Tag Archives: sravasti abbey

“Appearing and Empty,” is the ninth volume in The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series the Dalai Lama has co-written with Sravasti Abbey founder and abbess Ven. Thubten Chodron.

The fourth precept I’m writing about for this series is on refraining from wrong speech.

The Tibetans are a demonstrative, loving people, and His Holiness is well known and well-loved for his affectionate playfulness. He greets everyone he meets as a friend, a member of his own family, because for the Dalai Lama, every human being is a dear relative, a member of the same human family that shares life on this planet.

Geshe Dadul Namgyal, an esteemed Buddhist scholar, joined the Abbey as the first male resident teacher. He joins abbess and founder Ven. Thubten Chodron and author Ven. Sangye Khadro as a senior teacher guiding and instructing the monastery’s now 20 monastics.

Sravasti Abbey is holding a retreat for young adults aged 18–29 to explore the faith of Buddhism.  The retreat, which is in its 17th year, is June 9–15 at 692 Country Ln., Newport, Washington and the costs are by donation.

Because I write about faith, people often ask me what religion I am.  Sometimes I stumble over my answer. I admit I worry what people will think when I say “I’m a Buddhist.” It sounds so … trendy, which I am not. At the garden store Buddha’s statues have become as popular as St. Francis.