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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Buddhist Reasoning and Debate

The clap!

Teaching on Chapter 17: The Clap! which details the symbolism behind the dramatic physical form…

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Venerable Chodron standing with monastics and lay people at Shide Nunnery.
Western Monastics

Interview with Shide Nunnery

An interview with Venerable Chodron with nuns from Shide Nunnery in Germany about the mindful…

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Buddhist Worldview

The seven jewels of the aryas: Material generosity

The benefits of material generosity, one of the different kinds of generosity referred to by…

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Volume 1 Approaching the Buddhist Path

Tantra and Buddhist canons

Briefly covering tantra and beginning a section on the content of the three extant Buddhist…

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Buddhist Worldview

The seven jewels of the aryas: Ethical conduct

The importance of ethical conduct, the second Jewel of the aryas, and how hurting others…

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Buddhist Reasoning and Debate

Challengers and defenders

Beginning to teach Chapter 16, 'Challengers and Defenders', which focuses on the two key roles…

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Venerable Chodron placing a khata around someone's neck.
Prayers and Practices

Chinese New Year Tsog motivation

A brief motivation given before a ceremony on Chinese New Year's day in honor of…

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Buddhist Worldview

The seven jewels of the aryas: Faith

Venerable Thubten Chodron talks about faith, the first jewel of the aryas, and its three…

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Volume 1 Approaching the Buddhist Path

The growth of the Mahayana

Teaching on how the Mahayana sutras first appeared, gained popularity and became the focus of…

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Buddhist Reasoning and Debate

Choosing your debate partner

Covering Chapter 15 on the topic of “Choosing Your Debate Partner” and becoming a suitable…

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