Buddha nature

Teachings on buddha nature, the innate quality of the mind that enables all beings to attain enlightenment.

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

Cover of book Open Heart, Clearn Mind.
How Rebirth Works

Rebirth and karma

Understanding rebirth and its relationship to karma, and taking responsibility for our lives.

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The words 'Let go' painted on cable car tracks.
On Self-Worth

Letting go of guilt and shame

Overcoming guilt and shame by cultivating loving kindness for oneself first and then expanding it…

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Man sitting in meditation with eyes closed.
By Incarcerated People

Daishin, big mind

We can embrace our experiences, whether difficult or pleasant, in a way that is neither…

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Vegetables on a prison kitchen counter.
By Incarcerated People

Kitchen Dharma

A person in prison explores opportunities to practice the Dharma in difficult living and working…

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Stone statue of Kuan Yin under a tree covered in snow.
Chenrezig Winter Retreat 2006-07

Basic goodness

The relationship between buddha nature and basic goodness, different ways to show compassion, and how…

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Sonam Gyatso the Third Dalai Lama
Chenrezig Winter Retreat 2006-07

Essence of Refined Gold

A treatise on the Lamrim Tradition of meditation, a tradition known as "Stages on the…

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Stupas and prayer flags in dharamsala.
A Nun's Life

Gender equality/inequality in Buddhism

How our own minds create our experience of gender equality. Addressing "problematic" text, situation of…

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Bars on a window with dead tree inside against red bricks
On Self-Worth

Shame

Finding self-respect in the respect we have for our own Buddha nature.

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A man mediating in a park, surrounded by trees and leaves.
Working with Emotions

Making friends with ourselves

Discovering our Buddha potential by investigating the source of lasting happiness and cultivating the heart…

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Venerable Chodron in front of an altar, teaching.
Bodhisattva Path

Three ways to see bodhicitta in terms of dependent a...

How to use the understanding of dependence on causes and conditions, parts and mental labeling…

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Statue of 1000 armed Chenrezig made of wood.
108 Verses on Compassion

108 Verses: Verse 9

Generating compassion by seeing things as not inherently existing and changing how we act with…

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Prison Poetry

Deeply committed to freedom

An incarcerated person writes about the choice we make each day: to rise above our…

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