Going beyond self-centeredness

Buddhist thoughts on the Christian Litany of Humility

A talk given at the Ripa Center in Moscow, Russia. The teachings are in English with Russian translation.

  • In Buddhism we are trying to love others in a healthy way, not a needy way
  • We are the ones who suffer from holding a grudge, not our enemies
  • We learn a lot about ourselves from difficulties and difficult relationships
  • The self-centered attitude is one of the biggest obstacles we have on the path
  • Decreasing the self-centered attitude doesn’t mean we stop caring about ourselves

Going beyond self-centeredness (download)

http://www.youtu.be/3DAPKLgtJ6U

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.