Monastic Life

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

All Posts in Monastic Life

Venerables Chodron and Chonyi standing with a group of other bhikshunis.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Monastic life and mind

Being drawn to Shakyamuni Buddha's teaching, path to truth.

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Monk reading a Tibetan pecha.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Attributes of a monastic life

Spending time on Dharma versus entertainment. Community life as one's mirror.

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Lay person giving alms to monk.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Letting go of “me,” “I,” and...

We value good karma more than money and possessions. Accumulating mental and emotional wealth.

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Burmese nuns walking in formation.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Simplicity

Considering desired long-term results and what actions to perform now to attain them. The qualities…

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Ven. Chogkyi listening to Ven. Chodron give a Dharma talk.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Essentials of monastic life

The heart of ordination is to guide our mind away from negative actions and to…

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Stone sculpture of monk meditating near Chaityas.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Development of the sangha

Relating our ways of being in the world to our state of mind and how…

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Sangha walking down a country road.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Historical evolution of the sangha

Dharma practice means being a balanced human being with self acceptance and ease, not being…

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Thai practitioner kneeling with palms together.
Exploring Monastic Life 2005

Importance of precepts

Keeping precepts protects us from negative actions and spurs us to develop wisdom rather than…

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama at August 2005 European Tibetan Buddhism Conference.
Tibetan Tradition

Establishing a direction for reviving bhikshuni ordi...

Highlighting the direction for reviving the bhikshuni vow and driving consensus amongst several Buddhist communities.

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