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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Cultivating Concentration Retreat 2019

Lethargy, sleepiness, restlessness, remorse

The third and fourth hindrance to developing concentration: lethargy and sleepiness, and restlessness and remorse.

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Cultivating Concentration Retreat 2019

Doubt

The fifth hindrance to developing concentration, and teachings from the Pali tradition on taming the…

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Cultivating Concentration Retreat 2019

Sensual desire and malice

Walking meditation instructions, sitting meditation posture, and the first two hindrances to developing concentration.

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Cultivating Concentration Retreat 2019

Conditions conducive for developing concentration

The six conditions conducive for developing concentration and selecting an object of meditation - either…

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Volume 1 Approaching the Buddhist Path

Prayers, rituals, and practice

Discussing how to relate to prayer and ritual in Buddhist practice, and the three-step method…

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Buddhist Reasoning and Debate

Debate in action

Leading short debates going through the five answers a defender can give to a challenger.

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Venerable holding a microphone and smiling while teaching at Gardenia Center.
Books

Making life meaningful by connecting with others

How doing even small positive things can make a difference in the lives of others…

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Volume 1 Approaching the Buddhist Path

Faith, purification, and merit

Continuing the teaching from Chapter 9, 'Tools for the Path', exploring the ideas of faith,…

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Volume 1 Approaching the Buddhist Path

Tools for the path

Beginning teaching Chapter 9, Tools for the Path, covering general advice to help practitioners overcome…

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Buddhist Reasoning and Debate

The defender’s response

Explaining the various responses a defender can give to the challenger in a debate, and…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2019

Ordination is a wonderous deed

How to benefit others according to our capacity, and commentary to the advice following the…

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