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Venerable Thubten Chodron

Pioneering American Buddhist teacher and founder of Sravasti Abbey, co-author of The Library of Wisdom and Compassion book series with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

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Different Doors to Renunciation

Watch Venerable Thubten Chodron’s recent talk exploring what modern practitioners can learn from Ratthapala and Angulimala.

I've always questioned, 'What is the meaning of my life? What is the purpose of my life?' Then I stumbled onto Buddhism, and I found that the Dharma made a lot of sense to me when I examined it.”

I was influenced by bodhicitta, the idea that we can open our hearts and transform our minds, that we can overcome our negativities and turn our attention to others, doing what we can to benefit them.”

With bodhicitta, we're saying every being is valuable. Everybody has the potential to become a fully awakened buddha. Every life is valuable regardless of the things we use to divide ourselves from them.”

Featured Teachings

Check out highlights from Venerable Thubten Chodron's extensive teaching archive.

Verse 74: Every moment matters

How we have autonomy in every moment to work against…

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The eight worldly concerns

An outline of the eight worldly concerns, what happens at…

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Cover of Choosing Simplicity.

Monastic life: a living tradition

The story behind "Choosing Simplicity," a commentary by vinaya master…

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The importance of understanding dependent arising

Teaching on the importance of dependent origination and its relationship…

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The four thoughts that turn the mind

A series of Buddhist contemplations on the preciousness of our…

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Imbued with the Buddhist worldview

How the monastic mind is imbued with the Buddhist worldview…

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Latest Posts

Keep up with recent teachings by Venerable Thubten Chodron and other Sravasti Abbey monastics.

Overcoming our rules of the universe

Examining our "rules of the universe" and how we create…

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Overcoming the internal enemies

How to overcome polluted karma, hinderances and false conception.

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The enemy of self-grasping and self-centeredness

How we can identify and work with self-grasping and self-centeredness.

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Seize the enemy!

Giving our suffering to the self-centered thought and calling upon…

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Renouncing worldly life

Why renunciation is crucial and how to identify self-grasping and…

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Logical Proof of Dependent Arising

Applying reasoning to refute inherent existence of phenomena.

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Leaving home: Different doors to renunciation

What modern practitioners can learn about renunciation from Ratthapala and…

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Inherently pleasurable things don’t exist

Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe discusses the lack of inherent pleasure within…

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The dance between mindfulness and introspection

Explaining the dependent relationship between mindfulness and introspective awareness, teaching…

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Upcoming Live Teachings

Follow Venerable Thubten Chodron's teachings at Sravasti Abbey, online, and worldwide.

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Books

Learn more about Buddhist books written and edited by Venerable Thubten Chodron as well as other Sravasti Abbey teachers.

Book cover of Buddhism for Beginners

Buddhism for Beginners

An accessible and engaging introduction to some of the most commonly asked questions about the es...

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Book cover of Guided Buddhist Meditations

Guided Buddhist Meditations

This invaluable resource provides Dharma practitioners with clear explanations of the stages of t...

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Working with Anger

A variety of Buddhist methods for subduing anger, not by changing what is happening, but by worki...

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Front cover of "Driving the Dharma Home"

Driving the Dharma Home

Just as a driver’s manual steers us to travel safely, “Driving the Dharma Home”...

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The Key of Compassion by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron. A row of gray prison cells with golden flowers blooming through the bars of one cell.

The Key of Compassion

Evidence of the power of compassion in the lives of incarcerated people, from the experience of t...

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Book cover of Pearl of Wisdom I

Pearl of Wisdom, Book I

A compilation of prayers and practices commonly taught to people beginning to study and practice ...

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Cover of the book

Awakening the Kind Heart

Consideration for others helps make our relationships and interactions with others more satisfyin...

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Book cover of Appearing and Empty

Appearing and Empty

In this third and final volume on emptiness, the authors impart the Prasangika view of the ultima...

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Book cover of "Vajrayana and the Culmination of the Path"

Vajrayana and the Culmination of the Path

The final volume of the Library of Wisdom and Compassion by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Vener...

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