Buddhism for beginners by thupten chodron biography

Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Thubten Chodron (德林 — De Lin) was born in Chicago in and grew up near Los Angeles. She graduated with a BA in history from the University of California at Los Angeles in After traveling through Europe, North Africa, and Asia for one and a half years, she received a teaching credential and went to the University of Southern California to do postgraduate work in education while working as a teacher in the Los Angeles school system.

In , she attended a meditation course given by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and subsequently went to Kopan, their monastery in Nepal, to continue studying and practicing Buddha’s teachings.

In , she received sramaneri (novice) ordination from Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, and in she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan.

She studied and practiced Buddhism in the Tibetan tradition for many years in India and Nepal under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkon