Monastic Life
A treasury of information about the joys and challenges of life as a Buddhist monastic.
All Posts in Monastic Life
Traditions of Buddhism
Common ground underlying the diverse expressions of the Buddha’s teachings.
View PostBehind the scenes with Venerable Thubten Chodron
A broad discussion about becoming a nun, founding an abbey in North America, and the…
View PostThe purpose of precepts
A talk to the newly ordained about monastic life, a monastic mind, interacting with the…
View PostThe four messengers
The signs of aging, sickness, death, and the spiritual seeker deeply moved Prince Siddhartha, and…
View PostThe situation of Western monastics
A statement to His Holiness the Dalai Lama illustrating the difference between Asian and Western…
View PostInternational full ordination ceremony in Bodh Gaya
A diverse group of monastics from around the world received full ordination, a major step…
View PostColors of the Dharma
Representatives of a variety of monastic traditions discuss student-teacher relationships, practice, training, the Vinaya, monasteries…
View PostLife as Buddhist nun in the West
The challenges and lessons learned by a Western nun help to understand what it means…
View PostRelevance of Vinaya in modern circumstances
A description of the Vinaya and the many instructions it contains on daily life, followed…
View PostBritish woman Palmo came to Hong Kong to receive the...
An article about Freda Bedi receiving full ordination in Hong Kong.
View PostThe first Western bhikshuni in the Tibetan tradition
Freda Bedi was the first Western nun in the Tibetan tradition to receive bhikshuni ordination.
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