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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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Venerable Chodron and retreatants group photo in 2005.
Vajrasattva Winter Retreat 2005

Create karma, accumulate merit, apply antidote

Working on concepts of karma, emptiness, attachment in the retreat. An analytical meditation of what…

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Venerable Chodron and retreatants group photo in 2005.
Vajrasattva Winter Retreat 2005

Reviewing behavior patterns

Sharing of personal experiences from the meditation.

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Closeup of the face of a Buddha statue.
Fear, Anxiety, and Other Emotions

Dealing with disappointment

Happiness begins with eliminating unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others.

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Venerable Chodron and retreatants group photo in 2005.
Vajrasattva Winter Retreat 2005

Questions about initiation and meditation

Rejoicing in receiving the Vajrasattva initiation from Lama Zopa. Clarifying various aspects of the meditation…

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Venerable Thubten Chodron, Lama Zopa with retreatants standing and talking.
Wisdom

Lama Zopa on emptiness

An interview with Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the Prasangika Madhyamaka view of emptiness and its…

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Venerable Chodron and retreatants group photo in 2005.
Vajrasattva Winter Retreat 2005

Initial experiences of retreatants

Working through different states of mind and restless energy, changing the way we move in…

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Venerable Chodron and retreatants group photo in 2005.
Vajrasattva Winter Retreat 2005

A content and disciplined retreat mind

Using the retreat time to develop a healthier way of looking at our behavior. The…

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Closeup of Kuan Yin statue at the Abbey.
Prayers and Practices

Prayers for Asian Tsunami victims

Advice to a Dharma student on prayers and practices that can be done to benefit…

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Introduction to Tantra

Introduction to tantra

Understanding the Vajrayana path, how it fits into the Buddhist teachings, and knowing the right…

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Happy Retreatants with Venerable Thubten Chodron
Vajrasattva

Preparing for Vajrasattva retreat

Preparatory instructions, including explanations of purification, visualization, practicing in retreat, and mantra recitation.

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Contentment and Happiness

How to achieve success, happiness and love

Re-defining success, happiness and love on our own terms, and understanding how the Buddhist perspective…

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Venerable Chodron with eyes closed, holding a microphone.
Contentment and Happiness

Attaining and balancing wealth

Examining what money symbolizes in our life, and how overcoming self-centeredness can bring about inner…

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