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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Monk reading a Tibetan pecha.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Attributes of a monastic life

Spending time on Dharma versus entertainment. Community life as one's mirror.

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Lay person giving alms to monk.
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Letting go of “me,” “I,” and...

We value good karma more than money and possessions. Accumulating mental and emotional wealth.

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Burmese nuns walking in formation.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Simplicity

Considering desired long-term results and what actions to perform now to attain them. The qualities…

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Ven. Chogkyi listening to Ven. Chodron give a Dharma talk.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Essentials of monastic life

The heart of ordination is to guide our mind away from negative actions and to…

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Stone sculpture of monk meditating near Chaityas.
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Development of the sangha

Relating our ways of being in the world to our state of mind and how…

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Sangha walking down a country road.
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Historical evolution of the sangha

Dharma practice means being a balanced human being with self acceptance and ease, not being…

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Thai practitioner kneeling with palms together.
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Importance of precepts

Keeping precepts protects us from negative actions and spurs us to develop wisdom rather than…

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Painting of the Buddha's first sermon and five disciples.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Precepts and their background

Benefits of taking precepts, seeing the teacher as the Buddha, and etiquette between lay practitioners,…

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Gold calligraphy 'Great Wisdom Sutra Handscroll - Frontspiece detail - the Buddha's First Sermon.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

History of the sangha

The purpose of living in community. The evolution of the sangha and the establishment of…

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