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Venerable Thubten Chodron

Pioneering American Buddhist teacher and founder of Sravasti Abbey, co-author of The Library of Wisdom and Compassion book series with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

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The Enemy of the Self-centered Mind

Watch Venerable Thubten Chodron’s recent talk in which she discusses hard truths about our real enemy: the self-centered thought.

It's easy to have love and compassion for others in a conceptual way. It's harder to live it because there's this idea that 'I'm foremost of everybody, and my happiness is most important.'”
Our self-centered mind tells us it will always look out for us and protect us, but actually, when we look at our experience, that self-centered mind causes us—and others—so much pain.”
The whole idea of 'I'm the most important one' is a setup for non virtue. And we all know that non virtue is the cause of suffering. It keeps us going around and around in cyclic existence.”

Featured Teachings

Check out highlights from Venerable Thubten Chodron's extensive teaching archive.

A single white turkey on a tree with pink flowers. Responding to Prejudice

Friend, enemy and stranger

Investigating how people become friends, enemies, and strangers; how the…

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Stages of the Path

Review: Our enemy, self-centeredness

The disadvantages of self-centeredness and the advantages of cherishing others.

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Eight Verses of Thought Transformation

The faults of self-centeredness

Understanding the faults of the self-centered mind and the importance…

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Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Afflictions are the enemy

Explaining the reason how it is possible to cultivate powerful…

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Bodhisattva Ethical Restraints

Opposing the self-centered thought

Stories and discussion to help us to oppose the self-centered…

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Statue of 1000 armed Chenrezig made of wood. 108 Verses on Compassion

Our real enemy

Seeing how our own afflictions are our real enemy and…

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Stages of the Path

Disadvantages of self-centeredness

How the self-centered attitude is the cause of problems in…

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Latest Posts

Keep up with recent teachings by Venerable Thubten Chodron and other Sravasti Abbey monastics.

A Nun's Life

Building trust

Thank you everyone for giving me the honor of being…

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Thubten Chodron

How a Westerner became a Buddhist nun

A talk given to the Tibetan Association of Washington.

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Forgiveness

The power of forgiveness

Through forgiveness we can let go of anger.

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Working with Emotions

The enemy of the self-centered mind

Insights into the self-centered mind and working with it.

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Stages of the Path

How the order of śamatha and insight is definite

Why both need to be cultivated and the order of…

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Working with Anger

Anger and its causes

Recognizing when we are angry and the causes of anger.

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Antidotes to Afflictions

Meditation on forgiving ourselves and others

Meditation to forgive and let go of anger and blame.

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Working with Emotions

Facing difficulties with joy and equanimity

How to approach problems without being overwhelmed by emotions.

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Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps

The value of superknowledges

Describing the value of the Superknowledges, particularly for Bodhisattvas, continuing…

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Upcoming Live Teachings

Follow Venerable Thubten Chodron's teachings at Sravasti Abbey, online, and worldwide.

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Books

Learn more about Buddhist books written and edited by Venerable Thubten Chodron as well as other Sravasti Abbey teachers.

Book cover of Buddhism for Beginners

Buddhism for Beginners

An accessible and engaging introduction to some of the most commonly asked questions about the es...

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Book cover of Guided Buddhist Meditations

Guided Buddhist Meditations

This invaluable resource provides Dharma practitioners with clear explanations of the stages of t...

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Working with Anger

A variety of Buddhist methods for subduing anger, not by changing what is happening, but by worki...

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Front cover of "Driving the Dharma Home"

Driving the Dharma Home

Just as a driver’s manual steers us to travel safely, “Driving the Dharma Home”...

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The Key of Compassion by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron. A row of gray prison cells with golden flowers blooming through the bars of one cell.

The Key of Compassion

Evidence of the power of compassion in the lives of incarcerated people, from the experience of t...

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Cover of the book

How to Meditate on the Stages of the Path

Deepen your meditation by diving into the lamrim—the stages of the path to enlightenment. This bo...

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Book cover of Searching for the Self

Searching for the Self

Volume 7 of The Library of Wisdom and Compassion explores emptiness and leads us to delve deeply ...

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Cover of 365 Gems of Wisdom

365 Gems of Wisdom

Reflections by Venerable Thubten Chodron and other Sravasti Abbey monastics to guide us in settin...

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Book cover of Pearl of Wisdom I

Pearl of Wisdom, Book I

A compilation of prayers and practices commonly taught to people beginning to study and practice ...

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