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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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The Four Establishments of Mindfulness

Watch Venerable Thubten Chodron’s recent talk in the series exploring Following in the Buddha’s Footsteps, the fourth volume in The Library of Wisdom and Compassion

People often rush into tantra, and they're visualizing themselves as somebody else. The four establishments of mindfulness help us get in touch with what we are actually now. We need to do that first.”

The four foundations of mindfulness are not the same as secular mindfulness—being aware of what's happening in this moment. That's useful, but with this practice mindfulness is linked with wisdom.”

Our present purpose for basically anything that we do with our body is to get what we want. But even when we get it, it doesn't make us happy forever. We are still dissatisfied with something else that we now want.”

Featured Teachings

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

Mindfulness of the body

An explanation of mindfulness of the body and the meditations…

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Mindfulness of body and feelings

A discussion about understanding the body and the three types…

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The four foundations of mindfulness

How to practice mindfulness of the body, feelings, mind and…

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Mindfulness of the divine body and correct view

Mindfulness of the divine body, and mindfulness of the correct…

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Making mindfulness meaningful

The practice of mindfulness from a Buddhist perspective.

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Venerable Chodron smiling while sitting in front of a large TV screen showing Zoom participants.

Buddhism, modernism and mindfulness

A discussion on topics including Buddhist and secular mindfulness, the…

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Latest Posts

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

Go for great happiness; don’t attach to small happin...

Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe describes the wisdom of enduring small sufferings…

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More on the emptiness of uncompounded phenomena

Why uncompounded phenomena are empty of inherent existence.

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To realize nirvana we need to realize emptiness

Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe discusses how realizing emptiness leads to nirvana.

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The four establishments of mindfulness

Beginning Chapter 12 on the four establishments of mindfulness: mindfulness…

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Uncompounded phenomena also lack true existent

Establishing the lack of inherent existence of permanent phenomena.

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Refuting inherence in inner and outer objects

Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe discusses the refutation of inherent existence of…

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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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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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