Ven. Thubten Chodron is the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey, one of the first Tibetan Buddhist monasteries for Western monastics in the United States. Through her work, she emphasizes ethical living, compassion, and the practical application of Buddhist philosophy in daily life.

Contents Inside

1. Seeking Refuge, Finding Haven

2. Exploring Truth, Accepting Reality

3. Self-centeredness, Selflessness and Otherness

4. Liberating and Nourishing the Mind

5. Leading a Caring and Courageous Life

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A. Seeking Refuge, Finding Haven Jewels

1. The Three Jewels

• Qualities of the Three Jewels

• Teachings on Refuge

• Refuge Transforms Adversity into the Path to Awakening

• Faith Based on Reason & Conviction

• On Faith

• Correcting Misconceptions About Buddhism

• Correcting Misperceptions

• Misinterpretations

• Misinterpretations

• What About Buddhism Speaks To The Modern Westerner

2. The First Jewel, Our Physician, The Buddha

• Is the Buddha Truly Existent ?

• Buddha's Kindness

• Good Teacher, Good Student

• Who Is Going To Save Me?

3. The Second Jewel, Our Medicine, The Dharma

• The Real Purpose of the Dharma

• The Importance of Studying the Dharma

• Scriptural and Realized Dharma

• The Dharma Actually Works!

• Turning Chores Into Dharma

• I Seek No Refuge Other Than You

• Getting Our Buttons Pushed

• How To Apply Dharma To Current Events

• How To Apply Dharma To Current Events

• How To Apply Dharma To Current Events

• Desire and Happiness: Dharma For A Happy Life

• Practicing the Dharma = Transforming the Mind

• Rainy Day Dharma

4. Options in Dharma Medicine

• Definite In the Mahayana Lineage

• Definite In the Mahayana Lineage

• Conviction in the Mahayana Teachings

• Conviction in the Mahayana Teachings

• Eight Mahayana Precepts

• Eight Mahayana Precepts

• Introduction to Vajrayana

• Introduction to Vajrayana

5. The Third Jewel, Our Guide and Guru, The Sangha

• Relying On A Spiritual Guide

• The Relationship Between Sangha and Laity

• Receiving Teachings and Putting Them Into Practice

• The Passing of Great Masters

6. Expressing Our Faith

• Setting Up Your Altar

• Setting Up Your Altar

• Setting Up Your Altar

• Consecrating Statues

• The Purpose of Holy Objects

• Prayer in Buddhism

• Sravasti Abbey Evening Chants

• Sravasti Abbey Evening Chants

• Sravasti Abbey Evening Chants

• Sravasti Abbey Evening Chants

• Mandala Offering

• Resistance to Rituals

• Offerings to the Nagas

• The Annual Naga Puja

• Animal Liberation

• Day of Miracles

7. An Overview of the Path

• Sharing the Dharma Day

• Sharing the Dharma Day

• Sharing the Dharma Day

• Sharing the Dharma Day

• Sharing the Dharma Day

• Sharing the Dharma Day

• Sharing the Dharma Day

• Sharing the Dharma Day

• Sharing the Dharma Day

• Sharing the Dharma Day

8. Advice for the Spiritual Traveller

• Sticking to One Tradition

• Setting Your Motivation

• What a Turn Around!

• Renunciation as the Foundation of Spiritual Practice

• Being a Wise Practitioner

• Sustaining a Practice

• Dedication

• Dedication

• Dedication

• Relating Our Spiritual Practice To Our Daily Life

• Can a Lay person Attain Full Awakening?

• Attaining Enlightenment Depends on Sentient Beings

• Well, I Am Tired

B. Exploring Truth, Accepting Reality

1. Starting the Search

• The Foundation for a Meaningful Life

• How to Live a Meaningful Life

• Hoping to Use Life Meaningfully

• What to Practice

2. What Happiness and Suffering Is

• Wanting Happiness and Not Wanting Suffering

• Seeking Happiness

• Seeking Happiness

• Happiness and Suffering: The Four Noble Truths

• Happiness and Suffering: The Four Noble Truths

• Happiness and Suffering: The Four Noble Truths

• Spinning Your Wheels? How Mind Is the Source of Happiness

3. Reality of Impermanence, Flowing with It

• Impermanence Is the Nature of Things

• Impermanence

• Summers and Winters Keep Changing

• Benefits of Change

• Change Is Change

• Change of Plans!

• Changing Perspectives

• Creatures of Habit and Adapting to Change

• Impermanence and Priorities

• Accomplishing Change with a Steadfast Mind

• It's Always a Time of Change

• Life is Fleeting: What Will You Do With It?

• A Moment of Time

4. Reality of Unsatisfactoriness, Leveraging It

• Suffering as the Nature of the Body

• Dukkha as the Cause of Our Aggregates

• Results of the Five Aggregates Are Unsatisfactory

• Samsara or Cyclic Existence

• How Samasara Evolves

• Just One of Those Days

• Using Suffering to Increase Compassion

• Using Suffering to Increase Our Giving and Taking Practice

5. Reality of Non-Self, Dance with It

• Nonduality and No Self Q&A

• The Emptiness of Beings

• I Have a Dream!

• Giving Up Our Independence

6. Reality of the Law of Causality

• Conditionality

• Contemplating Causality

• How Our Conditioning Affects Us

• Mere Labels

• Dependent Arising and Compassion

• Dependent Arising and Compassion

7. Reality of the Law of Karma and Rebirth

• The Meaning of Karma

• Karma, Formative Action and Volitional Factors

• Karma Ripening

• Karma Ripening

• We Don't Know the Ramifications of Our Actions

• Creating Merit to Sustain Long-Term Dharma Practice

• Questions on the Continuity of Consciousness

• The Continuity That Happens at Rebirth

• Rebirth

• Rebirth

• Some Questions on Rebirth

• Some Questions on Rebirth

8. Reflecting on the Law of Karma

• A-Bombs, Terrorism, and Karma

• Earthquakes and Karma

• Jury Duty and Karma

• Karma and Dukkha & the Healthcare Law

• Miscarriages and Karma

• Our Friends the Ants and Karma

• Practices for the Deceased

C. Self-centeredness, Selflessness and Otherness

1. Precious Human Life

• Celebrating Our Human Potential

• The Patterns of Attachment

• The Three Poisonous Attitudes

2. Self-centeredness

• Self-Centered Attitude

• Self-Centered Attitude

• General I's and Specific I's

• Anxiety, Crazy Making Self-Centeredness

• It's All About Me

3. Self Limitation, Self Affliction

• Self-Pity

• Punishing Ourselves

• Poor Me Mental States

• Honestly Looking at Our Afflictions

• Honestly Looking at Our Afflictions

• Dharma Advice & Afflictions

4. Befriending the Self

• Making Friends with Ourselves

• Being Your Own Best Friend: Cultivating a Healthy Sense of Self

• I'm the Sculptor

• Self-Honesty

• Practical Self

• Be in the Moment

• Be Careful What You Want

• How To See Yourself As You Really Are 2012

• How To See Yourself As You Really Are 2012

• How To See Yourself As You Really Are 2012

• How To See Yourself As You Really Are 2013

• How To See Yourself As You Really Are 2013

• How To See Yourself As You Really Are 2013

• How To See Yourself As You Really Are 2013

• How To See Yourself As You Really Are 2013

5. The Higher Selves

• Different Beliefs, Same Family

• Family Problems and Reification

• Questions on Seeing the Kindness of Our Mothers

• On Parental Love

• Parental Conditioning

• Kindness of Our Parents & All Beings

6. The Self and Otherness - Beginning

• Standing with People

• Diversity!

• Friend, Enemy & Stranger

• On Friendship

• Seeing the Kindness of Others

• Living With An Open Heart

• Is Everybody Okay?

• A Collaborative Approach to Life

• We Are No Longer Strangers - We Are Brothers

7. The Self and Otherness - Evolving

• If You Want to Benefit Others, Don't Harm Them

• Words of Encouragement

• Sharing Our Skills and Knowledge

• Laughter!

• Feeling Sorry For Someone

• Oy Vey!

• Unruly Teenagers

• Causing Others to Create Negativities

• Not taking Feedback as Criticism

• The Emergency Techniques

• Working with Sexual Energy

8. The Self and Otherness - Balancing

• What is My Business?

• What is My Business?

• Our Own Reality Isn't Everyone's Reality

• Comparing Ourselves With Others

• Seeing Myself as the Lowest of All

• Equalizing and Exchanging Self with Others

• The Idea of Romance

• Interdependence and Responsibility

• A Global View of How Different People Think

9. Living with Betrayal, Trust and Separation

• Conversations About Trust

• What Mental Factors Protect Trust?

• Criteria of Trust

• How Do We Make Ourselves Trustworthy?

• After Betrayal

• The Four Opponent Actions For Healing Broken Trust

• Healing Broken Trust

• Healing Broken Trust

• Don't Trust Me To Fly A Plane!

• On Marital Separation

10. . Living in a Religious Community

• Learning by Experience, Working Together in a Monastery

• International Buddhist Confederation Resolution

• Buddhists in Conflict

• Community Property

• Community Property

• Community Property

• Community Property

• Community Property

• Community Property

• Community Property

• Community Property

• Community Property

11. Living in a Multi Religious Community

• Interfaith Respect

• Interfaith Harmony

• Interfaith Dialog

• Connecting With Catholic Sisters

D. Liberating and Nourishing the Mind

1. Revisiting the Mindscape

• Look Into Your Own Mind

• Sensitivity To One's Own Mind

• Is Our Mind Free?

• Flexible Mind

• Health for the Mind

• True Inner Freedom

• Possessive Mentality

• "I Want It" Mind

• Taking Off the Roof of the Mind

• The Value of the Determination to Be Free

2. Reviewing the Mindsphere

• Loading Trucks with Conceptual and Non-Conceptual Minds

• Be Aware of Conceptual and Non-Conceptual Minds

• Conceptual Minds & Wisdom

• Conceptual Minds & Mind Training

• Conceptual/Non-Conceptual & 4 Establishments of Mindfulness

• Don't Believe Everything You Think

• Don't Believe Everything You Think

• Imprints in Our Minds: Advertisements and Altars

• Clear Sky Mind

3. Nurturing the Mind

• Hate is Not Conquered by Hate

• Living Mindfully

• Guarding the Senses

• Cultivating Serenity in Daily Life

• Holding the Mind in Equanimity

• Transforming the Mind

• A Happy Mind, Even with MS

• The Four Principles

4. Discerning and Liberating from Expectations and Judgement

• Something's Wrong with Our Mind

• Something's Wrong with Our Mind

• Something's Wrong with Our Mind

• A List of Expectations

• Managing Stress and Expectations

• Hope or Unrealistic Expectations?

• Living Up To Your Own Expectations

• Realize the Fabrication and Release It

• Working With A Judgmental Mind

• Working With A Judgmental Mind

• Working With A Judgmental Mind

5. Discerning and Liberating from Fear and Conceit

• Unrealistic Fears and Wisdom Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Fear

• Pride

• Pride

6. Discerning and Nourishing Addictions and Afflictions

• Afflictions Go Marching

• Buddhism and the 12 Steps

• Buddhism and the 12 Steps

• Buddhism and the 12 Steps

• Buddhism and the 12 Steps

• Buddhism and the 12 Steps

• Buddhism and the 12 Steps

• Buddhism and the 12 Steps

7. Discerning and Liberating from Mental Dangers and Toxics

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• The Eight Dangers

• Liberation from the Eight Dangers Verses 1 to 3

• Liberation from the Eight Dangers Verses 1 to 3

8. Discerning and Liberating from Distortions and Fixations

• The Four Distortions

• The Four Distortions

• The Four Distortions

• The Four Distortions

9. Discerning and Nourishing Forgiveness

• The True Meaning of Forgiveness

• Challenges to Forgiveness

• The Power of Forgiveness

• The Power of Forgiveness (with Bahasa Indonesia translation)

• A Talk on Forgiveness

• Forgiveness Retreat

• Forgiveness Retreat

• Forgiveness Retreat

• Kindness and Forgiveness

10. Discerning and Nourishing Love and Compassion

• Maitri and Karuna

• Inspired By Love

• Metta in a Time of Degeneration

• Power of Love Retreat

• Power of Love Retreat

• Power of Love Retreat

• Power of Compassion Retreat

• Power of Compassion Retreat

• Power of Compassion Retreat

• Cultivating a Flexible, Compassionate Mind

• Avoiding Compassion Burnout

• Commitment and Compassion

• Compassion and Ethics in the Public Discourse

• There's Only One Earth and We All Share It

E. Leading a Caring and Courageous Life

1. Care and Courage from Ethical Conduct

• Living With Five Precepts

• Benefits of Ethical Conduct

• Ethical Conduct in the Workplace

• Ethical Conduct in the Workplace

• Ethical Conduct and the Financial Crisis

• Ethical Conduct and Trust in Our Leaders

• Concealment

• Concealment

• Purification - The Mental & Spiritual Washing Machine

• Responsibility vs Obligation

• Stopping the Knee-Jerk Reaction

• Crawling Out of Holes

• Basic Courtesy

• Skillful Giving

• Economy of Generosity

• An Economy of Generosity

• True Generosity of Las Patronas

• The Benefit of Offering Service

• Offering Service: United we Serve

• Kind Heart As Our Motivation

• Kindness of Mothers (All Beings)

• Kindness and Interdependence

• Seeing Kindness That Isn't How You Expect it to Look

• Trying to Help People When They Don't Want It

• Dani's Letter of Kindness

• Empathy

• Forebearance

• Humility

• Humility and Gentleness

• Giving Thanks vs Feeling Entitled

2. Courage to Transform Anxiety, Anger and Adversities

• Overwhelmed? Joyous Effort

• Transforming Stress into Joyous Effort

• Dealing with Stressful Work

• Working With Disappointment

• Healing Anxiety from Trauma

• Banana Peel Wisdom

• Damaging Effects of Anger

• Advice On Children's Anger

• Recognizing Anger (Mengenali Kemarahan)

• Antidotes to Anger (Obat Anti Marah)

• Transforming Anger (Transformasi Kemarahan)

• Transforming Adversities Into The Path

• Transforming Adversities Into The Path

• Transforming Adversities Into The Path

• Transforming Adversities Into The Path

• Transforming Adversities Into The Path

• Transforming Adversities Into The Path

• Transforming Adversities Into The Path

3. Reflecting and Caring on Tragic Situations

• How to Use the Dharma With a Tragic Situation

• Spiritual Practice and the Evening News

• Spiritual Practice and the Evening News

• Reflections on the Boston Bombings

• Reflections on the Boston Bombings

• Reflections on the Boston Bombings

• Handling Emotions In Response To Mass Shootings

• Handling Emotions In Response To Mass Shootings

• Handling Emotions In Response To Mass Shootings

• One Year After the Aurora Shooting

• Safety Or Guns?

• Healing From a War

• Healing From The Past

• Relating to Natural Disasters

• Applying Dharma to Egypt

• Japan, Libya, and Spiritual Practice

• Reflections on JFK's Assassination

• Reflections on the Death of Osama Bin Laden

4. Caring for the Aging and Dying

• Happy Aging!

• Aging Gracefully

• Helping A Dying Friend

• What To Do When Dying

• Dying On the Path

• Maintaining Awareness of Death

• Death and Caring For the Dying, 2010

• Death and Caring For the Dying, 2010

• Death and Caring For the Dying, 2010

• Death and Caring For the Dying, 2010

• Death and Caring For the Dying, 2010

• Death and Caring For the Dying, 2010

• Death and Caring For the Dying, 2010

• Death and Caring For the Dying, 2010

• Dealing with Grief and Loss

• Consoling Without Heaven

• On Death and Bereavement

• Death and Identity