Explore Monastic Life
Teachings from the annual Exploring Monastic Life program at Sravasti Abbey.
Exploring Monastic Life Program
Venerable Thubten Chodron leads an intensive three-week training program in late July to August every year at Sravasti Abbey. It’s for people thinking about becoming a Buddhist monk or nun, and for newly ordained monastics. Learn more about the Exploring Monastic Life program here.
Subcategories
Exploring Monastic Life 2005
The Buddha's life story, the history of the sangha, and the value of monastic precepts and community life.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2006
The history of the sangha and the precepts, different Buddhist traditions, and the benefits of ordination.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2007
The purpose of monastic precepts and how to keep them in modern times, and the six harmonies of a sangha community.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2008
Why and how monastics keep precepts, cultivate contentment and concentration, and benefit society.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2009
Sutras on how monastic life fosters ethical discipline, concentration, harmony, and trust.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2010
The Buddha's life, what changes after monastic ordination, and monastic community life.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2011
The Buddha’s life, his advice to laypeople, and how to work with the afflictions.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2013
Changes that occur after monastic ordination and commentary on the seven Vinayas of the past buddhas.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2014
The foundation of monastic life, the qualities of a monastic mind, and how to relate to the world as a monastic.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2015
History of the Dharma and the Vinaya, and commentary on chapter 4 of Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2016
The purposes and benefits of monastic precepts, the conditions for ordination, and commentary on the Ratthapala Sutta.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2017
Commentary on the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya novice ordination ceremony.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2018
History of monastic lineages and how precepts benefit the individual, monastic community, and society.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2019
A detailed commentary on the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya sramaneri and shiksamana ordination rites.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2021
How monastic precepts and living in community help to tame the mind, and how to live a happy monastic life.
VIEW CATEGORYExploring Monastic Life 2022
What to consider when exploring the aspiration for monastic ordination and developing a realistic perspective on mona...
VIEW CATEGORYRelated Books
All Posts in Explore Monastic Life
Living in novice precepts
An explanation of various aspects of monastic life and detailed practical advice.
View PostHow do friends and family fit into monastic life?
Family relationships and attachment as they apply to ordination and the monastic life.
View PostPrecepts free the mind
An explanation of the lay precepts with examples of different cultural mindsets.
View PostPratimoksa precepts
An explanation of the divisions of precepts and clarification of particular vows.
View PostUncovering unrealistic expectations
A discussion about unrealistic expectations that can interfere with Dharma practice and ordained life.
View PostAm I good enough?
Feelings of inadequacy can be counteracted using the founding values of Sravasti Abbey.
View PostThe spread of the Dharma
The spread of the Dharma and the effects on lineages and ordination.
View PostTailoring teachings to meet different needs
A discussion of how teachings vary across cultures and fulfill different needs.
View PostCommitment, authority and autonomy
A discussion of three common obstacles to monastic life.
View Post