social engagement

Teachings on how to respond to contemporary social issues with a compassionate motivation and wisdom.

Latest Posts

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

Prison cell doors.
By Incarcerated People

The de facto clause

Due to government fear that he will re-offend, an incarcerated person is held under civil…

View Post
Cover of Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions
Books

Our common bond

When our enthusiasm for the Dhamma is guided by love, compassion, joy, and equanimity, we…

View Post
Cultivating Compassion

Moving toward compassion

The obstacles that we experience when cultivating compassion and how to overcome them.

View Post
Placeholder Image
Living with an Open Heart

Healing with love and compassion

Counteracting the self-centered, self-grasping mind and confronting the emotional problems of this life through love…

View Post
Vajrasattva Winter Retreat 2014

The mark of a successful life

Shows the different criteria that influence one's choice of profession and activities.

View Post
Vajrasattva Winter Retreat 2014

Tobacco, firearms and food

Shares a New York Times opinion piece by Mark Bittman, and encourages us to reflect…

View Post
Forgiveness

Learning to forgive

The meaning of forgiveness, letting go of anger, working with our expectations, letting go of…

View Post
Forgiveness

The power of forgiveness

Identifying the obstacles to forgiveness and learning to work with our anger and pain, accepting…

View Post
Placeholder Image
Books

Developing a good heart

His Holiness the Dalai Lama reflects on the importance of cultivating a compassionate motivation in…

View Post
Closeup of hands of someone playing guitar.
By Prison Volunteers

The Dharma is flourishing

Incarcerated people share emotional stories of how the Dharma has brought them personal transformation.

View Post
Bleeding heart flowers in the Sravasti Abbey garden.
Dharma in Action

12 ways to apply compassion

A discussion of ways to apply compassion to improve areas of common concern in society.

View Post