Monastic Life

A treasury of information about the joys and challenges of life as a Buddhist monastic.

All Posts in Monastic Life

Ven. Chodron smiling with palms together.
Living in Community

Question and answer session with nuns in Indonesia

Questions on various topics including gender equality of monastics, relating to the spiritual teacher and…

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Zopa in a meeting at the Abbey.
Life at Sravasti Abbey

Supporting monastics in the West

Long-time practitioner Kathleen Herron (also known as Zopa) shares her Dharma adventures as a lay…

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Group photo of monastics.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Building community the monastic way

Monastics of different traditions discussed the importance of harmonious community life and ways in which…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2011

The Buddha’s advice to laypeople

The purpose of institutions and the importance of showing respect for the Buddha's teachings.

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Becoming a Monastic

Windows of opportunity

Learning the Dharma helps set a clear motivation, helping us to see when windows of…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2011

Adapting monastic precepts to culture

Society has changed since the Buddha's time. Examining what precepts would have been given for…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2011

The view of the middle way

Middle way (or Madhyamaka) philosophy: the view of reality free from the extremes of absolutism…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2011

Visualizations and Brahma’s request

Practical advice on how to use visualization practices to overcome hurt, resentment, and guilt from…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2011

Anger and selflessness

Examining our speech and the way our mind proliferates. How we grasp at true existence.

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Exploring Monastic Life 2011

Women in Buddhism: Levels of ordination

Working towards gender equality in Western Buddhism: bringing up issues respectfully.

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Exploring Monastic Life 2011

Community life and causality

Living with the attitude of "what can I give" as our daily meditation. Training to…

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Exploring Monastic Life 2011

The Buddha’s awakening

Continuing the story of the Buddha's life and his awakening, and how we can become…

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