Pema Chödrön is a notable American figure in Tibetan Buddhism.  A disciple of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, she is an ordained nun, author, and teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage which Trungpa founded.

A prolific author, she has conducted workshops, seminars, and meditation retreats in Europe, Australia, and throughout North America. She is the resident teacher at Gampo Abbey, a monastery on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.

She is the renowned author of many beloved Western Buddhist books, including Start Where You Are; When Things Fall Apart; The Wisdom of No Escape; The Places That Scare You, and many others.