Monastic Life
A treasury of information about the joys and challenges of life as a Buddhist monastic.
All Posts in Monastic Life
Venerable Thubten Chodron The Buddha’s advice to laypeople
The purpose of institutions and the importance of showing respect for the Buddha's teachings.
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Venerable Thubten Chonyi Windows of opportunity
Learning the Dharma helps set a clear motivation, helping us to see when windows of…
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Adapting monastic precepts to culture
Society has changed since the Buddha's time. Examining what precepts would have been given for…
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The view of the middle way
Middle way (or Madhyamaka) philosophy: the view of reality free from the extremes of absolutism…
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Visualizations and Brahma’s request
Practical advice on how to use visualization practices to overcome hurt, resentment, and guilt from…
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Anger and selflessness
Examining our speech and the way our mind proliferates. How we grasp at true existence.
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Women in Buddhism: Levels of ordination
Working towards gender equality in Western Buddhism: bringing up issues respectfully.
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Community life and causality
Living with the attitude of "what can I give" as our daily meditation. Training to…
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The Buddha’s awakening
Continuing the story of the Buddha's life and his awakening, and how we can become…
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Space from sensual pleasures
Consciously moderating contact with certain things because of how they affect the mind and developing…
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The Buddha’s homeless life
A continuing examination of the Buddha's life, his period of austere practices, and a discussion…
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Venerable Thubten Tarpa The eight Mahayana precepts
A discussion of the eight Mahayana precepts and what constitutes a complete transgression of each.
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