Venerable Sangye Khadro

California-born, Venerable Sangye Khadro ordained as a Buddhist nun at Kopan Monastery in 1974 and is a longtime friend and colleague of Abbey founder Venerable Thubten Chodron. She took bhikshuni (full) ordination in 1988. While studying at Nalanda Monastery in France in the 1980s, she helped to start the Dorje Pamo Nunnery, along with Venerable Chodron. Venerable Sangye Khadro has studied with many Buddhist masters including Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, and Khensur Jampa Tegchok. At her teachers’ request, she began teaching in 1980 and has since taught in countries around the world, occasionally taking time off for personal retreats. She served as resident teacher in Buddha House, Australia, Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore, and the FPMT centre in Denmark. From 2008-2015, she followed the Masters Program at the Lama Tsong Khapa Institute in Italy. Venerable has authored a number books found here, including the best-selling How to Meditate. She has taught at Sravasti Abbey since 2017 and is now a full-time resident.

Featured Series

Ven. Sangye Khadro laughs in the teacher's seat of the Meditation Hall.

Easy Path to Travel to Omniscience with Venerable Sangye Khadro

Teachings on the stages of the path to awakening by Venerable Sangye Khadro hosted by Thubten Norbu Ling Center in New Mexico, USA.

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Venerable Sangye Khadro teaching a group at Sravasti Abbey with a Vajrasattva Thangka

Introduction to Tantra with Venerable Sangye Khadro 2021 and 2023

Teachings on Tantra (Vajrayana), including its relationship with other Buddhist practices, the correct motivation, preparation for practice, and extensive topics covering emptiness. Covers two series from 2021 and 2023.

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Venerable Sangye Khadro smiling while teaching in front of a thangka.

Meditation 101 by Venerable Sangye Khadro (2021)

Teachings by Venerable Sangye Khadro suitable for people encountering both meditation and Buddhism for the first time.

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Venerable Sangye Khadro stands next to a wooden statue of Kuan Yin.

Middle-Length Lamrim with Venerable Sangye Khadro (2023-present)

Ongoing teachings on the Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment by Lama Tsongkhapa. Streamed live on the Sravasti Abbey YouTube channel on Thursday mornings at 9 am Pacific Time.

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Venerable Sangye Khadro smiles while speaking into a microphone.

Tenets with Venerable Sangye Khadro (2022)

Weekly teachings on the text "Presentation of Tenets" by Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen by Venerable Sangye Khadro.

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Stages of the Path

Excellent qualities of the dharma and sangha

Explaining the qualities of the dharma jewel and sangha jewel and the precepts to follow…

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Buddhist Meditation 101

What is meditation?

Teaching on how meditation in a Tibetan Buddhist perspective gives tools, methods, ways, and paths…

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Stages of the Path

Refuge and the excellent qualities of the Buddha

Explaining how the three jewels are worthy objects of refuge, teaching from Chapter 9.

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Stages of the Path

Contemplating the lower realms

Explaining the suffering of hell beings, animals and hungry ghosts, continuing the teaching from Chapter…

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Stages of the Path

Only dharma will benefit at death

Describing the last 3 points of the nine-point death meditation, teaching from Chapter 8.

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Stages of the Path

Death is definite but time is uncertain

Explaining the first six points of the nine-point death meditation, teaching from Chapter 8.

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Stages of the Path

Mindfulness of death, faults and benefits

Completing Chapter 7, explaining the purpose of the gradual training and commencing Chapter 8, covering…

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Stages of the Path

Three types of persons

Explaining the three levels of practitioners and the reasons for the gradual stages, teaching from…

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Stages of the Path

Great value and rarity of a precious rebirth

Explaining the great value and the difficulty in having a precious human birth, teaching from…

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Stages of the Path

Identifying 18 freedoms and endowments, their great ...

Explaining 8 freedoms and 10 endowments for a precious human life, teaching from Chapter 6.

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Qualities of a Spiritual Teacher

Remembering the kindness of the guru with Ven. Khadro

Stories about Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe from Venerable Sangye Khadro’s experience.

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