This week ASNIC hosted Venerable Thubten Chodron, a Buddhist monk with a plethora of advice on life, compassion, and the path to happiness.
Chodron has spoken at NIC every semester for the past 5 years, according to Laura Templeman, professor of World Religions at NIC.
“I love listening to [Chodron],” said Templeman, “because she seems to be able to explain to the Western mindset some of the core attitudes about Buddhism and how to actually treat other people in the real world and do it so that you become happier.”
“I don’t really have the deep religious belief or the faith,” said audience member, Jordan Eubanks, when asked whether he identified as a Buddhist. “I just kind of believe in the underlying premises of the Dharma meaning good things.”
If you think you have to identify as a Buddhist to have a positive experience listening to Chodron speak, think again. In fact, many members of Chodron’s audience did not come in with any specific religious background in tact. Yet her lessons on the human understanding of compassion touched many.
“That’s why when we host these,” said Templeman. “It really is good for the community because everybody wants to be happier. And so they’re practical, realistic methods. So, the whole idea of, not the religious aspect of Buddhism, but the helpful aspect of it, in all of our lives about how to be truly happier people, is I think, no matter what the title is, it’s the same talk every time.”
Chodron was ordained a Buddhist nun in 1977, and has since expanded her practice of the religion in various ways including studying under the Dalai Lama, teaching the Dharma worldwide, and founding the Buddhist monastery, Sravasti Abbey, in Washington.
As soon as Chodron began speaking, her calming presence seemed to affect the entire room.
“Everyone close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and feel how your breathing connects you to the universe,” said Chodron, and the audience fell silent. The vibrations of phones in busy peoples’ pockets buzzed; a baby cooed. But the audience remained in a trance. By the end of the presentation, the audience seemed to share a certain bond over the words they’d just consumed together.
“This event for me is very important,” said NIC student Dawson Williams, “because we’re all meeting as one common cause and we’re meeting in the name of philosophy, in the name of Buddhism, and in the name of awareness…It all comes down to being of service to others. And here, we need a reminder, and these discussions help serve as reminders for us. Things that we start to forget as we grow older, we don’t practice often. And so Buddhism helps remind us that. So that’s why I enjoy these discussions to hear from [Chodron]. She brings it down to earth for everybody.”
“I think we can all take a little of the Buddhist aspect into our day to day adventures. Especially when it comes to removing thyself from the equation.”
