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Venerable Thubten Chodron

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

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A stuffed toy bear sits on a meditation cushion together with monastics.

The Four Close Placements of Mindfulness

Watch the first in a series of four talks on “A Presentation of the Establishment of Mindfulness” by Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen. Venerable Thubten Chodron also gave an in-depth commentary on this text from 2011–12. Watch those teachings here.

Learn more about Sravasti Abbey’s Winter Retreat from Afar on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness here.

What one individual does can influence a huge number of other people. In that way we are very important."

We're out of touch with our actual experience. The four establishments of mindfulness bring us back to that."

Our refusal to accept impermanence causes us a lot of pain. When things we want change, we get very upset."

Featured Teachings

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

Venerable Chodron in front of a large Buddha statue, smiling while teaching.

Introduction to the four establishments of mindfulness

The purpose of practicing the four establishments of mindfulness, how…

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Bleeding heart flowers in the Sravasti Abbey garden.

12 ways to apply compassion

A discussion of ways to apply compassion to improve areas…

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Apologizing and forgiving

How to engage in apologizing and forgiving as part of…

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Hand-painted sign that says '$5.00 for whining'.

No more whining

Complaining doesn't change an unpleasant situation: it only causes more…

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Venerable Chodron placing a khata around someone's neck.

Chinese New Year Tsog motivation

A brief motivation given before a ceremony on Chinese New…

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Motivation and meditation

The importance of motivation and the purpose and practice of…

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Buddhahood depends on sentient beings

Reviewing Chapter 12, "The Mind and Its Potential", describing how…

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Latest Posts

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

Others are as important as ourselves

Explanation of the first three points of the nine-point equalizing…

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Review of Chapter Six: Verses 43-44

How to counter attachment to the body by cultivating mindfulness…

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Is liberation possible?

Exploring the question, "Is Liberation Possible?", continuing the review of…

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Review of Chapter Six: Verses 40-42

Why being angry at others is inappropriate, because they are…

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The Buddha’s omniscient mind

Continuing the review of the Chapter 12, "The Mind and…

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Review of Chapter Six: Verses 36-40

Developing fortitude in the face of harm and hardship using…

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The four maras

Continuing the review of Chapter 12, "The Mind and Its…

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Venerable Thubten Losang
Dec 24, 2022

Review of Chapter Six: Verses 22-34

How anger arises due to causes and conditions, and how…

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Afflictions are weak

Continuing the review of Chapter 12, "Mind and Its Potential",…

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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.

Book cover of Realizing the Profound View

Realizing the Profound View

This 8th volume in The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, the second of three focusing on e...

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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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Book cover of Courageous Compassion

Courageous Compassion

The 6th book in the multi-volume collection and the 2nd devoted to compassion. Courageous Compass...

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Book cover of How to Free Your Mind

How to Free Your Mind

If you are curious about Buddhist deities, in particular female Buddhas, if you want to learn abo...

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Book cover of Open Heart Clear Mind

Open Heart, Clear Mind

A practical introduction to the application of Buddhist psychology to modern life in order to bet...

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Book cover of Working with Anger

Working with Anger

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

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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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