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Monday, October 14, 2024

Ven. Tenzin Tsepal

Venerable Tenzin Tsepal met Venerable Thubten Chodron, founder of Sravasti Abbey, in Seattle and studied Buddhism with her from 1995 to 1999. During that time, Venerable Tsepal attended the Life as a Western Buddhist Nun conference in Bodhgaya, India in 1996 as a lay supporter. An interest in ordination surfaced after she completed a three-month meditation retreat in 1998. She lived in India for two years while continuing to explore monastic life. In 2001, she received sramanerika (novice) ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. While Venerable Tsepal was in India, some Australians friends introduced her to the 5 year Buddhist Studies Program at Chenrezig Institute (CI) north of Brisbane, Queensland, where she subsequently lived and engaged in intensive residential study from 2002-2015. As the Western Teacher at CI, she tutored weekend teachings and retreats, and taught the Discovering Buddhism courses. Prior to ordaining, Venerable Tsepal completed a degree in Dental Hygiene, and then pursued graduate school in hospital administration at the University of Washington. Not finding happiness in 60 hour work weeks, she was self-employed for 10 years as a Reiki teacher and practitioner. Now a member of the resident community at Sravasti Abbey, Venerable Tsepal is compiling and editing the many years of Venerable Chodron’s teachings on monastic training as well as leading a review on the Buddhist philosophical tenets for the residents.

Ask A Buddhist: Books for Children

Below is a list of a few of the many Buddhist books available for children. I hope you’ll find it helpful.

Ask A Buddhist: Why Do Bad Things Happen?

The Buddha frequently taught about causality, one form of which is the law of karma and its effects.

Ask A Buddhist: Desire for Enlightenment

This kind of desire admires things that are worthwhile—like love and compassion—and inspires us to make effort to abandon afflictions and dukkha, and establish true peace in our mind.

Ask A Buddhist: Who, What is Buddha?

Shakyamuni Buddha, who lived 2,600 years ago, was once an ordinary being just like us.

Ask A Buddhist: Christian and Buddhist Beliefs

When initially exploring Buddhism, we can be both a practitioner of Christianity and Buddhism.

Ask A Buddhist: Is it OK to go fishing?

When we harm others, we create the potential — when all the causes and conditions come together— to be on the receiving end of harm ourselves in the future.

Ask A Buddhist: Visiting a Buddhist Temple

While all Buddhist traditions and temples have common element in their rites and ceremonies, each one has its individual elements as well. I will describe what we do at Sravasti Abbey.

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