Tibetan Buddhism

Philosophy & Practice

Buddhist Studies Institute
The Buddhist Studies Institute was founded by Pema Khandro to support the in-depth study of Buddhist Philosophy and Practice Online. Online education can revolutionize the study of Buddhism, making it accessible at an unprecedented level.
Dakini Mountain
Dakini Mountain is a retreat center being built in the Tahoe National Forest in Northern California. It is a pristine setting for tuning into inner wisdom, and the healing wisdom of nature. It is off-grid and fed by a beautiful natural spring.
Yogic Medicine Institute
The Yogic Medicine Institute (YMI) is an educational wellness clinic focused on Tibetan Medicine, Indian Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine. Located at Dakini Mountain, YMI specializes in cleansing and rejuvenation treatments & retreats.

Featured Content
Read Pema Khandro’s articles, essays and transcripts from talks about Buddhist philosophy on grief, dying, gender, desire and every else thing that matters.
Buddhist Women
One of the tremendous changes to Buddhism in our time is the unprecedented involvement of women at every level of Buddhist leadership and practice. While there have been tremendous gains, there is still much to be done for gender equality.
Join The Classes
Ongoing study of Buddhism is a potent way to find inspiration, clarity and reset your mindset. Over the long term, dharma study has an extraordinary result – it changes the way we see our world and opens us to a sense of natural goodness.

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How to Be Sick with Pema Khandro Rinpoche and Toni Bernhard Buddhist teachers Toni Bernhard and Pema Khandro Rinpoche have both known chronic illness first hand. In this conversation - especially relevant in the coronavirus era… Continue reading How to Be Sick with Pema Khandro Rinpoche and Toni Bernhard →
Illness Can Teach Us So Much with Karma Lekshe Tsomo and Pema Khandro In another helpful conversation about Buddhism, illness, and health - especially relevant in the coronavirus era - Buddhist teacher Karma Lekshe Tsomo gets personal with… Continue reading Illness Can Teach Us So Much with Karma Lekshe Tsomo and Pema Khandro →
Impermanence, Illness, and Health with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and Pema Khandro Rinpoche Author, teacher, and founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, Tenzin Palmo has a frank discussion with fellow teacher and scholar, Pema Khandro Rinpoche… Continue reading Impermanence, Illness, and Health with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and Pema Khandro Rinpoche →

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Pema Khandro Rinpoche recites a prayer to awaken bodhicitta Pema Khandro Rinpoche offers a recitation from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse to awaken bodhicitta, or enlightened mind.… Continue reading Pema Khandro Rinpoche recites a prayer to awaken bodhicitta →
Why Pema Khandro Rinpoche Loves Bruce Lee Movies Pema Khandro Rinpoche says Bruce Lee films are filled with images of power and energy, “and that’s what Buddhist tantra is all about.”… Continue reading Why Pema Khandro Rinpoche Loves Bruce Lee Movies →
Dakini Mountain - The 5 Dakini's in Nature Excerpt from an interview with Pema Khandro Rinpoche about the fundraiser for the development of Dakini Mountain Retreat Center.… Continue reading Dakini Mountain - The 5 Dakini's in Nature →
Pema Khandro Laughter of the Dakinis Chod Pema Khandro Laughter of the Dakinis Chod… Continue reading Pema Khandro Laughter of the Dakinis Chod →
Pema Khandro's Vajrasattva Meditation This shows the visualization instructions for the Vajrasattva meditation, a foundational practice of Tibetan Buddhism's Vajrayana meditation path. It focuses on seeing… Continue reading Pema Khandro's Vajrasattva Meditation →
Love & the Bodhisattva Vow - Bodhichitta Pt 4 Anyone who has ever loved someone else understands the natural wish for others to be happy, for others to be free from suffering. This is the fourth of four videos… Continue reading Love & the Bodhisattva Vow - Bodhichitta Pt 4 →
Going Beyond Confusion - Bodhichitta pt 3 Going beyond confusion requires recognizing it as confusion in the first place. This video is an excerpt from a class on Tibetan Buddhism given by Pema Khandro.… Continue reading Going Beyond Confusion - Bodhichitta pt 3 →
Training the Mind - Pema Khandro - Bodhichitta Pt 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxQrm9kw7ks… Continue reading Training the Mind - Pema Khandro - Bodhichitta Pt 2 →
Motivation & Enlightened Intention; Bodhichitta Part 1 An excerpt from Pema Khandro's class on Bodhichitta, the enlightened intention that is the heart of the Tibetan Buddhist path… Continue reading Motivation & Enlightened Intention; Bodhichitta Part 1 →
Pema Khandro Buddhism on Self & Non Self How do ideas of true-self, finding one-self and being the authentic self relate to the Buddhist idea of an-atma, non-self. Pema Khandro discusses Buddhism's view of the … Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddhism on Self & Non Self →
Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 7 Pema Khandro gives the final chapter in the Buddha's life story in this introduction to Tibetan Buddhism.… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 7 →
Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 6 Pema Khandro continues explaining the main themes of the Buddha's life in this short video series introducing Tibetan Buddhism.… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 6 →
Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 5 In this introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, Pema Khandro continues to tell the life story of the Buddha. This is a story of a man who had everything that a person could… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 5 →
Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 4 In this Introduction to Buddhism, Pema Khandro talks about the life of the Buddha, the roots of Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhist history.… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 4 →
Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 3 In this Introduction to Buddhism, Pema Khandro talks about the life of the Buddha, the roots of Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhist history.… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 3 →
Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 2 In this Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, Pema Khandro tells the Buddha's life story.… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddha's Life 2 →
Pema Khandro Buddha's Life Part 1 In this Introduction to Buddhism, Lama Pema Khandro talks about the life of the Buddha, Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhist history.… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddha's Life Part 1 →
Pema Khandro - Buddhism: Religion or Spirituality? Pema Khandro discusses whether Tibetan Buddhism is a religion or spirituality, philosophy or religion?… Continue reading Pema Khandro - Buddhism: Religion or Spirituality? →
Pema Khandro Cultivating Sane Relationships Pema Khandro answers students questions about whether it is useful to give other people critical feedback and advice. She explains that the root of the Buddhist teachings… Continue reading Pema Khandro Cultivating Sane Relationships →
Pema Khandro Buddhism and Reincarnation Pema Khandro discusses the notion of Reincarnation in Buddhism and how this idea is connected with the Buddhist worldview of interdependence, cause and effect, momentum… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddhism and Reincarnation →
Pema Khandro Buddhism on Emptiness and Compassion Pema Khandro discusses the second turning of the wheel of the dharma, the Buddhist teachings on Emptiness and Compassion. The understanding of the idea of Emptiness is… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddhism on Emptiness and Compassion →
Pema Khandro Buddha Nature Pema Khandro discusses Buddha-nature and the third of the major Buddhist teachings known as the third turning of the wheel of the dharma. In Tibetan Buddhism,… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddha Nature →
Pema Khandro Buddhist Teaching on Satisfaction and Nonduality Broadband Pema Khandro gives a class on Tibetan Buddhism and the four noble truths in Santa Cruz, California. This clip features a discussion about the cause of suffering and how… Continue reading Pema Khandro Buddhist Teaching on Satisfaction and Nonduality Broadband →
Pema Khandro What is Karma Part2 Pema Khandro discusses the Tibetan Buddhist idea of Karma. Part two focuses on the idea of "karmic vision," habitual ways of interpreting our world that get in the way of… Continue reading Pema Khandro What is Karma Part2 →
Pema Khandro What is Karma Part 1 An Interview with Pema Khandro on the Buddhist View of Karma. Pema Khandro describes how internal mental habits relate to our external circumstances. Based on mental and … Continue reading Pema Khandro What is Karma Part 1 →
2 Minute MADHYAMAKA - with Pema Khandro Pema Khandro gives a brief synopsis of MADHYAMAKA philosophy from the Nyingma Buddhist perspective. This is a method for deconstructing all the concepts, ideas and rigid … Continue reading 2 Minute MADHYAMAKA - with Pema Khandro →
Pema Khandro Ngakpa House Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Pema Khandro introduces Ngakpa House - a charity that supports children and elders in the Himalayan border lands. www.NgakpaHouse.org… Continue reading Pema Khandro Ngakpa House →

Featured Content

Black Lives Matter We grieve for the loss of lives of George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Eric … Continue reading Black Lives Matter →
Response to Pandemic In response to the global corona virus Pandemic, Pema Khandro has moved all her sprin… Continue reading Response to Pandemic →
Aren’t You Supposed To Be Enlightened? Are we supposed to be “enlightened?” Are we supposed to be perfect? If not, how do we… Continue reading Aren’t You Supposed To Be Enlightened? →
Beautiful Tibet & A Buddhist Yogi This is a photo I took of Katok monastery in Tibet, last month during the celebration of Padmasambhava. Katok offers another example of how Tibet’s Buddhist Yogis have … Continue reading Beautiful Tibet & A Buddhist Yogi →
Carrying Illness onto the Path Buddhist biographies have few detailed accounts of illness and disease. However, since illness and disease have been such teachers to me, I have found inspiration from… Continue reading Carrying Illness onto the Path →
She Was A Natural Yogini There was a fourteenth century female master of the Nyingma lineage who came from the Zur family. Her name was Zurmo Gendun bum. (Tib. zur mo dge ’dun ’bum). … Continue reading She Was A Natural Yogini →
Buddhist Women: One Nun’s Hardship & Beauty The historical stories of Tibetan Buddhist women often contain shocking elements which blatantly address the difficulties of life and how Buddhist teachings can be… Continue reading Buddhist Women: One Nun’s Hardship & Beauty →
Buddhist Women – The Story of A Survivor This is a brief summary of the legend of Nangsa Obum. She is beaten almost to death and in the end survives and moves on to live a life devoted to liberation of her self… Continue reading Buddhist Women – The Story of A Survivor →
Photos: Sakyadhita Conference 2015 Photos from the recent Sakyadhita Buddhist Women’s Conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia with representation of numerous Buddhist lineages… Continue reading Photos: Sakyadhita Conference 2015 →
Buddhist Women - A Hero in Dark Times One of my favorite Buddhist stories of Buddhist women is that of the eighteenth century leader, Jetsunma Mingyur Paldron (Tib. rJe btsun Mi ‘gyur dpal sgron, 1699– 17… Continue reading Buddhist Women - A Hero in Dark Times →
Buddhist Women – Remembering the Yoginis Without the great Buddhist leaders of the past, the tradition would not have survived. Women and men who have devoted their lives to study and practice of Buddhism have… Continue reading Buddhist Women – Remembering the Yoginis →
Buddhist Women – the Dalai Lama’s Mother Today is the birthday of the extraordinary and inspiring leader, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. However, since this month’s articles are all about women, this is a brief… Continue reading Buddhist Women – the Dalai Lama’s Mother →
Buddhist Women’s Conference – Mutual Appreciation and Non Sectarianism The Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women met for one week in beautiful, humid, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Over a thousand people, from different countries… Continue reading Buddhist Women’s Conference – Mutual Appreciation and Non Sectarianism →
Buddhist Women – Tibet’s First Female Tulku (reincarnate lama) This is the story of Sonam Peldren, a Tibetan yogini, is the earliest recorded female tulku. She lived in thirteenth-fourteenth century Tibet. The system of finding… Continue reading Buddhist Women – Tibet’s First Female Tulku (reincarnate lama) →
Surrounded by Buddhist Women The fourteenth Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women is well underway, with approximately a thousand people here to celebrate women in Buddhism… Continue reading Surrounded by Buddhist Women →
A Buddhist Women’s Rights March The story of the first women’s rights march recorded in history is the march led by Buddhist women for inclusion and equality. During the early years of the Buddha’s … Continue reading A Buddhist Women’s Rights March →
When Buddha Was A Woman In the Buddha’s past life he was a woman, according to several medieval Pali texts. These texts, containing collections of the Buddha’s past life stories, portray how… Continue reading When Buddha Was A Woman →
International Conference on Buddhist Women I have arrived in Indonesia for the International Conference on Buddhist Women, where I will be presenting my research on women’s leadership roles in Tibetan history… Continue reading International Conference on Buddhist Women →
Saga Dawa Today is Saga Dawa, the anniversary of the Buddha’s birth, awakening and passing away (parinirvana).It is a day when Buddhists around the world practice mantras, make… Continue reading Saga Dawa →
From True Self to the Bare Fact of Being Buddhadharma quarterly is featuring an article I wrote on waking up while facing crisis. Buddhism orients around finding freedom from suffering through changing the way … Continue reading From True Self to the Bare Fact of Being →
Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 5: Organ Donation There is a traditional story, a Jataka tale, of the Buddha’s past life before he became a Buddha. While walking in the mountains he happened upon a mother tiger and her… Continue reading Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 5: Organ Donation →
Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 4: Practices for the Deceased After the death Vajrasattva mantras can be done for the deceased. If possible, Lamas can be asked to perform the rituals such as Shitro practices for the deceased. This … Continue reading Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 4: Practices for the Deceased →
Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 3: Pain Medicine Practically speaking the essence of the Buddhist path and practice is loving compassion. This can be the measure for such decisions. It is extremely difficult to… Continue reading Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 3: Pain Medicine →
Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 2: Life Support Is there anything wrong with withdrawing life support to a person who seems unlikely to recover and is unconscious? This is a difficult decision. Some practical thoughts … Continue reading Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 2: Life Support →
Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 1 One of the most profound things that Buddhism has to offer are its teachings on death and dying. Having presided over funerals and worked with students as they face the… Continue reading Buddhism on Death & Dying Part 1 →
Emptying out Misconceptions – Making sense of Madhyamaka The Buddhist teaching on emptiness offers radical perspective that breaks through the chains that bind us, the concepts and assumptions that obscure our perception. But… Continue reading Emptying out Misconceptions – Making sense of Madhyamaka →
Buddhism on Self and Non-Self How do ideas of true-self, finding one-self and being the authentic self relate to the Buddhist idea of an-atma, non-self? Pema Khandro discusses Buddhism’s view of the… Continue reading Buddhism on Self and Non-Self →
Karmapa- Full Ordination for Tibetan Women In another act of inspiring leadership, the 17th Karmapa (1) has announced that he will restore the full ordination of nuns in Tibet. The growing presence of female… Continue reading Karmapa- Full Ordination for Tibetan Women →
Harmonious Relationships Pema Khandro answers students questions about whether it is useful to give other people critical feedback and advice. She explains that the root of the Buddhist teachings… Continue reading Harmonious Relationships →
Things Are Not What They Seem – 2 Minute Buddhist Philosophy Lesson with Pema Khandro Spiritual intelligence is one of our greatest assets. We live out our entire life based on our ideas of who we are, what life is, what matters, what does not. Many of the… Continue reading Things Are Not What They Seem – 2 Minute Buddhist Philosophy Lesson with Pema Khandro →
Solstice, Equinox & Eclipses – A Prayer for All Goodness On solstices, eclipses and equinox day, Tibetan Buddhists have the practice of the Kunzang Monlam, also known as “Kuntuzangpo Aspiration Prayer.” This prayer begins w… Continue reading Solstice, Equinox & Eclipses – A Prayer for All Goodness →
Four Travel Essentials Part 1: Tricks from Tibetan Medicine to help avoid exhaustion from holiday travel Don’t let travel be more stressful, exhausting and health draining than it needs to be. Here are four things I never travel without doing. Do these in lieu of the four… Continue reading Four Travel Essentials Part 1: Tricks from Tibetan Medicine to help avoid exhaustion from holiday travel →
Anniversary of Yogi – Ngakpa Lama Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche Today is the anniversary of the passing away of one of the great Tibetan Lamas who was also a Yogi (Ngakpa). He came to the west, trained and ordained many westerners… Continue reading Anniversary of Yogi – Ngakpa Lama Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche →
Vajrayana Meditation Enhances Brain Performance Meditation is Not A One Size Fits All Practice. Of course we all know that different meditation techniques would have different results, but since so many scientific… Continue reading Vajrayana Meditation Enhances Brain Performance →
Lha Bab Duchen – Buddhist Holiday In the Buddha’s life stories this time celebrates the time when the Buddha came back down to earth after a period of teaching in the higher realms. It is commemorated … Continue reading Lha Bab Duchen – Buddhist Holiday →
Celebrating Buddhist Wisdom – Lha Bab Duchen Today is the celebration of “Lhabab Duchen.” It is not just a tradition in Tibetan Buddhism, it is celebrated by Buddhists everywhere. The name “Lhabab Duchen,” l… Continue reading Celebrating Buddhist Wisdom – Lha Bab Duchen →
Mind is like the sky “Mind, continual source of meanings, is like the sky: the sky is Mind, genuine meaningfulness, without duality, complete and identical with itself - understand it … Continue reading Mind is like the sky →
Desire – Reflection of Buddha-Nature Desire is also a reflection of the radiance of Buddha-nature, our wakefulness to the sparkling, sacred qualities of existence. We glow with it. Our world is lit up when… Continue reading Desire – Reflection of Buddha-Nature →
Anger and Sanity Transforming emotions is a matter of harnessing the basic energy of the emotion itself. This can be done in three steps. Anytime we have a knee-jerk reaction in one… Continue reading Anger and Sanity →
Skillful Means – Rays of Sanity In Dark Times Rarely do we hear the story of dharma heroes and heroines, who conquered the cause of war altogether by finding impeccable awareness. The telling of that story is up to… Continue reading Skillful Means – Rays of Sanity In Dark Times →
Beyond the “Its All One” Approach – A Celebration of Diversity A mark of familiarity with Buddhism is to become aware of the diversity of Buddhist schools and sects, Buddhist views and philosophies and the diversity of Buddhist… Continue reading Beyond the “Its All One” Approach – A Celebration of Diversity →
The Power of Mind in Buddhist Thought Buddhist philosophy centers on the power of mind. Our perceptual habits can imprison us. Yet, when the nature of mind is understood, then our perceptions can also… Continue reading The Power of Mind in Buddhist Thought →
Doubts Are the Basis For Learning Doubts don’t necessarily imply that there is something fundamentally flawed about what we are doubting. Having doubts about the Buddhist teachings is not a problem. Qui… Continue reading Doubts Are the Basis For Learning →
Warriorship Beyond Fight or Flight The idea of warriorship comes from the Tibetan term for Bodhisattva (byang chub sems pa). This describes the mind set on awakening, (Tib byang chub sems) and the person… Continue reading Warriorship Beyond Fight or Flight →
What to do when emotions are tumultuous? “What shall I do when forever emotional reactions and frustrations are raging in tumultuous waves? Then quickly don the armor of perseverance, and in order to let the… Continue reading What to do when emotions are tumultuous? →
Restoring Psychological Balance Through Hor-me Therapy One of the most widely practiced home remedies in Tibetan Medicine used by families and Amchis (Tibetan doctors) as part of the Tibetan Medicine oral tradition. Horme… Continue reading Restoring Psychological Balance Through Hor-me Therapy →
What is Tibetan Yoga? Tibetan Yoga practices regulate the flow of energy in the body and mind in order to remove negative tendencies and blocks. The goal is to allow our natural state of… Continue reading What is Tibetan Yoga? →

When Sadness Rages Like Fire Pema Khandro Rinpoche shares the life of the Tibetan yogi Shabkar, whose practice and teachings were inseparable from loss and grief. From the Fall 2020 issue of… Continue reading When Sadness Rages Like Fire →
Be Kind to Yourself You have enlightened nature, says Pema Khandro Rinpoche. If you truly know that, you’ll always be kind to yourself. When people talk about daily practice, they usually… Continue reading Be Kind to Yourself →
Forum: Hear Our Voices Myokei Caine-Barrett, Narayan Helen Liebenson, Rebecca Li, and Myoan Grace Schireson share their experiences and insights into being a female teacher and leader in… Continue reading Forum: Hear Our Voices →
You’re Caught in a Dream. Wake Up! When you see that much of your life is spent in dreamlike states, says Pema Khandro Rinpoche, you are freed from the suffering they cause. If we think about it, we see… Continue reading You’re Caught in a Dream. Wake Up! →
The First Women’s March More than two-and-a-half millennia ago, Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha’s aunt, set a precedent for women’s rights. Although the Buddha had female students during the… Continue reading The First Women’s March →
The Power of Buddhism If you ignore power, you ignore powerful Buddhist teachings. Pema Khandro Rinpoche says that Buddhism teaches us how to be powerful and compassionate at the same time.… Continue reading The Power of Buddhism →
Inside the July 2018 Lion’s Roar magazine The July 2018 issue of Lion’s Roar magazine features Buddhist teachings on the real reasons to meditate. Inside, you’ll also find a profile of Oakland’s East Bay… Continue reading Inside the July 2018 Lion’s Roar magazine →
The People Who Inspire Us Each Friday, we share three topical longreads in our Weekend Reader newsletter. This week, Buddhadharma editor Tynette Deveaux talks about the people who inspire us.… Continue reading The People Who Inspire Us →
Pema Khandro Rinpoche recites a prayer to awaken bodhicitta Pema Khandro Rinpoche offers a recitation from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse to awaken bodhicitta, or enlightened mind. This clip was recorded at the Lion’s … Continue reading Pema Khandro Rinpoche recites a prayer to awaken bodhicitta →
Inside the Fall 2017, 15th-anniversary issue of Buddhadharma In this special anniversary issue, now available, we celebrate with a selection from some of the best teachings and articles we’ve published over the last fifteen years… Continue reading Inside the Fall 2017, 15th-anniversary issue of Buddhadharma →
Open Your Heart Further Pema Khandro Rinpoche on cultivating the boundless love of a bodhisattva. Don’t give up on love. When love is hard or painful, open your heart even further. That’s th… Continue reading Open Your Heart Further →
You’re Ready Enough Wherever you find yourself, says Pema Khandro, that’s the starting point of the bodhisattva path - all you need to do is take that first step. Once upon a time, many… Continue reading You’re Ready Enough →
Breaking Open in the Bardo It’s when we lose the illusion of control - when we’re most vulnerable and exposed - that we can discover the creative potential of our lives. Pema Khandro Rinpoche… Continue reading Breaking Open in the Bardo →
Healing Traditions/Tibet: Tibetan Medicine Where does Tibetan Medicine stem from? It is one of the oldest medical systems in the world. Tibetan Medicine’s primary influences are Buddhist philosophy and Indian… Continue reading Healing Traditions/Tibet: Tibetan Medicine →
The Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women The Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women met for one week in beautiful, humid, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Over a thousand people, from different countries… Continue reading The Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women →

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We can’t always control circumstances, but we can always change our own mind.

— Pema Khandro