emptiness

Teachings on the core of Buddhist philosophy: that persons and phenomena are ultimately empty of inherent existence because they are dependent arisings. This is the most powerful antidote that eliminates the ignorance and afflictions that give rise to suffering.

Latest Posts

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

Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

The mind and its potential

Completing teaching Chapter 11, "Freedom From Cyclic Existence" and commencing Chapter 12, "Mind and Its…

View Post
Thangka image of Lama Tsongkapa.
Tenets with Ven. Sangye Khadro

Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka tenets: Part 4

Explanation of the Prāsaṅgika assertions about the mind and the selflessness of persons and phenomena.

View Post
Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Nirvana in the Pali tradition

Continuing teaching from Chapter 11, covering non-abiding nirvana and nirvana as the cessation of duhkha…

View Post
Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Types of nirvana

Continuing teaching from Chapter 11, covering natural nirvana and nirvana with remainder and nirvana without…

View Post
Thangka image of Lama Tsongkapa.
Tenets with Ven. Sangye Khadro

Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka tenets: Part 1

Introduction to Prāsaṅgika tenet school including origin, etymology and the mode of asserting objects.

View Post
Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

Nirvana

Continuing teaching from Chapter 11, describing the nature and characteristics of nirvana.

View Post
Volume 3 Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature

The two obscurations

Continuing teaching from Chapter 11, covering afflictive obscurations and cognitive obscurations.

View Post
Thangka image of Lama Tsongkapa.
Tenets with Ven. Sangye Khadro

Svātantrika Madhyamaka tenets: Part 4

Explanation of the Svātantrika view of selflessness of persons and phenomena with comparison to the…

View Post
Thangka image of Lama Tsongkapa.
Tenets with Ven. Sangye Khadro

Svātantrika Madhyamaka tenets: Part 3

The Svātantika Madhyamaka assertions on consciousness, selflessness and the common assertions of the Sautrāntika, Cittamatra,…

View Post