Contentment

A talk given during Sravasti Abbey's annual Exploring Monastic Life program in 2008.

  • “The Fruits of the Homeless Life” from the Samanapala Sutta
    • Monastic life as a training in contentment
    • The five hindrances to concentration
  • Questions and answers
    • Cultivating contentment and the danger of becoming lackadaisical
    • Desire for pleasure of Dharma practice
    • Ambition for retreats/teachings and taking a spot when there are limited seats

Exploring Monastic Life 2008: Session 8 (download)

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.