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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A yellow statute of prince siddhartha cutting of his hair, as a symbol of his renunciation.
Three Principal Aspects of the Path

Advantages of renunciation

Explains the opening verses, and explains the importance and advantages of renunciation. Clarifies what renunciation…

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Stupas at Kopan Monastery, Nepal
Making Offerings

Explanation of the extensive offering practice

An explanation of the symbolism of the extensive offerings practice; imagining vast offerings in order…

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A hand holding a hand clock and a skeleton head in background.
Living a Meaningful Life

What is important at the time of death

A guided meditation on imagining our own death. How to practice in preparation for death…

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A Green Tara tsatsa.
Prayers and Practices

Recovering after Hurricane Wilma

Advice to a Buddhist group on developing renunciation and bodhicitta in the aftermath of Hurricane…

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Venerable Jigme sitting on a lake dock with her feet in the water.
Dharma in Daily Life

How to handle everyday problems

In order to be happy it is important to change our attitude instead of focusing…

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Sangha and lay practitioners listening carefully as Venerable Chodron teaches.
Contentment and Happiness

Finding true happiness

Looking for happiness in all the wrong places? True happiness and contentment are not created…

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Venerable Chodron and a monk walking down a path, in conversation.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Monastic practices

A discussion among Western and Asian monastics highlights some of the practices in their particular…

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Venerable Chodron leading retreatants in chanting.
Dealing with Grief

Dealing with grief

Exploring the causes of grief and how to work through the grieving process.

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Altar set up for Medicine Buddha puja.
Dealing with Grief

When our spiritual mentors pass away

A exchange with an old friend about experiencing the deaths of spiritual teachers.

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Abbey monastics chanting during a Medicine Buddha puja.
Dealing with Grief

Losing a dear one who was young

A letter from a student questioning the reason for the loss of her younger sister.

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Beautiful golden face of a Buddha.
Bodhisattva Path

Preparing the mind for tonglen

The importance of meditating on equanimity and the kindness of others before doing the taking…

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Closeup face of a Buddha
Buddhist Meditation 101

Stilling the critical mind

A guided meditation on the breath to cultivate a sense of contentment with the present…

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