Monastic Life

A treasury of information about the joys and challenges of life as a Buddhist monastic.

All Posts in Monastic Life

Venerable Lamsel smiling and talking to a friend.
A Nun's Life

The power of an idea

Halfway around the world from the Abbey, the idea that people are living an alternative…

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Venerable Chodron and other Abbey monastics sitting on meditation cushions and reading a text.
Monastic Life

Why monastics matter in the modern world

Venerable Thubten Chodron explains how the role of monastics today is not much different than…

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Monastic Rites

Kathina celebration 2018

A short talk about the kathina robe ceremony to celebrate the end of the monastic…

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Venerable Chodron cutting the hair of Venerable Semkye (then Nancy).
Becoming a Monastic

Becoming a nun

There are many ways to consider one's desire to ordain. Motivation is the most important…

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Venerable Chonyi smiling while sorthing through bins of mail.
A Nun's Life

A nun’s lifestyle

The lifestyle of a Buddhist nun or monk is based on Buddhist values of compassion,…

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Venerable Pende being measured for monastic robes.
Full Ordination for Nuns

Becoming a bhikshuni

Venerable Thubten Pende shares her experiences of receiving ordination in Taiwan.

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Front page of Dharma Drum article showing Ven. Chodron smiling.
A Nun's Life

Guided by bodhicitta to create an energy field for c...

An interview with Dharma Drum Humanity Magazine, in which Venerable Chodron talks about her early…

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Ven. Chodron leading a group of monastics in a chant.
Life at Sravasti Abbey

The future is up to us

A participant in Sravasti Abbey's recent "Living Vinaya in the West" course considers how the…

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Life at Sravasti Abbey

Transmitting the lamp of the Dharma

Encouraging all Buddhists to work together to transmit the lamp of the Dharma from one…

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Photo © Luminary International Buddhist Society Gen Heywood.
Life at Sravasti Abbey

The mutual relationship of monastics and lay practit...

Through mutual support the monastic and lay community grow in the Dharma. For the Dharma…

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Ven. Chodron teaching with Ven. Damcho translating.
Western Monastics

Tibetan Buddhism east and west

A personal account of how westerners met Tibetan Buddhist teachers, studied and practiced the Dharma…

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