Thubten Chodron
Thubten Chodron, born Cheryl Greene, is an American Tibetan Buddhist nun, author, and teacher. She is recognized as a significant figure in the effort to reinstate the full ordination of women (bhikshuni) within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. As the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey, she plays a crucial role in providing monastic training for Westerners in the Tibetan Buddhist path.
Key Facts
- ›Founded Sravasti Abbey, the only Tibetan Buddhist training monastery for Western nuns and monks in the United States.
- ›A central figure in the movement to reinstate the Bhikshuni (full nun's) ordination for women in Tibetan Buddhism.
- ›Has authored and edited numerous books on Buddhist philosophy and practice, many co-written with the 14th Dalai Lama.
- ›Ordained as a nun in 1977 and received full bhikshuni ordination in 1986.
- ›Has extensive experience teaching Buddhism internationally and making it accessible to Western audiences.
- ›Awarded the Global Bhikkhuni Award in 2016.
Important Relationships
- Sravasti Abbey
- Committee for Bhikshuni Ordination
- Mind and Life Institute
Buddhism For Beginners, Working With Anger, Don'T Believe Everything You Think, the Library of Wisdom and Compassion, Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions
Sravasti Abbey, Newport, Washington, Us, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, Dharamshala, India, Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy, Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, Dharma Friendship Foundation, Seattle, Us
14th Dalai Lama, Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche, Lama Thubten Yeshe, Thubten Zopa Rinpoche
English
Bhikshuni Ordination
About Thubten Chodron
Thubten Chodron, born Cheryl Greene in 1950, is a prominent American Tibetan Buddhist nun, author, and teacher. She is widely recognized for her significant role in the effort to reinstate the full ordination of women, known as the Bhikshuni lineage, within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. As the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey, the only Tibetan Buddhist training monastery for Western nuns and monks in the United States, she provides a vital center for monastic education and practice.
Life and Teachings
Chodron grew up in a non-religious Jewish family near Los Angeles, California. After completing her B.A. in history and postgraduate work in education, she encountered Buddhism through a meditation course led by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Kyabje Thubten Zopa Rinpoche in 1975. This led her to Kopan Monastery in Nepal for further study. She was ordained as a nun in 1977 and received full bhikshuni ordination in 1986.
Her extensive studies and practice have been guided by prominent Tibetan masters, including the 14th Dalai Lama, Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche, Lama Thubten Yeshe, and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. She has served as a resident teacher and spiritual director at various Buddhist centers internationally, including in Italy, Singapore, and Seattle, US.
Chodron's teachings emphasize the practical application of Buddhist principles in daily life, presented in ways that are easily understood by Westerners. She has been instrumental in organizing conferences on the role of Buddhist women and fostering interfaith dialogue. Her work also includes Dharma outreach in prisons and the establishment of Sravasti Abbey in 2003, which aims to provide a stable environment for Westerners training in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Publications and Contributions
Thubten Chodron is a prolific author, having written and edited numerous books on Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and practice. Among her most notable works are 'Buddhism for Beginners,' 'Working with Anger,' and 'Don't Believe Everything You Think.' She is also a co-author with the 14th Dalai Lama on the multi-volume series 'The Library of Wisdom and Compassion,' which offers a comprehensive explanation of the Buddhist path. Her contributions extend to co-organizing significant international conferences, including those focused on the ordination of Buddhist nuns and the dialogue between Buddhism and science through the Mind and Life Institute.
In recognition of her efforts, she was awarded the Global Bhikkhuni Award in 2016. Thubten Chodron continues to travel worldwide, teaching the Dharma and guiding practitioners on their spiritual journeys.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Thubten Chodron?
Thubten Chodron, born Cheryl Greene, is an American Tibetan Buddhist nun, author, and teacher. She is also the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey in the United States, a monastery dedicated to training Western monastics.
What is Thubten Chodron known for?
She is particularly known for her role in the reinstatement of the Bhikshuni (full nun's) ordination for women within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She is also a prolific author and teacher, making Buddhist philosophy accessible to Westerners.
What is Sravasti Abbey?
Sravasti Abbey is a Buddhist monastic community founded by Thubten Chodron, located north of Spokane, Washington. It serves as the only Tibetan Buddhist training monastery for Western nuns and monks in the United States.
What are some of Thubten Chodron's notable works?
Notable works include 'Buddhism for Beginners,' 'Working with Anger,' and 'Don't Believe Everything You Think.' She is also co-authoring a multi-volume series with the 14th Dalai Lama titled 'The Library of Wisdom and Compassion.'
When was Thubten Chodron ordained?
Thubten Chodron was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamshala. She received her full bhikshuni ordination in Taiwan in 1986.
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