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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 Power of Forgiveness

Watch Venerable Thubten Chodron’s recent talk on the importance of forgiving ourselves and others.

We think it's the other person who gets in the way of forgiveness, but it's really our mind that elaborates and holds onto anger. That's what makes us miserable.'”

With all of life's changes, we often get our feelings hurt because we have what I like to call 'Rules of the Universe': how we think other people should act and behave.”

We are the ones who are suffering when we don't forgive. We think holding a grudge will make them suffer, but it doesn't. It becomes a tragedy of our own making.”

Featured Teachings

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

Removing barriers to forgiveness

Discussing what gets in the way of forgiving others and…

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Meditation on self-forgiveness

A guided analytical meditation on self-forgiveness.

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A rainbow appears in the gray sky above the treeline.

Stories of forgiveness

Continuing with the Gift of Forgiveness retreat, discussing various stories…

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The word 'forgiveness' written into red and orange tile.

The liberation of self-forgiveness

An incarcerated person shares his experience of transforming self-hatred to…

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Challenges to forgiveness

We can generate forgiveness and compassion for those who harm…

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The heart of forgiveness

What forgiveness is and practical advice on how to cultivate…

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Latest Posts

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

How to have a happy heart

Cultivating the causes for inner joy and contentment.

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Venerable Jenkir Shih
Dec 4, 2025

Building trust

Thank you everyone for giving me the honor of being…

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Preparatory practices, posture & stages of śamatha

The conditions and preparations for meditation practice.

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How a Westerner became a Buddhist nun

A talk given to the Tibetan Association of Washington.

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The power of forgiveness

Through forgiveness we can let go of anger.

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The enemy of the self-centered mind

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

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How the order of śamatha and insight is definite

Why both need to be cultivated and the order of…

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Anger and its causes

Recognizing when we are angry and the causes of anger.

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Meditation on forgiving ourselves and others

Meditation to forgive and let go of anger and blame.

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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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