Venerable Kelsang Chitta Karuna, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in July of 1963.
She received her undergraduate degrees in Special Education, and Child Development in 1986, from Central State University in Wilberforce Ohio.
In October of 1987 Ven. Chitta moved to Los Angeles and began her teaching career in preschool education, and in 1993 she started her own private school for physically and mentally challenged preschoolers.
Looking for a meditation practice to supplement her rich spiritual background she came across the path of Tibetan Buddhism. As she continued in this practice of the Tibetan tradition, she took Ordination in 1996 as a Getsulma (novice) in the Gelug School.
Ven. Chitta received her Master's and Doctorate degrees In 2003 & 2004 respectively, from the College of Buddhist Studies Los Angeles, in Buddhist Philosophy and Psychology.
In 2004 Ven. Chitta received her Bhikshuni Vows at the IBMC's grand ordination, under the Abbess Ven. Dr. Karuna Dharma (the first American woman to be Ordained as a Bhikshuni in the West), becoming along with the other 22 Tibetan nuns, the first linage holders of the new lineage Bhikshunis called 'The Karuna Bhikshunis'. This group of Bhikshunis are the beginning of a new line of Western Bhikshunis destined to revive the Bhikshuni ordination in the Tibetan tradition and especially in the west.
Bhikshuni Kelsang is among the first Black American females to be ordained in the Tibetan tradition and the first Black American female to be ordained as a Bhikshuni in the Tibetan Gelug school.
In October of 2012, Chitta Karuna began her 3 year retreat in the remote land of the Gobi Desert, on the Steeps of majestic Mongolia at Ganden Monastery, under the direction of Venerable Thuksay Tulku Rinpoche. In January 2016 Ven. Kelsang Chitta Karuna, completed her 3 year retreat, becoming qualified to carry the name 'Lama' meaning Teacher.
Asked by local students to guide them on the Dharma Path she became the teacher at Open Mind Sangha.
Lama Chitta Karuna, has re-entered the world to live more fully the teachings of the Buddha Dharma. By holdimg Right Action and Right Livelihood more fully in an active community, she continues to guide all Mother Sentient beings as, Lama Kelsang Chitta Karuna.
She received her undergraduate degrees in Special Education, and Child Development in 1986, from Central State University in Wilberforce Ohio.
In October of 1987 Ven. Chitta moved to Los Angeles and began her teaching career in preschool education, and in 1993 she started her own private school for physically and mentally challenged preschoolers.
Looking for a meditation practice to supplement her rich spiritual background she came across the path of Tibetan Buddhism. As she continued in this practice of the Tibetan tradition, she took Ordination in 1996 as a Getsulma (novice) in the Gelug School.
Ven. Chitta received her Master's and Doctorate degrees In 2003 & 2004 respectively, from the College of Buddhist Studies Los Angeles, in Buddhist Philosophy and Psychology.
In 2004 Ven. Chitta received her Bhikshuni Vows at the IBMC's grand ordination, under the Abbess Ven. Dr. Karuna Dharma (the first American woman to be Ordained as a Bhikshuni in the West), becoming along with the other 22 Tibetan nuns, the first linage holders of the new lineage Bhikshunis called 'The Karuna Bhikshunis'. This group of Bhikshunis are the beginning of a new line of Western Bhikshunis destined to revive the Bhikshuni ordination in the Tibetan tradition and especially in the west.
Bhikshuni Kelsang is among the first Black American females to be ordained in the Tibetan tradition and the first Black American female to be ordained as a Bhikshuni in the Tibetan Gelug school.
In October of 2012, Chitta Karuna began her 3 year retreat in the remote land of the Gobi Desert, on the Steeps of majestic Mongolia at Ganden Monastery, under the direction of Venerable Thuksay Tulku Rinpoche. In January 2016 Ven. Kelsang Chitta Karuna, completed her 3 year retreat, becoming qualified to carry the name 'Lama' meaning Teacher.
Asked by local students to guide them on the Dharma Path she became the teacher at Open Mind Sangha.
Lama Chitta Karuna, has re-entered the world to live more fully the teachings of the Buddha Dharma. By holdimg Right Action and Right Livelihood more fully in an active community, she continues to guide all Mother Sentient beings as, Lama Kelsang Chitta Karuna.