Final and provisional refuges
09 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps 
Jun 21, 2024 Part of an ongoing series of teachings based on the book Following in the Buddha's Footsteps, the fourth volume in The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron.
- Understanding objects of refuge, Three Jewels and symoblic Jewels
- Final goal of buddhahood and one final vehicle
- Afflictive obscurations and cognitive obscurations
- Importance of collection of merit for the bodhisattva path
- Four buddha bodies
- Differences between Arya learners and Buddhas
- True paths and true cessations
- Transmitted dharma in the minds of Arya learners and Buddhas
- Reasons why Arya learners are provisional refuge and not final refuge
09 Final and Provisional Refuges (download)
Contemplation points
- What is the purpose in learning about the final and provisional objects of refuge?
- What is considered the one final vehicle and why must practitioners of other vehicles start at the beginning once they decide to follow this one final vehicle?
- What is the difference between final, provisional, and symbolic objects of refuge? Make examples of each for the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
Venerable Thubten Chodron
Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.
