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

Good Karma Annual Retreat

Good Karma: The eight worldly concerns

How subduing the eight worldly concerns is the first step in living a spiritual or…

View Post
Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

View of a personal identity

Teaching from Chapter 3, describing the view of a personal identity covering the coarse and…

View Post
Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

The filth of the body

Covers Verses 5.60-5.70, discussing how to cultivate a sense of the body's lack of cleanliness,…

View Post
Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Resolute and stable

Covering Verses 5.54-5.60 on how to be resolute in the Dharma practice, cultivate mental stability,…

View Post
Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

The root afflictions: Ignorance

Continuing teaching from Chapter 3, describing different meanings of ignorance and explaining deluded doubt.

View Post
An Open-Hearted Life

Finding the best in other people

How to improve relationships with others by recognizing and focusing on their good qualities.

View Post
Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

How to act when afflictions arise

Covers Verses 46-54 of Chapter 5 discussing skilful ways to act when afflictions arise

View Post
Monastic Life

The value of monastic life and communities in the 21...

In modern Western society, monastics support their communities in part by acting as the conscience…

View Post
Contentment and Happiness

Living a happy life: Covid or not

How we can use the pandemic experience in a positive way, to change, develop talents,…

View Post
Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

The root afflictions: Anger

Continuing teaching from Chapter 3, explaining four types of clinging, what is anger and how…

View Post