The four establishments of mindfulness
98 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps 
Jun 5, 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.
- Purpose of four establishments of mindfulness
- Understanding the foul nature of the body
- Impermanence and emptiness
- Cultivating serenity and insight
- How thoroughly pure mindfulness functions
- Understanding nature, dependence, function and reasoning
- Exalted knower
- General and specific characteristics
- Body that is internal, external and both
98 The Four Establishments of Mindfulness (download)
Contemplation points
- What is the purpose of the four establishments of mindfulness? How is this different from secular mindfulness?
- Studying and meditating on the four establishments of mindfulness helps us to understand our situation in samsara in an experiential way. Why is this an important awareness as we practice the Buddhist path?
- Mindfulness on the body can be a difficult practice. What ideas do we as a society have about our bodies that don’t accord with reality? How has attachment to your own body created suffering for you and/or inhibited your Dharma practice? How do we make our mind comfortable with understanding the realities about aging?
- Why is it important to practice the Four Establishment of Mindfulness with the guidance of a spiritual mentor and in the framework of the Buddhist worldview?
- What is the meaning of “mindfulness” as it relates to the Four Establishments of Mindfulness?
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.
