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 nun stands by a lake with open meadow and trees.
Mind and Mental Factors

Non-harmfulness and equanimity

Developing deeper levels of compassion. Balanced state of mind in meditation when there is no…

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A nun stands by a lake with open meadow and trees.
Mind and Mental Factors

Conscientiousness

Importance of cherishing the positive actions and how that strengthens mindfulness.

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A nun stands by a lake with open meadow and trees.
Mind and Mental Factors

Non-hatred and non-bewilderment

How to be open-minded to develop patience and love. The importance of thinking about and…

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A nun stands by a lake with open meadow and trees.
Mind and Mental Factors

Non-attachment

Cultivating non-attachment in order to relate to the world in a balanced way.

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Couple exchanging rings at wedding ceremony.
Family and Friends

A celebration of love

A Buddhist couple share on the format of their wedding celebration, which included guided meditations…

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A couple's hands together.
Family and Friends

A Buddhist marriage blessing

Practices that couples getting married can do to make merit and share their deepest aspirations…

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A nun stands by a lake with open meadow and trees.
Mind and Mental Factors

Concentration and wisdom

Interplay between mental factors and correlation to lamrim for developing meditative stabilization and wisdom.

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Cesara, a guest at the Abbey, emptying water bowls.
Refuge in the Three Jewels

Purifying for refuge practice

Why purification is necessary; practices for taking refuge in spiritual mentors, the Buddhas, the Dharma,…

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A nun stands by a lake with open meadow and trees.
Mind and Mental Factors

Appreciation and mindfulness

What is mindfulness and how it plays an important role in study, meditation and ethical…

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