Khenmo Trinlay Chödron Karuna

Brief Biography

Venerable Khenmo Trinlay Chödron was ordained as a Getsulma (novice nun) by Khenchen Rinpoche, Konchog Gyaltshen in 1997, and as a Gelongma (fully ordained nun) in 2004 by Venerable Karuna Dharma of the International Buddhist Meditation Center of Los Angeles.

She has been teaching Dharma at the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick, MD and affiliated centers for many years. She has also taught internationallly, such as the Ratnashri Center in Sweden, alongside Khenchen Rinpoche, Konchog Gyaltshen.

Born in Detroit, Khenmo Konchog Trinlay Chödron Karuna started life as an ordinary mid-westerner. She graduated from Michigan State University, and later obtained a law degree from Wayne State University. She has recently retired after successful career in government service with the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C..

In 1990, Venerable Khenmo Trinlay Chödron met Khenchen Rinpoche, Konchog Gyaltshen and her life changed radically. Since that time, she has diligently studied and practiced under his guidance. She worked closely with Khenchen Rinpoche to support his various Dharma activities, eventually serving as Treasurer, Secretary and Board Chairman of the Tibetan Meditation Center (TMC) that he founded in Frederick, MD, and becoming Khenchen Rinpoche's assistant in the preparation of various publications, such as his translation of "The Jewel Ornament of Liberation." She also prepared His Holiness the Drigung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche's book, "The Practice of Mahamudra" for publication. She has also served on the Board of Directors of Vajra Publications for many years.

Her teachings are filled with humor, scholarly wisdom and a practicality for everyday prioritization that helps unite the ancient teachings with modern western life. She is a joy to learn from and makes the often difficult path of practice seem more joyful, logical and natural.

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Khenmo has been invited to spend winters at the TMC in Gainesville by our local sangha and has been encouraged to do so by Khenchen Rinpoche.

Her visit Nove 14 & 15 2009 will be her second teaching here in person (not counting teleconference teachings) and we are looking forward to welcoming her to our community and hopefully lmore visits later this winter (maybe January) and possibly in future winters. Please come to welcome her and get to know her better. We are very excited to have her more involved in our center and hopeful that we succeed in engaging her forthe long term as dedicated practitioners studying under her vast knowledge.