Blog

Latest Posts

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

A woman wearing a mask covering her face, one side of the mask with an open eye and word Happy and the other side of the mask a crying eye with the word Sad.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Masks

Wearing masks become part of our life so that we are able to hide our…

View Post
Venerable in the Abbey garden area with participants of EML 2006.
Exploring Monastic Life 2006

Benefits of ordination

The benefits of ordination include incredible accumulation of merit, freedom to dedicate life to practice,…

View Post
Monk sweeping monstery grounds.
Exploring Monastic Life 2006

Keeping the mind on spiritual practice

Guarding the sense doors and living in perfect morality with introspective alertness.

View Post
Monk sweeping monstery grounds.
Exploring Monastic Life 2006

Keeping ethical conduct

How to face hindrances with a clear and strong mind, what to practice and what…

View Post
3 stuffed mice-One bigger mice taking sticks, one smaller mice taking a basket and one small mice looking at the big one carrying the sticks.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

A family of mice

A family of mice in his locker—be compassionate or let them die?

View Post
Monk sweeping monstery grounds.
Exploring Monastic Life 2006

“The Fruits of the Homeless Life”

A sutra that describes the benefits of renouncing lay life. The background for the teachings…

View Post
Tibetan monk performing tantric ritual.
Exploring Monastic Life 2006

Tantra in practice

History and comparison of Buddhist and non-Buddhist forms of tantra and the uniqueness of the…

View Post
Sand mandala.
Exploring Monastic Life 2006

The development of Tantra in Buddhism

The evolution of the various classes of tantra, how culture relates to tantra, and how…

View Post
Thai monk sitting outside next to alms bowl, meditating.
Exploring Monastic Life 2006

Sexuality and celibacy

The precept of celibacy and the repercussions of unwise sexual behavior.

View Post
Maroon robes.
Exploring Monastic Life 2006

Origin of the Mahayana sutras

There are records of Buddhist teachings in oral and written form through time. Were they…

View Post
Maroon robes.
Exploring Monastic Life 2006

The development of the Mahayana tradition

How the various traditions build upon each other. The different ways of seeing the spiritual…

View Post