Challenges for Western monastics
42 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps 
Feb 14, 2025 Part of an ongoing series of teachings based on the book Following in the Buddha's Footsteps, the fourth volume in The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron.
- Look to the people who practice well for inspiration
- How the Tibetan monasteries function
- Focus on study, memorization and debate
- Importance of keeping Pratimoksha precepts
- Importance of keeping Pratimoksha precepts
- Preparing well ordination and training after the ordination
- Emphasis on living as a community
- Practicing with the group of peers who have similar attitudes and do similar practices
42 Challenges for Western Monastics (download)
Contemplation points
- Why are we encouraged to guard our minds from labeling the entire Tibetan monastic community based on the few amongst them who do not follow the precepts well? How is it best to direct the mind when we are confronted with these kinds of situations?
- Describe how debate is used in the Tibetan Tradition. How does it strengthen the practice of those monastics who participate?
- What are some of the challenges experienced by Western monastics? How does His Holiness the Dalai Lama encourage Westerners to overcome these challenges?
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.
