundlessness
The ground you stand on was never solid. Learning to be comfortable with uncertainty is the beginning of freedom.
Tonglen
Breathing in suffering, breathing out relief. A practice of radical compassion.
Start Where You Are
You don’t need to fix yourself before you can practice. This imperfect moment is the perfect start.
Notable works
When Things Fall Apart
On working with groundlessness, fear, and the courage to stay present. Her most essential book.
The Places That Scare You
A guide to fearlessness in difficult times. Compassion as the path through anxiety.
One teaching like this each morning — and Mu, a companion who remembers your path.
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