My name is Karen Liljenberg. I was brought up in Liverpool, and attended local state schools, where I first developed my lifelong interest in ancient cultures, languages, and spiritual traditions. I went on to study Classics and Archaeology at Girton College, Cambridge, graduating in 1979. Having taught myself Welsh, I then moved to Wales where I learnt to play traditional music on various instruments while working in the fields of archaeology, lexicography, and language teaching. I also had some of my own poetry published, with a collection appearing in 1992 ("Bóand's Hostel", Sheela-na-gig Press).
In 1992 I became interested in Tibetan Buddhism, and began learning Tibetan. Attracted in particular to the Dzogchen teachings, I joined Rigpa and attended numerous retreats and teachings in the UK, Ireland and France. I went on a group pilgrimage to India and Sikkim in 1994. I then returned to India as a volunteer English teacher at Dzogchen Monastery, near Kollegal. I paid the monks a second visit the following year, gradually improving my Tibetan in the process.
After gaining a CELTA certificate in London in 1996, I subsequently worked as an English teacher, while also doing Tibetan-English translation and interpreting for various lamas.
In 2008 I obtained an MA in Buddhist Studies at SOAS, University of London. I went on to complete my AHRC-funded PhD on a group of early Dzogchen texts there in March 2013.
Currently
I am now living in North Wales, writing up my doctoral research with a view (hopefully) to publication. I am also translating sutras from the Tibetan canon for the 84000 Project.
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