Venerable Amy J. Miller (Ven. Lobsang Chodren) first encountered Tibetan Buddhism in 1987 during a course at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. Since then, she has dedicated her life to Buddhist practice, teaching, and center management worldwide. Before discovering Buddhism, Amy worked as a political fundraiser in Washington, DC and served as an emotional support hospice counselor during the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco.
Venerable Amy was ordained as a Buddhist nun in June 2000 by the Tibetan master Choden Rinpoche and has been teaching extensively since 1992. Her teaching style emphasizes practical approaches to integrating Buddhist philosophy into everyday life. She helps people connect with meditation and mindfulness to gain perspective on their stressful lives and develop qualities like kindness, patience, and understanding.
Her courses and retreats focus on:
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Establishing and maintaining meditation practice
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Death and dying
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Overcoming anxiety and depression
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Battling addiction
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Dealing with self-esteem issues
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Cultivating compassion and loving-kindness
Venerable Amy’s extensive experience includes managing Tse Chen Ling Center in San Francisco (1992-1995) and serving as Director of Vajrapani Institute in California (1995-2004). In 2004, she completed a seven-month solitary retreat at Vajrapani. During 2005-2006, she organized international teaching tours for Ven. Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche until his passing. She then became a touring teacher for the FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) and served as Director of Milarepa Center in Vermont (2008-2014).
She has led pilgrimages to Tibet, India, Nepal, and Bhutan, with a possible pilgrimage to Lawudo Retreat Center in Nepal planned for spring 2025. Venerable Amy is co-author of “Buddhism in a Nutshell” and a contributor to “Living in the Path,” an FPMT online course series.
Contact Information:
For teaching schedule and other information, visit her website.