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Photo of Abbey Sangha and guest sangha.
Exploring Monastic Life 2007

The six harmonies

The temporary goal of a monastic is to create a community that facilitates practice, so…

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Ven. Chodron teaching.
Essence of Refined Gold

Sufferings of cyclic existence

A realistic look at the defects of cyclic existence and the determination to be free.

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Ven. Thubten Tsultrim makes offerings to her preceptor Ven. Chodron after the ordination
Exploring Monastic Life 2007

The “Ratnapala Sutta”

Buddha's disciple foremost in faith who, with pure motivation, looked with wisdom at cyclic existence…

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Statue of a Buddha.
On Attachment

On attachment

Attachment brings suffering, but what does non-attachment bring us?

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A card with the words written: The 5 precepts interpreted as New Year's Resolutions
Exploring Monastic Life 2007

Precepts and vows

Monastics and lay practitioners take different levels of precepts. The benefits of taking and keeping…

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Young man holding a sign that says 'The power to choose... the power to change."
On Cultivating Wisdom

Choice and changing

A courageous look at the selfish mind and the suffering it creates in life.

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Alot of wordings scribbed on the wall, middle is the word - Duhhka.
Essence of Refined Gold

The truth of dukkha

Exploration of the first noble truth, the truth of dukkha: recognizing the defects of samsara,…

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Exploring Monastic Life (EML) retreatants sitting in chairs praying.
Exploring Monastic Life 2007

Questions for group discussions

How to prepare for monastic ordination. Reflecting on motivation, dealing with difficulties.

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Thangka image of the Buddha.
Four Truths for the Aryas

Understanding our situation

The four noble truths as the foundation on which the entire path can be both…

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