Linda Pritzker

Pritzker was born in 1953 in Oberlin, Ohio, the second of three children born to Jewish-American businessman, Robert Pritzker,[5][6] and Audrey Gilbert.[7][8] She has two siblings: Jennifer N. Pritzker (b. James, 1950),[9] a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and founder of the Pritzker Military Library,[10] and Karen Pritzker (b. 1958).

Her parents divorced in 1979.[6] In 1981, her mother remarried Albert B. Ratner, the co-chairman of Cleveland-based real estate developer Forest City Enterprises.[7][8] In 1980, her father remarried to Irene Dryburgh with whom he had two children: Matthew Pritzker and Liesel Pritzker Simmons.[6]

After earning a master's degree in Counseling Psychology and working as a psychotherapist for several years, Pritzker began a spiritual path to Tibetan Buddhism.[11]

Pritzker was ordained a lama[2] in February 2005 by Tulku Sangak Rinpoche, a Tibetan meditation master and world holder of the Namchak Lineage, a branch of the Nyingma path of Tibetan Buddhism.[12] She began studying with Rinpoche in 1995 and became fluent in Tibetan.[13] Her journey to Buddhist practices has been documented by ABC News' Dan Harris in his podcast 10% Happier.[14]

She is the author of Why is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? A Westerner's Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice[15] and The Princess Who Wept Pearls: The Feminine Journey in Fairy Tales. [16] She is also the co-author of The Lotus & The Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity[17] and a contributor to The Dharma of Dogs: Our Best Friends as Spiritual Teachers edited by Tami Simon.[18] Why is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? has a foreword written by the Dalai Lama and was a 2016 silver medal winner in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards).[19]

Today, Pritzker's work revolves around the initiatives of the Namchak Foundation. While the Namchak Retreat Ranch is still under construction,[20] Namchak has several offerings for students looking to begin or strengthen their meditation practice including two online courses, guided meditations, Learning Circles, and several live events per year.[21]

As of July 2018, Pritzker's net worth is estimated to be $1.77 billion.[2]

Pritzker is divorced and has three children: Rachel, Roland, and Rosemary.[22] She lives in Missoula, Montana.[1] She is a Tibetan Buddhist.[2]

• Why is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? A Westerner's Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice[15]
• The Lotus & The Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity, co-author with Matthew Fox [17]
• The Dharma of Dogs: Our Best Friends as Spiritual Teachers, contributing author, edited by Tami Simon [18]
• The Princess Who Wept Pearls: The Feminine Journey in Fairy Tales[16]
• "10% Happier with Dan Harris" Podcast, August 2017 [23]
• "Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg" Podcast, October 2018 [24]
• "Buddha at the Gas Pump" Podcast, May 2018 [25]
• "The Secular Buddhist" Podcast, June 2016 [26]
• "Synchronisity podcast" May 2016 [27]
• "Ani Tsering Wangmo: A Life of Merit" in Lion's Roar Newsletter, March 2010.
• "Coming Home" in Originally Blessed. Oakland, CA: Creation Spirituality Communities, 2008.
• "Dharmasala" in Lion's Roar Newsletter, August 2007.
• "Shedra" in Lion's Roar Newsletter, February 2006.