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.

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Cultivating Compassion

Introduction to the taking and giving meditation

Overcoming self-centredness, a major obstacle to doing the taking and giving meditation.

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Science and Buddhism

Contestable times

A conversation on the nature of time with a theoretical physicist, a philosopher, and a…

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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

A bodhisattva’s humility

Commentary to verses on developing a bodhisattva’s joy and humility in pacifying others’ sufferings.

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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

No real owner of suffering

Commentary on verses about the equality of one’s own and others’ suffering.

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Cultivating Compassion

Compassion in action: a life of service

Reflections on being part of the first generation of Western monastics and what it means…

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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Why do I protect myself and not others?

Using reasoning to move beyond the self-centered attitude and care about the happiness and suffering…

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Qualities of a Spiritual Teacher

Big love

Remembering teachings by Lama Thubten Yeshe and his kindness to the early Western Buddhist students.

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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

What is prayer?

A discussion of the nature of prayer in Buddhism and recognizing the kindness of others.

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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Equalizing self and other ultimately

Explanation of the last three points of the equalizing self and other meditation including review…

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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Others have been kind

Explanation of the second three points of the nine-point equalizing self and others meditation.

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