The Workshop is in the Mind
Venerable Robina Courtin weaves a tapestry of modern Buddhist commentary as she illuminates this ancient spiritual path with humor, wit and intensity. This Buddhist program aims to give every listener an opportunity to ponder some of life’s deepest questions such as:
“Why do bad and good things happen? Is it karma? How can I overcome insecurity and start to care deeply for other beings? Can I lessen my depression and fears? Is reincarnation real? What is the mind? Exactly what is enlightenment?
A Buddhist nun since the late 1970s, Robina Courtin has worked since then with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, a worldwide network of Tibetan Buddhist activities of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinopche. She has served as editorial director of Wisdom Publications, editor of Mandala magazine, and executive director of Liberation Prison Project. Her life, as well as her work with prisoners, has been featured in the documentary films “Chasing Buddha and Key to Freedom”.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 15 minutes
- Episodes
- 412
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Giving up attachment and aversion (STTA 2)
Something To Think About Series #2
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin
Everybody in the universe is kind (STTA 1)
Something To Think About Series #1
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin
Getting a Grip on Our Actions
At first, we don’t recognize any problem with negative habits, like harmful speech. We need to develop an awareness of how our actions can affect others. Then we can see how those actions create our …
Developing a Heart of Compassion
The Mahayana path targets our basic selfishness, or self-cherishing. Gradually, by understanding our interdependence, we can learn to put others first.
13:57 | Extracted from "Courageous Compassion"…
Concentration Requires Technique
Calm Abiding, or concentration, is essential for understanding emptiness. For concentration, we need several special qualities operating together.
14:31 | Extracted from "The Six Perfections" teachin…
Getting Rid of Negative Karma
We need to counteract negative states of mind with effective purification practice. Purification starts with the four R’s: Regret, Reliance, Remedy and Resolve.
07:42 | Extracted from "Living With Un…
Source of Samsara and Nirvana
We might have a belief about how happiness and suffering emanate from “out there.” We don’t recognize our own minds’ role in our own happiness and suffering. That’s being a “Samsara-ist.”
11:57 | Ex…
Getting Ready for ‘Thought Transformation’
To practice compassion we need to subdue habitual selfishness. First, we need to understand some Buddhist psychology about the sources of suffering. Then, with wisdom, we become a suitable vessel for…
The Very Heart of Suffering
Misconceptions cause incredible suffering. We can correct these misconceptions through a path of inquiry to get to the root of the problem. This inquiry leads us to the topic of emptiness.
19:17 | Ex…
Compassion Needs Wisdom
Sometimes we stick our noses in when it is not appropriate. We think that’s compassion, but it’s just coming from your own attachment. Wisdom sometimes means you leave people alone, especially when t…
A quick look at the Two Truths
Here is a quick overview and some definitions that help us understand the different ways things exist.
9:35 | Extracted from "How to Discover Our True Nature" teaching hosted by Zopa Noble Park Buddh…
Internal and external energy
Body and mind make up essential parts of being and they are interdependent. Disturbances of mental energy can affect the health of the body.
3:46 | Extracted from "How to Discover Our True Nature" te…
Start with Your Own Suffering - Be Your Own Therapist series
At first, we practice and study to address our own suffering. We accomplish that by analyzing our actions, words and thoughts. Look to see how attachment, anger and various mistaken views mess us up.…
Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020) - Personal Power
Can Buddhist training help develop self-esteem, confidence and personal power?
4:16 | Extracted from "Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020)" teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teach…
Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020) - Calm Abiding
Is this what is sometimes called “Calm Abiding” meditation?
3:48 | Extracted from "Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020)" teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teaching: Audio Video.
Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020) - Mahamudra
A style of practice called Mahamudra meditation looks at the mind without getting caught up in thoughts. Ven. Robina describes the technique in introductory detail, dispelling misconceptions and eluc…
The Path to Wisdom
The Lam Rim, or "Gradual Path” teachings provide a reliable sequence of contemplations that help us clarify our intentions.
17:05 | Extracted from "Finding Freedom and Ultimate Happiness" teachings g…
Four Noble Truths
17:26 | Extracted from "Karma, Morality & Happiness" on Lawudo Trek 2019. Full teaching here.
Medicine Buddha Meditation
The practice begins with a visualization, described in vivid detail. Next we add the sound of the mantra. Reflect that all beings want happiness equally. Additional stages of this visualization makes…
What We Perceive
Sensory consciousness and mental consciousnesses do different things. Unraveling them we see that the senses are rather limited. It is the mental consciousness that creates mental judgments and opini…