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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Medicine Buddha thangka surrounded by light and flower offerings.
Medicine Buddha Winter Retreat 2007-08

Understanding Buddhist concepts

Clarifying concepts surrounding arhats and bodhisattvas. Questions on motivation to listen and the meditation on…

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Closeup of Wat Pho's Reclining Buddha.
Essence of Refined Gold

Laziness that interferes with practice

How laziness interferes with Dharma practice. What it means to be kind to ourselves and…

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Medicine Buddha thangka surrounded by light and flower offerings.
Medicine Buddha Winter Retreat 2007-08

Applying the teachings

Discussion: working with the mind, skillful ways of using refuge. Reflection on why we are…

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The word Dharma on a boardwalk.
Essence of Refined Gold

Fortitude of practicing the Dharma

Going through physical and mental hardships during our Dharma practice by cultivating patience.

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Medicine Buddha thangka surrounded by light and flower offerings.
Medicine Buddha Winter Retreat 2007-08

Sharing challenges of practice

Questions from retreatants on dealing with distraction and habitual reactions. Working with dreams in a…

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An Afghan girl's face full of emotion, using her sunburnt hand to cover her mouth.
Essence of Refined Gold

Fortitude of enduring suffering

Continuing with the explanation of the practice of non-retaliation, and the second type of fortitude…

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Medicine Buddha thangka surrounded by light and flower offerings.
Medicine Buddha Winter Retreat 2007-08

Retreat questions and discussion

A discussion session on retreat issues such as visualization, counting mantra, and working with hindrances…

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Medicine Buddha thangka surrounded by light and flower offerings.
Medicine Buddha Winter Retreat 2007-08

Right intention in starting retreat

Getting ready to go into retreat with the right motivation, understanding and expectation.

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The words: fortitude in a grey and a bit green background.
Essence of Refined Gold

Meaning and benefits of fortitude

The types of beings to help and what help should we offer to them. Understanding…

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Young woman sadly looking downward.
Fear, Anxiety, and Other Emotions

Disappointment and delight—the eight worldly c...

Confronting the eight worldly concerns will transform our attachments and emotional afflictions into happiness and…

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A Nun's Life

Becoming a Western Buddhist nun

How Buddhist monastic ordination is becoming established in the West.

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Group photo of Venerable Chodron and retreatants in Israel in Dec 2007.
Dharma Guide Training

Bringing the Dharma to the Middle East

A conversation on Buddha's teachings coming to Israel, developing daily and personal practices.

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