Ven. Thubten Chodron's Home Page

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Ven. Thubten Chodron (Click here for more pictures and slideshows on Bio page.)

Mission
To nurture a flourishing monastic community where learning and practicing the Buddha’s ancient teachings cultivates peace in the hearts of its residents, visitors and, by extension, in the world in which we live. Read more.

Ven. Chodron (founder and abbess) talks about the Abbey: Click Here.

Sravasti Abbey on YouTube. Click here.

For live Internet teachings, most Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time - Click here

For archived video teachings - Click here

For "Bodhistattva's Breakfast Corner," archived video of daily motivations - Click here

Latest News. Click here.

Photos. Click here.

Endorsements:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama "Over recent years as interest in Buddhist teachings has grown in Western lands, monastics have faced various difficulties. Now that Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron is endeavouring to provide a situation in which Western monastics can pursue the discipline exemplified by our teacher, Buddha Shakyamuni, in a stable manner, I am happy to give her my support and encourage others who share this interest to do likewise." - His Holiness the Dalai Lama. See Letter in full.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche "Ven. Chodron has been dreaming, had this dream to establish Abbey for so many eons (laugh). For so many eons, so now it happens, now it's actualized and I think it's very wonderful...I thought when I came from down there, when you can see the house, it felt like going to see a very precious temple or holy place. That was the feeling. So I think feeling is good. Not that I have clairvoyance or anything, but in general case that it is helpful for Dharma practice. I think people that come here to practice, I think lucky people, lucky people. It's good." - Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Read more.

Panchen Otrul Rinpoche "Now it is time for the flourishing of Tibetan Buddhism also in the West. Dharma centers are not sufficient; a proper monastery is needed. ...Establishing a monastery is an important job, and I am very happy you are doing this work. I hope that this will be very successful!" - Panchen Otrul Rinpoche. Read more.

Khensur Jampa Tegchog Rinpoche "Thank you for having me at your centre, which you established for the temporal and ultimate good of the Dharma and living beings. Establishing a centre for Buddhist learning and practice, and more important, running it successfully, you are rendering the greatest service to Buddha…Please keep up the good work. - Khensur Jampa Tegchog Rinpoche. Read more.

Donate here to support
Ven. Chodron's work!

Dana: The Way of Generosity.

Last Update: Tuesday, 30 Dec 2008

A Step Towards Peace (Video)

Join in the special effort to build a monastic residence "Gotami House" for our growing Sangha! Click here to learn more and make your contribution.

Manjushri Retreat
The winter retreat at Sravasti Abbey: Venerable Chonyi's teachings of 11 and 12 December are now available

Commentary: Mind Training Like Rays of the Sun: Teachings of 18 December have been added

Commentary: One Hundred and Eight Verses Praising Great Compassion:
Part 3 of the teachings on this text, recorded at the Fall 2008 Chenresig Retreat at Cloud Mountain, Washington, USA, has been added.

Commentary: Compassion in Action, the final teaching of the series Open Heart, Clear Mind, was recorded 7 December 2008

Prison Dharma:
Drawing of Lama zopa Rinpoche by Brian Byrnes

Death and Dying: A Prayer for My Mother by Ven.Thubten Chodron

Prison Dharma:
Discovery by Ken Seyfert

Commentary: Open Heart, Clear Mind: Meditation - 12 September 2008 teaching by Venerable Chodron

Manjushri Guided Sadhana with a Meditation on Emptiness:
- Recorded in Missoula, Montana, USA, 31 October 2008

Manjushri Sadhana Explanation and Guided Meditation:
- Instructions for the winter retreat at Sravasti Abbey, recorded 2 October 2008

Prison Dharma:
The Mule by Bryan Taylor

Commentary: Final teachings of the series Essence of Refined Gold have been added: 21 and 28 August, and a previous file from 8 May. The series is now complete.

Prison Dharma:
Drawing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by Daniel Curtis Moses

Other Articles/Audio
Rebirth by Geshe Damdul Namgyal

Prison Dharma:
Drawing of Vajrasattva Yabyum by Dean Labuda
Forgiving and Apologizing By Ken Seyfert

Prison Dharma:
Art Gallery Drawings by Inmates

Western Buddhist Monastics
What Happen to the Monastic Sangha by Bhikkhu Bodhi (pdf file)
The Challenge of the Future"How Will the Sangha Fare In North American Buddhism" by Bhikkhu Bodhi (pdf file)

InterreligiousDialogue
Environmental_Practices of American Buddhist Monastic Communities(word file)

BuddhistNunsMonasticLife
For information on ordination in the Theravada tradition

Listen to Bhikkhu Bodhi’s reflections on monastic life

Buddhist Monasticism in the West

The Fourteenth Annual Buddhist Monastic Conference

Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Prison Dharma:
Buddha’s Door by James Davie

InterreligiousDialogue:
Christ the Divine Physician (In Word Format)

Current Events: Interview with Venerable Thubten Chodron-Sachs (pdf)

Dealing with Emotions: How can we deal with Anger (pdf)
upcoming edition of Eastern Horizon, published in KL

Emptiness: Questions and Answers:
Teachings by Venerable Chodron at Sravasti Abbey, April 2008

Thank You FOSA Singapore (blip.tv) from Sravasti Abbey

Manjushri Sadhana and Commentary:
Teachings by Venerable Chodron at DFF, August - November 2000

Retreat-Manjushri initiation:
For those who have received the Manjushri initiation
In Word format
Visualizations to Do During the Recitation of Manjushri’s Mantra
In Word format

For those who have not received the Manjushri initiation.
In Word format

Prison Dharma:
Handling_fear_and_potential_violence by Carl Willmott(pdf)

InterreligiousDialogue:
Buddhist Wisdom on Violence and Reconciliation (In Word Format)

Prison Dharma:
New images of the Buddha from Bill VanCourt and Dale Moore

Commentary: Further Teachings from May 2008 Sharing the Dharma Day: Open Heart, Clear Mind

Commentary: Further Teachings from Essence of Refined Gold

Creating Peace in Our Daily Life

FAQ: KARMA: The Functioning Of Cause And Effect - Part 1 of 4

Commentary: The Four Opponent Powers for Purification (from the Open Heart, Clear Mind series)

Commentary: Shantideva's "A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life", Chapter 3: Adopting the Spirit of Awakening

See more updates...

Events at Sravasti Abbey: Please see Abbey Events and Calendar.

Events at Other Venues:

October 30 - November 2: Osel Shen Phen Ling, Missoula, MT

Public talk: "How to See Yourself as You Really Are," Thursday

Dharma Practice: Manjushri Sadhana, Friday

Teachings: "The Two Truths," Saturday & Sunday

November 27 to 30
Rejoicing and Giving Thanks Retreat –
Click here for Detail
Click here to Register

Check up the details/other events...

Be aware of the kindness of others, especially the small things people do. Treat the people who help you kindly. Avoid becoming arrogant toward them.
- Ven. Chodron

KARMA:
The Functioning Of
Cause And Effect

- Part 4 of 4

Does karma influence whom we will meet and the relationships we'll have with them?

Can understanding karma help us to understand the events in our lives better?

Can people be reborn as animals and animals as people? How is that karmically possible?

- An Excerpt from Buddhism for Beginners.

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Mission To nurture a flourishing monastic community where learning and practicing the Buddha’s ancient teachings cultivates peace in the hearts of its residents, visitors and, by extension, in the world in which we live. Read more.

A Step Towards Peace (Video)

Mission
To nurture a flourishing monastic community where learning and practicing the Buddha’s ancient teachings cultivates peace in the hearts of its residents, visitors and, by extension, in the world in which we live. Read more.