Thought Training

Who it’s for

Eager to transform your mind and enrich your day with short, easily digestible nuggets of Dharma? These commentaries feature short informal talks that relay the Buddha’s teachings in ways that can quickly and easily be put into action.

Teachings highlighted in bold are listed at the bottom of the page.

Content and resources

Wisdom of the Kadam Masters

Venerable Thubten Chodron gave two extensive commentaries on mind and awareness.

The first set of teachings was a commentary on Geshe Jampel Sampel’s text Presentation of Mind and Awareness, Composite of All the Important Points, Opener of the Eye of New Intelligence: A Presentation of Mind and Awareness (2012-13).

This series covers topics such as:

• Divisions of the selfless
• Classification of objects
• Object possessors and the seven types of cognizers

Separately, Venerable Chodron taught extensively on mind and mental factors, the sautantrika tenet system presentation of the mind and its functions: Mind and Mental Factors (Teachings 1995-96)

This 25-part series includes topics such as:

• Primary minds and mental factors
• Omnipresent mental factors
• Virtuous mental factors
• Afflictive mental factors
• Mind training
• Antidotes to the afflictions

Venerable Chodron also taught a more concise (4-part) presentation of mind and mental factors at a retreat in Singapore: Creating the Causes of Happiness Retreat (Singapore 2014).

An outline of the 51 mental factors and their definitions can be accessed here.

In 2019, Venerable Sangye Khadro gave an overview of mind and awareness during the weekly Thursday evening Course in Buddhist Reasoning and Debate (2017-19).  Her teachings from this longer series can be accessed at:

• Seven Kinds of Awareness with Venerable Sangye Khadro (2019)
• Mind and Mental Factors with Venerable Sangye Khadro (2019).

108 Verses Praising Great Compassion

Audio recordings from Venerable Thubten Chodron’s in-depth commentary to the text, given from 2004–06: Wheel of Sharp Weapons (2004–06).

Audios from a shorter 12-part commentary by Venerable Chodron, given in 2004: Wheel of Sharp Weapons Retreat (Castle Rock 2004).

Two short retreats focused on the text: Wheel of Sharp Weapons Retreat (Missoula 2013), and Wheel of Sharp Weapons Retreat (Australia 2014).

Venerable Chodron recently published a commentary to The Wheel of Sharp Weapons as Good Karma: How to Create the Causes of Happiness and Avoid the Causes of Suffering. Since 2021, she has been giving commentary on this book as part of the annual Memorial Day Retreat at Sravasti Abbey: Good Karma (2021–present)

Access information about this book and various teachings Venerable Chodron has given from it here: Good Karma: How to Create the Causes of Happiness and Avoid the Causes of Suffering.

Eight Verses of Thought Transformation

In 2018, Venerable Chodron gave a series of teachings on Geshe Langri Tangpa’s Eight Verses of Thought Transformation. Written in the 12th century, these verses are a short summary of the lojong teachings: Eight Verses of Thought Transformation (2018).

In only eight verses, this text explains the importance of cherishing others. Venerable Chodron’s commentary covers such topics as:

• How developing bodhicitta depends on love and compassion for all sentient beings
• Loosening our rigid concepts of who people are
• Respecting other beings and their points of view
• Being aware of how our actions affect others
• Recognizing attachment as an affliction, even though it feels good

With the thought of attaining enlightenment
For the welfare of all beings,
Who are more precious than a wish-fulfilling jewel,
I will constantly practice holding them dear.

— Verse 1, Eight Verses of Thought Transformation

Parting from the Four Clingings

In the early 11th century the Indian Buddhist master Atisha condensed essential points from the sutras and ordered them into the text Lamp of the Path. These were then expanded in the 14th century by the Tibetan Buddhist master Lama Tsongkhapa into the text The Great Exposition on the Gradual Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Chenmo).

Venerable Thubten Chodron gave an in-depth commentary on this text between 1991 and 1994, with particular emphasis on how to relate these practical teachings to our daily lives: Gradual Path to Enlightenment (1991-94).

Access here a searchable and easy-to-navigate index of the teachings in this series, as well as links to lamrim outlines to help structure meditation and study sessions.

Each link contains audio recordings and complete transcripts. The transcripts of these teachings have also been formatted into ebooks available from the books for free distribution page.

If you cling to this life, you are not a practitioner;
If you cling to the three realms, that is not renunciation;
If you cling to self-interest, you are not a bodhisattva;
If grasping arises, it is not the view.

— Verse 3, Parting from the Four Clingings

Gems of Wisdom

Gems of Wisdom, is a thought training text by the Seventh Dalai Lama Kelsang Gyatso written in the form of 108 verses. Venerable Thubten Chodron presented the text in the form of short (5-15 minute) talks given before lunch at Sravasti Abbey: Gems of Wisdom (2014-2015).

The text provides an often humorous perspective on the mental afflictions that are the source of our misery, with Venerable Chodron’s commentary providing instruction on how to apply Dharma antidotes in order to achieve our own and others’ happiness.

What is like a smelly fart that, although invisible, is obvious?
Our own faults that are precisely as obvious as the effort made to hide them.

— Verse 48, Gems of Wisdom

41 Prayers to Cultivate Bodhicitta

In the form of short (5-15 minute) talks given before lunch at Sravasti Abbey, Venerable Thubten Chodron offered commentary on the 41 Prayers to Cultivate Bodhicitta from the Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Ornament Scripture): 41 Prayers to Cultivate Bodhicitta (2008-09).

These prayers, or gathas, are short sayings to recite during various activities throughout the day, reminding ourselves to remember, refresh, and deepen our bodhicitta motivation, the wish to attain awakening for the benefit of all sentient beings.

“May all beings reach the seat of enlightenment.”
This is the prayer of the bodhisattva when sitting down.

— Prayer 8, 41 Prayers to Cultivate Bodhicitta

“May all beings escape from the prison of cyclic life.”
This is the prayer of the bodhisattva when going outside.

— Prayer 14, 41 Prayers to Cultivate Bodhicitta