The purpose of developing concentration
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Exploring Monastic Life 2009 
Aug 14, 2009 A talk given during Sravasti Abbey's annual Exploring Monastic Life program in 2009.
- Remembering Buddha’s qualities to counteract the tight mind
- Different levels of Buddhist vows
- Ethical conduct lays the foundation for developing concentration and realizations
- Continuation of commentary on the Noble Search Sutta (MN 26)1
- Why the Buddha was reluctant to teach after enlightenment
- What Mara symbolizes
- Questions and answers
- Difference between a Buddha and an arhat
- Was Mara a sentient being?
- Different types of god realms
- Source of our thoughts
Exploring Monastic Life 2009: Session 6 (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.
