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.

Read Full Bio

View Posts

Green Tara Winter Retreat 2009-2010

Emptiness and worldly appearances

Emptiness is not simply another quality of a sense object, like color or shape, but…

View Post
Green Tara Winter Retreat 2009-2010

Emptiness as the nature of phenomena

When anything exists, from the moment it exists, it is empty of inherent existence.

View Post
Green Tara Winter Retreat 2009-2010

Emptiness feels so solid

Emptiness, sometimes mistakenly thought of something that exists solidly, is actually a non-affirming negation, a…

View Post
Green Tara Winter Retreat 2009-2010

Buddha nature and omniscient mind

What buddha nature means; It doesn't mean that we're already buddhas. A continuing explanation of…

View Post
Green Tara Winter Retreat 2009-2010

The pitfalls of perfectionism

Developing conviction in the Dharma teachings and how to approach the Dharma in a constructive…

View Post
Green Tara Winter Retreat 2009-2010

Tara’s wisdom

Further explanations of doing the Tara sadhana and what different sections mean. The various kinds…

View Post
Seven-point Mind Training

The precepts of mind training

How we tend to view others as objects or commodities for our own happiness rather…

View Post
Green Tara Winter Retreat 2009-2010

How to see Tara

It is incorrect to project human qualities on Tara or see her as a theistic…

View Post
Green Tara Winter Retreat 2009-2010

Seasons change

The seasons change, a vivid example of impermanence. Calling a day the first day of…

View Post
Green Tara Winter Retreat 2009-2010

Lamrim meditation in Tara sadhana

Tara gives us inspiration while we're meditating during the sadhana. She is a representation of…

View Post