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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 Damcho, sitting outside, working on a laptop and smiling.
Mind and Mental Factors

Three beneficial mental factors

Good ethical discipline is the basis of (1) respect for ourselves and (2) consideration for…

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Orange streaks in a cloudy sky as the sun sets.
Wheel of Sharp Weapons 2004-06

Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 92-94

Making clear aspirations and determinations about how we want to live our lives. How our…

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Orange streaks in a cloudy sky as the sun sets.
Wheel of Sharp Weapons 2004-06

Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 90-91

Watching our tendency to do the opposite of what our teachers instruct, becoming willing to…

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Orange streaks in a cloudy sky as the sun sets.
Wheel of Sharp Weapons 2004-06

Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 86-89

Verses covering the importance of focused study to support meditation, reliance on a teacher, working…

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Orange streaks in a cloudy sky as the sun sets.
Wheel of Sharp Weapons 2004-06

Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 84-85

Verses describing how to approach learning the Dharma, avoiding wrong views, and working with our…

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A man sleeping with a book: The Joy of Laziness.
The Six Perfections

Joyful effort

The three types of laziness, how they can hinder successful practice, and how to overcome…

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Orange streaks in a cloudy sky as the sun sets.
Wheel of Sharp Weapons 2004-06

Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 81-83

Remembering what samsara is, it's causes, and applying that to our life. Coming to see…

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Orange streaks in a cloudy sky as the sun sets.
Wheel of Sharp Weapons 2004-06

Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 77-80

The importance of keeping confidences, and controlling the story-making mind.

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Orange streaks in a cloudy sky as the sun sets.
Wheel of Sharp Weapons 2004-06

Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 73-76

Verses covering such topics as the eight worldly concerns, community property, receiving advice and admonishment.

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Orange streaks in a cloudy sky as the sun sets.
Wheel of Sharp Weapons 2004-06

Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 69-72

How reminding ourselves that the afflictions are the fault of the self-centered thought gives us…

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Venerable Chodron and Venerable Dhammika having a talk at the Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society.
Qualities of a Spiritual Teacher

How to relate to a spiritual teacher

Investigating the important role the spiritual teacher plays in our lives and how to cultivate…

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Orange streaks in a cloudy sky as the sun sets.
Wheel of Sharp Weapons 2004-06

Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 67-69

The importance of becoming honest with ourselves, admitting our faults, and not always blaming others…

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