ethical conduct

Teachings on ethical conduct, a fundamental Buddhist practice that is based on avoiding harmful actions and engaging in constructive actions.

Latest Posts

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

Ven. Chogkyi with other participants of the EML program.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Reflections on the first Exploring Monastic Life, 2005

The participants of the first EML course share how the program helped them look at…

View Post
Stupas at Kopan Monastery, Nepal
Making Offerings

Explanation of the extensive offering practice

An explanation of the symbolism of the extensive offerings practice; imagining vast offerings in order…

View Post
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.…

View Post
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…

View Post
Thai practitioner kneeling with palms together.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Importance of precepts

Keeping precepts protects us from negative actions and spurs us to develop wisdom rather than…

View Post
Painting of the Buddha's first sermon and five disciples.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Precepts and their background

Benefits of taking precepts, seeing the teacher as the Buddha, and etiquette between lay practitioners,…

View Post
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…

View Post
Bowing while taking precepts.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Monastic life

Taking ordination is easy, keeping it is hard. It is being intent on virtue.

View Post
Hands in meditation position
On Love, Compassion, and Bodhicitta

Bodhisattva vows

A person in prison describes the effects on his life after taking bodhisattva vows.

View Post
Large group of nuns from various religions.
Interfaith Dialogue

Report on “Nuns in the West II”

"The power of women of different faiths meeting together and sharing in harmony cannot be…

View Post
Buddha statue on a pedestal outdoors with a small ceramic white dove in front of him.
37 Practices of Bodhisattvas

Working on the mind

Different practices to work with the eight worldly concerns and cultivating the six far-reaching attitudes…

View Post