MC Brigitte Schrottenbacher

MC Brigitte Schrottenbacher is a Western Buddhist nun, or mae chi, who was ordained at the Sorn Thawee Meditation Centre in Chachoengsao, Thailand, around 1990. Her first teacher there was the abbot, Phra Acharn Thawee Baladhammo, under whom she trained for five years in the Mahasi style of insight meditation before he asked her to start guiding Western visitors. She later spent seven years learning the Buddho method of the Thai forest tradition with Phra Acharn Sangwahn Khemako, and has also studied with teachers in Bhutan. In 2009 she received a United Nations Women's Day award as an outstanding woman in Buddhism.

For over thirty years she has led silent retreats for foreigners in English and German, teaching on donation. Her monthly week-long courses at Sorn Thawee follow a simple rhythm of guided walking and sitting periods, optional chanting and an evening Dhamma talk with questions, with students keeping the eight precepts. Most years she also spends a few months teaching across Europe. Her talks on the ten perfections and on core Buddhist ideas appear on YouTube and Insight Timer. Alongside teaching she raises support for Thai nuns, students in Nepal and Bhutan, and other social projects.