The evolution of the Dharma and the vinaya
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Exploring Monastic Life 2015 
Aug 6, 2015 A talk given during Sravasti Abbey's annual Exploring Monastic Life program in 2015.
- The Buddha’s milieu and how he engaged with a great variety of people
- How the monastic order evolved after the Buddha’s passing into parinirvana
- How culture, social conditions, and politics affected the spread of Buddhism to different countries
- The evolution of the Dharma and the vinaya in different countries
- Questions and answers
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.
