Sr. Sharifa Vernice Meytung (Meylong Tungba)

photo by Mary Trzeciak / CTBC Winter Retreat 2024

Sr. Sharifa V. Meytung is a Catholic-Buddhist lay contemplative practitioner; teacher of young  children; haijin (writer of haiku poetry) and an abstract painter. Her spiritual practice is also  deeply informed by her ancestral animist indigeneity. 

She has studied in many community and academic settings, including Catholic Theology at the  University of Erfurt, Germany. In the year 2000 she pilgrimed to the Jasna Gora Monastery in  Poland, in homage to Our Lady of Czestochowa to whom she devoted her contemplative lay  vows in the same year. 

In 2017, Sr. Sharifa began practicing Shamatha (calm-abiding) meditation with the sangha of the  Chenrezig Tibetan Buddhist Center (CTBC), led by Lama Losang Samten (Spiritual Director).  Since 2020, Sr. Sharifa has guided both the CTBC annual Prayers for Peace Mantra-thon (in  collaboration with Peace Day Philly / International Prayers for Peace United Nations); as well as the CTBC monthly sangha Medicine Buddha practice. She serves as the Contemplative  Traditions Advisor for the Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice, as well as being a  board member of the Philadelphia Buddhist Association. 

Over the past several years, Sr. Sharifa has benefited deeply from the generous teachings and  guidance of Lama Losang Samten (Shamatha); the Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal  Rinpoche (Dzogchen/Buddhist Philosophy); and Yeshe Kaytup Rinpoche (Mahamudra). She  looks forward to continuing to grow, learn and share from her Dharmic path, which honors the  wisdom teachings of all of the traditions that she holds dear. 

Contact: meytung@outlook.com