Monastic Life
A treasury of information about the joys and challenges of life as a Buddhist monastic.
Access Vinaya Teachings
If you’re a Buddhist monastic who would like to watch Venerable Thubten Chodron’s Vinaya teachings, send in a request via our contact form here. Please provide information on your level and length of ordination and the name of your preceptor.
Subcategories
A Nun's Life
What’s it like to be a Buddhist nun? Venerable Thubten Chodron and other nuns share about their lives.
VIEW CATEGORYBecoming a Monastic
Monastics offer advice on what aspirants can do to prepare for ordination.
VIEW CATEGORYExplore Monastic Life
Teachings from the annual Exploring Monastic Life program at Sravasti Abbey.
VIEW CATEGORYFull Ordination for Nuns
Learn about why full ordination for women matters and different perspectives on how it can be revived.
VIEW CATEGORYLiving in Community
How monastic community life supports living in the precepts and brings other benefits.
VIEW CATEGORYWestern Monastics
Learn about the history and unique situation of Western Buddhist monastics.
VIEW CATEGORYRelated Books
Related Series
Monastic Teachings (Italy 2017)
Teachings given to monastics at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Pomaia, Italy.
View SeriesAll Posts in Monastic Life
Establishing the sangha in the West
Transcript of a meeting with monastics on establishing a monastic community in the West.
View PostWestern Buddhist nuns in the Tibetan tradition
Venerable Chodron explores the history of Buddhist nuns in the West through her own experiences,…
View PostA life in the Dharma
A discussion that includes the journey to becoming a Buddhist nun and founding a monastery,…
View PostThe benefits of living in community
Venerable Chodron talks with a monastic about what it means to take full ordination.
View PostMonasticism in the West
A question and answer session about Buddhist monasticism in the West.
View PostSustaining our monastic life
How a long-term bodhicitta motivation is essential to sustaining ordained life and the importance of…
View PostThe value of a sangha community
The meaning of sangha and the benefits of living in a monastic community.
View PostLiving a happy monastic life
The key factors that lead to having a happy mind as a monastic and living…
View PostMonastic precepts and community life
How monastic precepts and community life are set up to help work with our afflictions…
View PostThe five precepts
How the five precepts guide how we live and relate to each other for the…
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