compassion

Compassion is the wish for sentient beings to be free from suffering and its causes. Posts include teachings and meditations on how to develop and increase compassion.

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

Black and white image of a Buddha statue.
On Cultivating Wisdom

Inspiring story

Importance of understanding karma, taking personal responsibility and transforming oneself based on practice.

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Tangkha image of Chandrakirti.
Three Principal Aspects of the Path

Profound view

How wisdom and compassion support each other. Ten ways to practice mindfulness of emptiness. When…

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A hand holding a cup of water, pouring it onto seeds.
On Cultivating Wisdom

Watering seeds

We have a choice as to the kinds of seeds we plant in our mindstream.…

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A Green Tara tsatsa.
Prayers and Practices

Recovering after Hurricane Wilma

Advice to a Buddhist group on developing renunciation and bodhicitta in the aftermath of Hurricane…

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A person sitting on top of a moutain, meditating.
On Meditation

Changing

Accepting one's feelings of anger and pride leads to a greater understanding of oneself, and…

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Abbey monastics chanting during a Medicine Buddha puja.
Dealing with Grief

Losing a dear one who was young

A letter from a student questioning the reason for the loss of her younger sister.

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By Incarcerated People

Growing through the Dharma

A person in prison shows how through thought transformation, we can find some good even…

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Beautiful golden face of a Buddha.
Bodhisattva Path

Preparing the mind for tonglen

The importance of meditating on equanimity and the kindness of others before doing the taking…

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Volunteers distributing bottles of water from the back of a pickup truck.
Responding to Prejudice

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina

Advice to two Dharma students on extending compassion to those directly suffering and those distressed…

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Ven. Chogkyi listening to Ven. Chodron give a Dharma talk.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Essentials of monastic life

The heart of ordination is to guide our mind away from negative actions and to…

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Stone sculpture of monk meditating near Chaityas.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Development of the sangha

Relating our ways of being in the world to our state of mind and how…

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Sangha walking down a country road.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Historical evolution of the sangha

Dharma practice means being a balanced human being with self acceptance and ease, not being…

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