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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Vajrasattva statue
Vajrasattva Winter Retreat 2005-06

What are your non-negotiables?

Retreatants discuss what they can't let go of in their lives, and come to realize…

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Venerable Tarpa getting her head shaved by Venerable and other monastics.
Three Principal Aspects of the Path

Renunciation and bodhicitta

We can end our grasping at the illusory happiness of our lives and learn to…

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A yellow statute of prince siddhartha cutting of his hair, as a symbol of his renunciation.
Three Principal Aspects of the Path

Advantages of renunciation

Explains the opening verses, and explains the importance and advantages of renunciation. Clarifies what renunciation…

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A Green Tara tsatsa.
Prayers and Practices

Recovering after Hurricane Wilma

Advice to a Buddhist group on developing renunciation and bodhicitta in the aftermath of Hurricane…

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Venerable Chodron and a monk walking down a path, in conversation.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Monastic practices

A discussion among Western and Asian monastics highlights some of the practices in their particular…

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Abbey monastics chanting during a Medicine Buddha puja.
Dealing with Grief

Losing a dear one who was young

A letter from a student questioning the reason for the loss of her younger sister.

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Volunteers distributing bottles of water from the back of a pickup truck.
Responding to Prejudice

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina

Advice to two Dharma students on extending compassion to those directly suffering and those distressed…

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Buddha statue on a pedestal outdoors with a small ceramic white dove in front of him.
37 Practices of Bodhisattvas

Precious human life

Having a precious human life, how the three poisonous attitudes affect us, importance of spiritual…

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Buddha statue on a pedestal outdoors with a small ceramic white dove in front of him.
37 Practices of Bodhisattvas

Wisdom fear of samsara

A teaching on the reality of cyclic existence and possibility for liberation. Reflecting on our…

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