Guided by wise teachers
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Qualities of a Spiritual Teacher 
Jul 20, 2025 Venerable Chodron shares reflections on Lama Thubten Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and her journey to monasticism inspired by a request from the Instituto Lama Tzong Khapa for video reflections by Lama Yeshe's students exploring his impact and key teachings.
Venerable Chodron’s road to Kopan
- Early introduction to Buddhism
- From married life to the monastery
- Life as a Western nun in Kopan
Passing on the teachings of Lama Yeshe
- Lama Yeshe’s emphasis on equanimity and compassion
- How Lama Yeshe guided his students
- The importance of presenting a good visualization for the lay community
- A focus on overcoming attachment and putting the teachings into practice
Passing on the teachings of Zopa Rinpoche
- How Lama Zopa Rinpoche helped students establish a strong Dharma foundation
- The way Lama Zopa Rinpoche modeled the teachings in his life
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s skillful means in teaching his students
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.
