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.

Read Full Bio

View Posts

Science and Buddhism

Does ethics matter in science and technology?

How the ethics of non-harming apply in the fields of information technology, scientific research, and…

View Post
An Open-Hearted Life

Reaching out with compassion

How extending yourself to another living being pulls you outside yourself and opens the door…

View Post
Volume 2 The Foundation of Buddhist Practice

The path of the initial level practitioner

Teaching the concluding sections, covering "A Deeper Perspective on Causality" and 'The Path of the…

View Post
Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

The perfection of ethical conduct & fortitude

Covering Verses 11 - 13 of Chapter 5, discussing the perfections of generosity, ethical conduct,…

View Post
Venerable Chodron smiling while walking down a snowy path at the Abbey.
Dharma in Daily Life

How to make wise decisions

Decisions can have long-term consequences. Venerable Chodron gives advice on how to apply the principles…

View Post
Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Mindfulness and introspective awareness

Covering Verses 5.6-5.10, discussing the relationship between mindfulness and introspective awareness, and how the six…

View Post
Venerable Chodron smiling while sitting in front of a large TV screen showing Zoom participants.
21st Century Buddhists

Buddhism, modernism and mindfulness

A discussion on topics including Buddhist and secular mindfulness, the value of monasticism, and the…

View Post
Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Mindfulness and fear

Covering Verses 1-5 of Chapter 5 'Guarding Introspection' and discussing how to work with fear…

View Post
Volume 2 The Foundation of Buddhist Practice

The complexity of karma

Explaining accounts of karmic events that can be difficult to comprehend and describing the causes…

View Post
Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Where do the afflictions exist?

Reflecting on what benefiting others truly means and teaching on Chapter 4 Verses 46 -…

View Post
Tibetan Tradition

The rise of women in Buddhism: Has the ice been broken?

In this panel discussion recorded in 2014, Venerable Thubten Chodron and others consider the problems…

View Post
Volume 2 The Foundation of Buddhist Practice

Creating our future

Continuing the teaching on purifying destructive karma and explaining how we can make wise decisions…

View Post