renunciation

Renunciation, or the determination to be free, is the attitude aspiring to be free from all suffering and to attain the liberation that is freedom from cyclic existence.

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Grounds and Paths

The three levels of spiritual practitioner

A look at the three levels of spiritual practitioners and how to cultivate their main…

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The Eight Dangers

The chain of miserliness

We need to develop a realistic view of just what our situation is—bound in cyclic…

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Man walking out of a tunnel toward light.
Prison Poetry

Upon life’s journey

Putting the needs of others ahead of his own, an incarcerated person makes a pivotal…

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Group photo of monastics.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Joyfully swimming upstream

Monastics from different traditions discussed the significance of the Vinaya and its application in a…

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Photo of the Buddha preaches his First Sermon about the Four Noble Truths to the Group of Five Monks
Exploring Monastic Life 2010

The Buddha’s life as an example

Various behavior patterns that influence our communication styles; using Buddha’s life as an example of…

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The text of the Four Noble Truths written on a paper
Exploring Monastic Life 2010

Motivation in a monastic environment

Examining the kind of mind that we want to cultivate when living a monastic way…

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Venerable Jampa and Mary Grace, smiling.
On Cultivating Virtue

Done with the detour

Without renouncing her householder responsibilities, she continues to deepen her understanding of how to perfectly…

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Stained-glass window of thousand-armed Chenrezig.
Chenrezig Weeklong Retreat 2010

Results of anger

How our anger creates many hindrances for liberation and enlightenment.

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Venerable Samten with eyes closed while two nuns shave her head.
Western Monastics

Why we need monasticism

Monastics as a bridge between the ancient teachings and the modern world.

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