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

Regretting negativity by reflecting on death

Giving commentary to Verses 32-41, showing how reflecting on death can help clarify what is…

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An Open-Hearted Life

Compassion and empathy

How empathy is a core component of compassion, both in being able to feel compassion…

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Volume 2 The Foundation of Buddhist Practice

Verbal non-virtues

Continuing the explanation of ten non-virtues, covering the third physical non-virtue and the first three…

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Dealing with Grief

Meditation for parents grieving the loss of a child

A guided meditation for those who are grieving the death of a child. The meditation…

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Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey

Removing barriers to forgiveness

Discussing what gets in the way of forgiving others and responsibility for our harmful actions

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Volume 2 The Foundation of Buddhist Practice

Mental non-virtues

Teaching three mental non-virtues and the four branches required for a complete act of killing…

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A rainbow appears in the gray sky above the treeline.
Forgiveness

The four opponent powers

Explaining the four opponent powers of purification, and encouraging us to take responsibility for our…

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A rainbow appears in the gray sky above the treeline.
Forgiveness

Stories of forgiveness

Continuing with the Gift of Forgiveness retreat, discussing various stories of forgiveness to illustrate the…

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A rainbow appears in the gray sky above the treeline.
Forgiveness

Understanding disturbing emotions

Leading a question and answer session and exploring how to understand our disturbing emotions so…

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A rainbow appears in the gray sky above the treeline.
Forgiveness

The disadvantages of holding grudges

Beginning the Gift of Forgiveness retreat, discussing the disadvantages of anger, overcoming a culture of…

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Volume 2 The Foundation of Buddhist Practice

General characteristics of karma

Teaching from the sections “General Characteristics of Karma” and “Specific Characteristics of Karma” in Chapter…

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