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.

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Becoming a Monastic

Monastics offer advice on what aspirants can do to prepare for ordination.

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Explore Monastic Life

Teachings from the annual Exploring Monastic Life program at Sravasti Abbey.

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Full Ordination for Nuns

Learn about why full ordination for women matters and different perspectives on how it can be revived.

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Living in Community

How monastic community life supports living in the precepts and brings other benefits.

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Western Monastics

Learn about the history and unique situation of Western Buddhist monastics.

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Related Books

Exploring Monastic Life Handbook

A collection of articles compiled by the Sravasti Abbey community to provide guidance for those interested in exploring their spiritual aspirations more deeply.

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Preparing for Ordination

Thoughtful preparation before ordaining eases the transition from lay to monastic life and promotes a joyous journey. Venerable Thubten Chodron compiled this collection of articles to support Westerners who have the aspiration to ordain as a Buddhist monastic.

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Blossoms of the Dharma

A compilation of talks given at the Life as a Western Buddhist Nun conference in Bodhgaya, India in 1996. Wisdom and inspiration for lay practitioners and nuns seeking the essence of Buddhist practice.

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Building Community

Practical and contemporary perspectives from an abbess and her students on the joys and challenges of building, sustaining, and thriving in religious community.

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Choosing Simplicity

A guide to the precepts and lifestyle of fully ordained Buddhist nuns for all those who wish to conduct their day-to-day lives more mindfully. This text is best read by fully ordained Buddhist monastics.

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Karmans for the Creation of Virtue

Teachings by Vinaya master Bhikshu Benyin on the activities in which monastics should engage in order to preserve the monastic lifestyle. This text is best read by fully ordained Buddhist monastics.

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Pravrajya and Shiksamana Ordination Rites

Rites for ordaining novice monastics and training nuns from the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya. This text is best read by Buddhist monastics and ordination candidates.

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Teachings and Rites for Sramaneri/as

Essential rites and teachings for novice Buddhist monastics from the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya. This text is best read by Buddhist monastics.

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Book cover of Siksamana Posadha and Other Rites

Shiksamana Posadha and Other Rites

Rites and precepts for training nuns from the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya with commentary on the precepts. This text is best read by Buddhist monastics.

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Bhikshuni Posadha and Rites to Establish the Territory

Rites for fully ordained nuns to establish a territory and conduct the bimonthly confession and recitation of precepts from the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya. This text is best read by fully ordained monastics.

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Bhikshu Posadha and Rites to Establish the Territory

Rites for fully ordained monks to establish a territory and conduct the bimonthly confession and recitation of precepts from the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya. This text is best read by fully ordained monastics.