Buddhist nuns

Guidance from teachers of various Buddhist traditions on the importance of ensuring that women experience full equality in their opportunity to practice and teach the Dharma.

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

Woman with palms together.
On Cultivating Virtue

Serving one’s spiritual mentor

How a Dharma student’s motivation was strengthened by offering service to her teacher.

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Photo of Venerable Sek Fatt Kuan, smiling.
A Nun's Life

The life of Venerable Sek Fatt Kuan: compassion in a...

Through the force of her compassion, a Buddhist nun overcomes difficulties to establish a home…

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Venerable Chodron in the early years of her ordination.
A Nun's Life

You’re becoming a what?

Venerable Thubten Chodron shares her experience as a Westerner who made the decision to become…

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Group photo of monastics.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Joyfully swimming upstream

Monastics from different traditions discussed the significance of the Vinaya and its application in a…

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An informal discussion: Venerable Tenzin Kacho, Venerable Thubten Chodron, Venerable Wu Yin, Venerable Jendy, Venerable Heng-ching.
Tibetan Tradition

Multi-tradition ordination (long version)

Detailed research establishing a precedent in Tibet where ordination was given together by monks from…

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Hand in meditation position.
Full Ordination for Nuns

That was then, this is now

Why the eight heavy rules on the ordination of women need to be changed.

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Group photo of monastics at the 15th annual WBMG.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Monastics go green

Monastics of different traditions discussed intersections between Buddhism and environmentalism, and how Dharma practice can…

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Venerable teaching at Thösamling Institute in India.
Monastic Life

How to approach Dharma practice

Practical advice on applying the Dharma in everyday life, making the teachings transform our minds…

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Group photo of monastics.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Monasteries and monastic training

A summary of the recent 14th annual Western Buddhist monastic conference, describing the training of…

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Group photo of monastics.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Western monasticism

Monastics from different traditions discuss aspects of training, creating monasteries, and the challenges of monastic…

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HH Dalai Lama placing a khata over Venerable Thubten Chodron.
Full Ordination for Nuns

Dark matter

Examining the complexity of the issue of bhikkhuni ordination: different views and lineages of the…

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Venerable smiling while eating a meal with other monastics.
Living in Community

Six harmonies in a sangha community

Practical guidelines for setting up and living in a Dharma community or monastery, and the…

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