Explore Monastic Life

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

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Exploring Monastic Life 2018

How precepts promote harmony in the sangha

The three kinds of precepts (pratimoksa, bodhisattva, and tantric) and how the first two reasons…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2018

The six harmonies of monastic life

The six harmonies of the Sangha described by the Buddha: physical, verbal, mental, keeping precepts,…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2018

Ten reasons for monastic precepts

Continuing the story of Sudina, where the Buddha explains 10 reasons for laying down the…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2018

The first monastic precept

The story of Venerable Sudina, a monk whose transgression occasioned the first monastic precept.

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Exploring Monastic Life 2018

Why ordain young?

The story of Venerable Ratthapala and his response to a king who asked why he…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2018

Resisting social pressure

The story of Venerable Ratthapala, a young man in the Buddha’s times who vowed that…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2017

Cutting bonds and going forth

Venerable Thubten Chodron finishes the ordination ceremony text, and concludes this set of teachings with…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2017

Renouncing worldly life

Advice on severing attachment to this body, loved ones and worldly life so we can…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2017

Sravasti Abbey values

The Sravasti Abbey values, which help guide the development of monastic minds at the Abbey.

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Exploring Monastic Life 2017

Western monastics

How to overcome obstacles to receiving precepts, and the situation of Western monastics in the…

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