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.

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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Gold calligraphy 'Great Wisdom Sutra Handscroll - Frontspiece detail - the Buddha's First Sermon.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

History of the sangha

The purpose of living in community. The evolution of the sangha and the establishment of…

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Jizo over a red and white patchwork quilt.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

A quilt of compassion

Bodhisattvas constantly work to end the suffering of others; even in prison, one can practice…

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A prison inmate looks through the window of a cell and the other inmate squatting in a corner, his hands covering his head.
Prison Dharma

Seeking liberation while in prison

Lama Zopa Rinpoche comments on the karmic connection those who work with incarcerated people must…

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Shoes and towels on a prison shower table.
On Overcoming Anger

Valuable lesson learned

Responding to a situation or problem without anger or attachment but with compassion in order…

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Man sitting outside in grass, meditating.
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Practice and our mind

A person in prison contemplates his vow to benefit all sentient beings.

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