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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Abbey monastics and visiting monastics in the meditation hall.
Becoming a Monastic

On monastic life

Following the ordination of Venerable Thubten Semkye at Sravasti Abbey, visiting nuns participated in a…

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Cover of Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Path.
Books

Mindfully transforming our minds

An excerpt from the book "Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Path."

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A bird enjoys eating at a feeder in the middle of winter.
Harmony with the Environment

Practices and rituals

Questions on rituals in Buddhist practice, right intention, right livelihood.

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A bird enjoys eating at a feeder in the middle of winter.
Harmony with the Environment

Panic and fear

How attitudes and emotions affect the body and mind, causing stress. Advice for leading a…

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A bird enjoys eating at a feeder in the middle of winter.
Harmony with the Environment

Cynicism, fear of change, responsibility

Questions on cynicism among young people, fear of change, taking responsibility.

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A bird enjoys eating at a feeder in the middle of winter.
Harmony with the Environment

Motivated to not harm

Not harming, verbally or mentally. Questions on how we react to someone's misfortune and on…

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A bird enjoys eating at a feeder in the middle of winter.
Harmony with the Environment

Activism with altruism

A retreat focused on watching the mind that is engaged in environmental activism.

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People walking on the street, the words Liberation on the floor of the street.
Essence of Refined Gold

Liberation from dukkha

The origin of dukkha and how the three higher trainings lead to liberation from cyclic…

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Image of Medicine Buddha in black n white.
Medicine Buddha

Medicine Buddha deity sadhana with guided meditation

Medicine Buddha sadhana text with audio recording of guided meditation.

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Cover of book Open Heart, Clearn Mind.
How Rebirth Works

Rebirth and karma

Understanding rebirth and its relationship to karma, and taking responsibility for our lives.

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