Blog

Latest Posts

View all posts in Venerable Thubten Chodron's teaching archive.

Cover of Buddhism for Beginners.
Buddhism for Beginners

The Buddhist traditions

An overview of the different Buddhist traditions, their similarities and differences, and some common misperceptions…

View Post
Stages of the Path

Equalizing and exchanging self and other

Explanation of equalizing and exchanging self and others as well as a special meditation on…

View Post
Venerable Chodron, smiling, receiving alms from a young boy.
Western Monastics

How precious is monastic community

The conditions for a stable monastic community, where beginners can train, are extremely rare and…

View Post
Stages of the Path

Seven-point cause and effect

Developing bodhicitta, first by meditating on exchanging and equalizing self with others, then following the…

View Post
Roller coaster about to go down a big hill.
On Working with Afflictions

Resistance

Overcoming old habits is not easy. Being honest with oneself helps us to gain a…

View Post
Stages of the Path

Samsara and dukkha

Looking at the disadvantages of cyclic existence to develop a determination to be free from…

View Post
Stages of the Path

Karma

An in-depth look at the intricacies of karma: its characteristics, factors, results, and weight; helping…

View Post
Cover of Insight into Emptiness.
Books

Mandala review: “Insight into Emptiness”

Daryl Dunigan of Mandala magazine reviews Khensur Jampa Tegchok's book on emptiness, which was edited…

View Post
Group photo of monastics.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Developing and sustaining bodhi resolve

Monastics from different traditions discussed cultivating joyous effort and bodhicitta in a difficult modern world.

View Post
Stages of the Path

Refuge

What is means to take refuge, how to create the causes, and why the Three…

View Post
Stages of the Path

Death and impermanence

The importance and benefits of contemplating death, complemented by explanation of the nine-point death meditation.

View Post