Seeking liberation

A talk given during Sravasti Abbey's annual Exploring Monastic Life program in 2012.

  • Addressing lay views on monastic life
  • Living a meaningful life
  • Creating the causes of real happiness
  • Learning from mistakes
  • The Buddha’s early practices
  • The Buddha overcomes negativities and achieves enlightenment
  • Confronting our self-absorption

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.