Intro to superknowledges
70 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps 
Oct 10, 2025 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.
- Having the motivation to benefit others to develop superknowledges
- Pitfalls of lying about supernormal powers and using them improperly
- Importance of dharma practice and motivation for liberation
- Liberated by mind and liberated by wisdom
- Six superknowledges
- Different aspects of supernormal powers
- Mastery over elements
- Process of cultivating the supernormal powers
70 Intro to Superknowledges (download)
Contemplation points
- What are the superknowledges and from a Buddhist perspective, what is the purpose of attaining them? What are some examples of non-virtous motivations for attaining them?
- What are some of the impediments to perceiving objects that the superknowledges help to overcome? What is it about the mind that makes such superknowledges possible?
- Spend some time contemplating the following from the text, “The true miracle is being able to instruct others and inspire their faith in the Dharma so that they may be led away from dukkha and attain nirvana.”
- Describe the first superknowledge: supernormal powers. What are people with supernormal powers able to do ? How is mastery of this superknowledge attained?
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.
