Monastic Life
A treasury of information about the joys and challenges of life as a Buddhist monastic.
All Posts in Monastic Life
Venerable Thubten Chodron Precepts and the afflictions
The benefits of the precepts, focusing on how they help us with our afflictions and…
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Venerable Thubten Damcho Planning for ordination
Venerable Thubten Damcho shares some of the advice she received regarding preparing and planning to…
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The benefits of establishing precepts
The reasons that the Buddha cited for establishing monastic precepts, for the benefit of practitioners…
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Bhikshuni Thubten Jampa Working with sexual attachment
Venerable Thubten Jampa shares verses from Nagarjuna's "Precious Garland" that have helped her with working…
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The six harmonies of the sangha
The fundamental principles that bring about harmony in the sangha community.
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Venerable Thubten Samten Don’t make me swarm!
Venerable Thubten Samten shares how she overcame her struggle with the Abbey's practice of "swarming"…
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The value of a sangha community
How living in a sangha community supports monastic life, and how a sangha community benefits…
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Venerable Thubten Jigme Giving up the ping-pong of afflictions
Venerable Thubten Jigme shares how living in a monastic community helps us with our habitual…
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Venerable Thubten Chonyi Exploring our motivation for ordination
Venerable Thubten Chonyi shares stories from Buddhist nuns on why they chose to ordain and…
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Buddhism and culture
How our worldly concerns follow us to the monastery, and how the development of Buddhism…
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Venerable Thubten Semkye The fruits of exploring monastic life
The gems of wisdom gained from participating in the Exploring Monastic Life program for many…
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A mirror for our spiritual journey
The Buddha's life story and how it offers a model for our own spiritual journey.
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