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View all posts in Venerable Thubten Chodron's teaching archive.

Venerable Chodron and other monastics in the meditation hall during the 2014 Pravarana ceremony.
Western Monastics

The challenge of the future

Does Western Buddhism need a monastic sangha? If so, what should their role be? What…

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Silhouette of a Buddha statue with bright in front of a fire-red sunset.
Dharma in Action

How to live in modern times

A Buddhist perspective on contemporary issues ranging from fundamentalism to the environment.

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Monastics standing together.
Western Monastics

The importance of Buddhist monasticism in the West

The role of Buddhist monastics, monastic centers, how Western monasticism differs from Eastern monasticism, and…

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Ven. Semkye tending to a berry bush.
Harmony with the Environment

Good practices: Ancient and emerging

How monastic communities are incorporating green practices into their daily living.

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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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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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A man standing inside a very bright circle of light.
Dharma in Daily Life

Living a balanced life and making wise choices

Practical advice on how to live a balanced life and make wise, beneficial decisions.

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A black and white photo of a house with the word Karma on the window.
Essence of Refined Gold

Continuation of the discussion of karma

A tragic event near the Abbey introduces understanding how what happens in daily life affects…

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Venerable Tenzin Sangmo (hands folded together), the Dutch nun who founded and runs Thösamling, and Venerable Lhundup Damchö, to her left, are among those listening intently to Venerable Chödron’s Dharma talk.
Full Ordination for Nuns

The birth of Sakyadhita

Reminiscing about the pioneering conference that brought together female Buddhist practitioners from around the world.

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Geshe Kelsang Damdul, smiling.
Engaged Buddhism

Compassion and world peace

Translating compassion into social action for the benefit of ourselves, our communities and the world.

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A man mediating in a park, surrounded by trees and leaves.
Working with Emotions

Making friends with ourselves

Discovering our Buddha potential by investigating the source of lasting happiness and cultivating the heart…

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A man standing a very dim prison, using his hands to grasp the window grills, looking outside the window.
Prison Dharma

A new way to see it

A person in prison finds strength in non-violence.

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