The Greater Discourse on the “Simile of the Heartwood”
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Exploring Monastic Life 2009 
Aug 18, 2009 A talk given during Sravasti Abbey's annual Exploring Monastic Life program in 2009.
- Reflecting on the kindness of benefactors who offers the fruits of their labor
- Commentary on the Simile of the Heartwood Sutta (MN29)1
- The pitfalls that one can face on the spiritual path
- How one may become satisfied with lesser spiritual goals and not have the objective of seeking the heartwood, higher spiritual goals
- Importance of setting motivation
- Conviction/stable understanding of the Buddhist view in order to counter the eight worldly concerns
Exploring Monastic Life 2009: Session 9 (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.
