Monastic Life

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

All Posts in Monastic Life

Group photo of monastics.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Western monasticism

Monastics from different traditions discuss aspects of training, creating monasteries, and the challenges of monastic…

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Venerable receiving an offering after a teaching at Maitripa.
Monastic Life

Right livelihood for the sangha in the 21st century

How the sangha practices the Dharma will have a deep impact on the survival of…

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HH Dalai Lama placing a khata over Venerable Thubten Chodron.
Full Ordination for Nuns

Dark matter

Examining the complexity of the issue of bhikkhuni ordination: different views and lineages of the…

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Venerables. Jigme, Chonyi and Semkye studying together.
Full Ordination for Nuns

Bhikkhuni pārājika 1

An exploration of the first pārājika: the variety of rule formations and disrobal methods, re-ordination…

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Statue of Guanyin.
Full Ordination for Nuns

Chinese bhikshuni ordination

Brief history of the Chinese vinaya lineage, bhikshuni ordination and the guidelines for consulting other…

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Ven. Yeshe and other nuns in a Buddhist Monastic Gathering.
Theravada Tradition

Ordination of nuns by monks

Scriptural references in the Pali canon on the bhikshuni ordination procedure.

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A tibetan nun praying.
Full Ordination for Nuns

Principles to be respected

A comprehensive essay on the eight garudhammas, the rules concerning bhikkhunis' conduct in their social…

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Venerable smiling while eating a meal with other monastics.
Living in Community

Six harmonies in a sangha community

Practical guidelines for setting up and living in a Dharma community or monastery, and the…

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His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Tibetan Tradition

Women—part of the basis

HHDL about the importance of full ordination for women, the study of scriptures by women…

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A Nun's Life

Becoming a Western Buddhist nun

How Buddhist monastic ordination is becoming established in the West.

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Gotami House in Winter, surrounded by icy trees.
Life at Sravasti Abbey

Monasteries as the conscience of society

The vision behind Sravasti Abbey, the benefits of living the monastic life, and using community…

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Venerable Thubten Chodron smiling happily.
Life at Sravasti Abbey

Founding donor’s day

The birth of Sravasti Abbey, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the U.S.

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