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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Wisdom

Nirvana

The emptiness of all phenomena and different interpretations of nirvana.

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Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps

Commitment to contentment

Discussing the importance of monastics cultivating an attitude of contentment and commitment to upholding the…

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Wisdom

The eight aspects of emptiness

The emptiness of an object's characteristics and of the 12 links of dependent arising.

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Wisdom

Traditions of interpretation

Examining the four profundities and why analysis is crucial for perceiving emptiness.

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Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps

Ten points monastics should reflect on

Explaining ten points that the Buddha recommended for all monastics to reflect on; also, how…

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Wisdom

Understanding the two truths

Examining how form depends on causes and conditions and is an expression of emptiness.

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Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps

Maintaining the purity of the Sangha

Describing how to maintain the purity of the Sangha, including some motivating advice from Master…

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Wisdom

Emptiness and dependent origination

Examining different meanings of dependence and different ways of inherently existing.

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Wisdom

The two middle-way schools

Investigating how the self exists and two primary divisions in the middle-way school.

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Wisdom

Definitive verses, provisional interpretations

The importance of investigating all teachings and an introduction to the middle-way view.

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