Historical evolution of the sangha
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Exploring Monastic Life 2005 
Aug 16, 2005 A talk given during Sravasti Abbey's annual Exploring Monastic Life program in 2005.
- Importance of realizing how we are conditioned and seeing ourselves as a dependent phenomenon
- Taking precepts helps condition our body, speech and mind in a positive direction: not martial law
- Self-acceptance and being “in balance:” compassion for self (wishing to be free from suffering and its causes)
- Organic evolution of the sangha over time:
- Monastics precepts
- Varsa (the 3-month rain season retreat)
- Settled monastic communities and monasteries
- Sutras being written down
- Divisions in the Sangha in Vinaya and philosophy
- The 18 traditions
- Monastic universities
- Cultural conditioning and Dharma practice
- Questions and answers
Venerable Thubten Chodron
Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.
