Cultivating serenity in nine stages
91 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps
Venerable Thubten Tarpa 
Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps 
Apr 10, 2026 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.
- Pliancy and serenity
- Physical dysfunctions and mental dysfunctions
- Mental pliancy, physical pliancy, bliss of physical pliancy and bliss of mental pliancy
- Three qualities of serenity
- Four afflictions that interfere with maintaining serenity
- Explanation of the digram illustrating the process of cultivating serenity
- Six powers
- Nine stages of sustained attention
- Four form realm meditative stabilizsation and four formless realm meditative absorptions
- Three spheres of consciousness
- Seven mental contemplations
91 Cultivating Serenity in Nine Stages (download)
Venerable Thubten Tarpa
Venerable Thubten Tarpa is an American practicing in the Tibetan tradition since 2000 when she took formal refuge. She has lived at Sravasti Abbey under the guidance of Venerable Thubten Chodron since May of 2005. She was the first person to ordain at Sravasti Abbey, taking her sramanerika and sikasamana ordinations with Venerable Chodron as her preceptor in 2006. See pictures of her ordination. Her other main teachers are H.H. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya and H.E. Dagmo Kusho. She has had the good fortune to receive teachings from some of Venerable Chodron's teachers as well. Before moving to Sravasti Abbey, Venerable Tarpa (then Jan Howell) worked as a Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer for 30 years in colleges, hospital clinics, and private practice settings. In this career she had the opportunity to help patients and teach students and colleagues, which was very rewarding. She has B.S. degrees from Michigan State and University of Washington and an M.S. degree from the University of Oregon. She coordinates the Abbey's building projects. On December 20, 2008 Ven. Tarpa traveled to Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights California receiving bhikhshuni ordination. The temple is affiliated with Taiwan's Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order.
