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 Thubten Chodron Rebirth: A difficult point for Westerners
Developing faith in the Buddhist view of continuation of life and guiding oneself with positive…
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Life after retreat
Advice on going back gently into the unreal world, bring back and continue good habits…
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Answering questions from retreatants
Guided questioning on selflessness. Explaining concept of taking refuge with the three jewels. On death,…
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Arya Tara: A star by which to navigate
Who Tara is, an explanation of the practice of Tara, and how Tara frees us…
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Happiness and pleasures
Analysis of what it means to truly love ourselves. What is happiness?
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Purification and non-negotiables
Clarification of what is being purified. Criteria we use to make decisions: how wise are…
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Physical prison versus samsaric prison
Watching the mind's reaction to food. Looking at attachment, seeing where it leads us. Examining…
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Relying on a spiritual teacher
The importance of the relationship between teacher and student and how to cultivate that relationship.
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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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