Ani Rinchen Khandro is a life ordained nun in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. She spent the first ten years of her ordained life at Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery where she studied and practised Buddhism under some of the most eminent Tibetan Lamas of today. During this time she was also responsible for the publicity, public relations and fundraising for the Monastery and for the Holy Island Project for World Peace and Health.

In 2003 Ani Rinchen Khandro entered the traditional, long-term, closed retreat of three years, three months, three weeks in the women’s retreat on Holy Island. Having successfully completed this intensive practice she resumed work and teaching at Samye Ling and was commissioned to write a book celebrating the Centre’s 40th Anniversary. Kagyu Samye Ling – The Story charts the remarkable journey of Tibetan Buddhism to the West, from its beginnings in The Land of Snows to its flowering at Samye Ling in Scotland and subsequent branches around the world.

In 2008 Ani Rinchen Khandro was appointed by Samye Ling’s founder Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche and Abbot Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche to establish and run Kagyu Samye Dzong Edinburgh Tibetan Buddhist Centre for World Peace and Health. Shortly after her arrival in Edinburgh, Ani Rinchen found a suitable property and, after energetic fundraising, was able to establish a beautiful new KSDE Centre at 4 Walker Street in the heart of Edinburgh’s west end. As well as it’s weekly programme of meditation sessions, pujas and classes the Centre also hosts a variety of monthly events including teachings and public talks by visiting High Lamas, therapeutic and interfaith activities. The Centre has an open door policy and serves not only the Buddhist community but the people of Edinburgh as a whole.

Ani Rinchen Khandro is also the Honorary Buddhist Chaplain for the University of Edinburgh and is the Buddhist representative for the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association. Her extra mural activities include speaking at the Scottish Parliament and at Edinburgh University as well as sundry School and Hospital visits. Ani Rinchen is also a lively contributor on faith and other topics for various media events, most recently for BBC1′s The Big Questions broadcast on May 12th 2013.