Monastic Life

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

All Posts in Monastic Life

Audience at the The First International Congress on Buddhist Women’s Role in the Sangha in Hamburg, Germany.
Full Ordination for Nuns

Full ordination for women

An interview with Buddhadharma about full ordination for women and the conference in Hamburg 2007.

View Post
His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Tibetan Tradition

Bhikshuni ordination in the Tibetan tradition

Support of the establishment of bhikshuni ordination in the Tibetan tradition.

View Post
Venerable Chodron smiling, standing in front of a bright green tree.
Tibetan Tradition

Multi-tradition ordination (short version)

Detailed research establishing a precedent in Tibet where ordination was given together by monks from…

View Post
Tibetan nuns sitting and waiting.
Tibetan Tradition

Clarifying the status of the “Geshe-ma”

A clarification of the status of women in the Tibetan monastic community: how the issues…

View Post
Venerable standing in front of sunflowers, smiling.
Western Monastics

Living as a Western monastic

A short article that examines the hurdles in going for ordination and living as a…

View Post
Sri Lankan Buddhist nuns making offerings of flowers at a stupa.
Theravada Tradition

The Bhikshuni Order in Theravada Sri Lanka

Relevance and importance of Bhikshunis for Buddhadharma and society.

View Post
Painting of the ordination of Mahaprajapati.
Tibetan Tradition

Regarding the bhikshuni order in Tibetan Buddhism

An interview on bhikshuni ordination in Tibetan Buddhist, benefits of having bhikshuni in all Buddhist…

View Post
Venerable Chodron was invited to give a talk to the nuns of Jangchub Choeling Nunnery.
Tibetan Tradition

Present status of bhikshuni ordination

Concerns within the sangha regarding giving bhikshuni ordination are addressed by the findings of recent…

View Post
Group photo of monastics.
Western Buddhist Monastic Gatherings

Monastic health

Monastics practicing in the West discusses health, including how it influences practice, how it relates…

View Post
Vens. Jampa Tsedroen, Tenzin Palmo, and Thubten Chodron meet with some Tibetan nuns
Full Ordination for Nuns

For the enlightenment of all

An article in Bangkok Post on Bhikkhuni Jampa Tsedroen and her dedication to seeking equality…

View Post
Venerable Tenzin Sangmo (hands folded together), the Dutch nun who founded and runs Thösamling, and Venerable Lhundup Damchö, to her left, are among those listening intently to Venerable Chödron’s Dharma talk.
Full Ordination for Nuns

The birth of Sakyadhita

Reminiscing about the pioneering conference that brought together female Buddhist practitioners from around the world.

View Post
Venerable Heng Shure, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and Venerable Thubten Chodron smiling
A Nun's Life

The wisdom of kindness

The moving life story of one of the first Western Tibetan Buddhist nuns and her…

View Post