Monastic Life

A treasury of information about the joys and challenges of life as a Buddhist monastic.

Access Vinaya Teachings

If you’re a Buddhist monastic who would like to watch Venerable Thubten Chodron’s Vinaya teachings, send in a request via our contact form here. Please provide information on your level and length of ordination and the name of your preceptor.

Subcategories

A Nun's Life

What’s it like to be a Buddhist nun? Venerable Thubten Chodron and other nuns share about their lives.

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Becoming a Monastic

Monastics offer advice on what aspirants can do to prepare for ordination.

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Explore Monastic Life

Teachings from the annual Exploring Monastic Life program at Sravasti Abbey.

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Full Ordination for Nuns

Learn about why full ordination for women matters and different perspectives on how it can be revived.

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Living in Community

How monastic community life supports living in the precepts and brings other benefits.

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Western Monastics

Learn about the history and unique situation of Western Buddhist monastics.

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Related Books

Related Series

A Buddhist nun bowing on a bowing cushion.

Monastic Mind Motivation

Commentary on the "Monastic Mind Motivation" prayer that is recited at the end of the daily morning practice at Sravasti Abbey.

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Venerable Thubten Chodron with monastics at Lama Tsongkhapa Institute in Pomaia, Italy.

Monastic Teachings (Italy 2017)

Teachings given to monastics at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Pomaia, Italy.

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All Posts in Monastic Life

Buddhist nun making an offering to her teacher.
A Nun's Life

Women in Buddhism

A discussion on the status of nuns in the Buddhist community.

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Living in Community

What if the Buddha were a lay woman?

Questions from the Hamburg Dharma College about Venerable Thubten Chodron's personal practice, monastic life, and…

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Group of people sitting in a crowded auditorium watching a presentation on a large screen.
Monastic Life

The 18th Sakyadhita conference

The 18th Sakyadhita Conference took place in Seoul, Korea, June 23–27, 2023. I did not…

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Four buddhist nuns from the Tibetan tradition attend the Sakyadhita Conference.
Monastic Life

Sakyadhita: Daughters of the Buddha

A Sravasti Abbey nun reports on her experience at the 2023 Sakyadhita International Conference in…

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Living in Community

Buddhist practice and community life

Questions about lay life, monastic life, and community life in relation to Dharma practice and…

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A large group of Tibetan monastics gathered together.
Western Monastics

Establishing the sangha in the West

Transcript of a meeting with monastics on establishing a monastic community in the West.

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Monastic Life

Monastic Mind Motivation commentary

The importance of reconfiguring our usual mindset to align with our precepts and values.

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A Nun's Life

Sravasti Abbey and social engagement

Part two of an interview with Korea Buddhist Television Network on Sravasti Abbey and Buddhist…

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