Self Compassion
Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi
Sunday, March 24: 10:30am-12pm
We will discuss what self-compassion it is, what it's not and how it can make you happier.
Self-compassion is simply treating yourself with the same kindness, concern, and support you'd show a good friend. Why is it so difficult? What are some of the obstacles to self-compassion? Is there a way we can train ourselves in self-compassion? Join us for this morning session, which will include a description of self-compassion and a review of its psychological benefits. Ven. Tenzin will discuss why it’s so difficult to give ourselves the same kindness and compassion that we would a friend, and will also introduce us to a short self-compassion practice that we can take into our daily lives to increase our happiness and well-being.
Self-compassion is simply treating yourself with the same kindness, concern, and support you'd show a good friend. Why is it so difficult? What are some of the obstacles to self-compassion? Is there a way we can train ourselves in self-compassion? Join us for this morning session, which will include a description of self-compassion and a review of its psychological benefits. Ven. Tenzin will discuss why it’s so difficult to give ourselves the same kindness and compassion that we would a friend, and will also introduce us to a short self-compassion practice that we can take into our daily lives to increase our happiness and well-being.

Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi is a Buddhist nun, activist and popular Buddhist retreat leader and teacher. Venerable Tenzin first became interested in meditation after reading "Be Here Now" and "Autobiography of a Yogi" in the early 1970s. She describes her spiritual path over the next 20 years as “meandering and haphazard” until she bought a one-way ticket to India in early 1991 with the intention of meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In the end, she became a student not only of His Holiness, but also of Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche and Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the year she spent studying at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, India and Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.
After returning to the US, Venerable Tenzin worked at various positions within Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s organization, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). She was director of Vajrapani Institute, co-director the FPMT International Office, and coordinator of FPMT Center Services. She also completed several long meditation retreats over a six-year period.
Venerable Tenzin took preliminary ordination vows with Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 2003 and novice ordination in 2004 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Since 2006 she has been teaching at various FPMT centers around the world.
Venerable Tenzin is teaches at both the foundational and in-depth level as well as leading long retreats. She is also a teacher of the a.r.t. of Fulfillment, one of the secular programs of the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, and in October 2017 will be beginning the teacher training for Compassion Cultivation Training, a program developed by Geshe Thubten Jinpa and colleagues at Stanford University. In addition, she is certified teacher of Cultivating Emotional Balance, a secular program in dealing with emotions developed by Alan Wallace and Paul Ekman at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s request. She resides at Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel.
After returning to the US, Venerable Tenzin worked at various positions within Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s organization, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). She was director of Vajrapani Institute, co-director the FPMT International Office, and coordinator of FPMT Center Services. She also completed several long meditation retreats over a six-year period.
Venerable Tenzin took preliminary ordination vows with Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 2003 and novice ordination in 2004 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Since 2006 she has been teaching at various FPMT centers around the world.
Venerable Tenzin is teaches at both the foundational and in-depth level as well as leading long retreats. She is also a teacher of the a.r.t. of Fulfillment, one of the secular programs of the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, and in October 2017 will be beginning the teacher training for Compassion Cultivation Training, a program developed by Geshe Thubten Jinpa and colleagues at Stanford University. In addition, she is certified teacher of Cultivating Emotional Balance, a secular program in dealing with emotions developed by Alan Wallace and Paul Ekman at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s request. She resides at Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel.
Suggested Donation is $20 at the door. Your generous donations are essential for the continuation of programs like this. Nobody is turned away for lack of funds.