Talk
Pema Chödrön – Smile at Fear: Living from the Heart
Pema Chödrön on meeting fear directly rather than being ruled by it, drawn from Smile at Fear.
About the teacher
A quiet, direct path.
Pema Chödrön became a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and was ordained as a nun within his Kagyu-rooted Shambhala lineage, later serving as resident teacher at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. Books such as When Things Fall Apart and The Places That Scare You made her one of the most widely read Western Buddhist teachers, known for meeting fear and uncertainty directly rather than resolving them.
Turning 90 in July 2026, she stepped back from her role as acharya within the Shambhala organisation in 2020 and no longer keeps a touring schedule; the Pema Chödrön Foundation continues to offer seasonal online teachings.
Upcoming events
Meet Pema in person.
Talks, day programmes and retreats currently listed in the Paths Are Many calendar.
No upcoming events are currently listed.
Talks & videos
Listen before you attend.
Short introductions and longer conversations give a sense of this teacher's language and style.
Talk
Pema Chödrön - Welcoming the Unwelcome | Super Soul Sunday S9E18 | Full Episode | OWN
A Super Soul Sunday conversation on welcoming difficulty rather than resisting it.