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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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Awareness of our body and speech

Covering Verses 5.34-45, discussing how we can use mindfulness and introspection to assess how we…

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Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

The root afflictions: Attachment

How the afflictions cause problems and the importance of combating them. What attachment is and…

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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Recollecting the Buddha

Covering Verses 31-35 of Chapter 5, discussing how mindfulness and introspection arise, and how to…

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Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Our human value

How reflecting on duhkha lessens attachment to worldly pleasures and leads to an aspiration for…

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Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Kinds of duhkha

Continuing the teachings from Chapter 2, explaining eight unsatisfactory conditions and describing characteristics of true…

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Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Types of duhkha

Continuing Chapter 2, covering the sections “Three Types of Duhkha”, “Feelings, Afflictions and Duhkha”, and…

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Harmony with the Environment

Caring for our only home

It is important to care for the environment we live in, not only for our…

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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Guarding the mind

Covering Verses 19-30 of Chapter 5, discussing the reasons we must guard our mind and…

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Engaged Buddhism

Life after the pandemic: It depends on us

A look at the effects of the pandemic on individuals and society, how people have…

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Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Realms of existence

Continuing Chapter 2, describing different realms where beings are reborn, causes for the rebirth and…

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Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Four attributes of true paths

Completing Chapter 1 describing four attributes of true paths and starting Chapter 2, covering “Knowing…

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Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Four attributes of true cessations

Teaching from Chapter 1, describing four attributes of true cessations and four attributes of true…

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