Conversations with Tibetan Buddhist Monastics: Lödrö Gyendon

Catching Z's: The Millennials Guide to Mindfulness

Lödrö Gyendon is a Buddhist monk living in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Raised in South Florida, Gyendon first encountered Buddhism in college when he was studying sculpture. He moved to Sravasti Abbey to deepen his study in 2011 and trained under the guidance of Bhikkshuni Thubten Chodron, before moving to Gampo Abbey in 2014 where he has lived and trained under the guidance of Pema Chödrön. We chat with Gyendon about:

• How he was interested at looking for alternative lifestyles and ways of living and led him to being a monk
• Difference in monastery, abbey, nunnery
• Wanted to explore buddhism and the monastic life but needed refuge before he could be considered
• Importance of lineage
• Examining “Trust born from understanding, understanding born from trust”
• His understanding with impermanence through his fathers experience of dying
• Exploring the phrase from Thich Naht Hahn: “Would you freeze the whole ocean for the sake of one wave?”
• Exploring the nature of mind
• Transmitting vs. translating the dharma
• Being American and taking on Buddhist vows
• Disease of disembodiment and the utility of our bodies
• Trisha hershe Nap ministry
• Striving and how it can cloud our dharma practice.
• Recognizing how painful attachment is
• Much more!