A successful life

A successful life

Part of a series of talks given during the annual Young Adult Week program at Sravasti Abbey in 2008.

  • We are taught to live by the formats set by the societal standards to be happy (Great job, lots of money, nice car, being in a relationship etc.)
  • We need to examine whether living as what other people think we should live actually makes us happy
  • How do we build a self-esteem?
  • Living by other people’s expectation comes from the fear that we’re not accepted by everybody else
  • Have confidence in what you believe and search out people who are like-minded

Part two

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.