Chapter 1: Verses 86-92
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Teachings at Sravasti Abbey 
Oct 29, 2015 Chapter 1 addresses what to abandon and what to practice to attain upper rebirth and highest good. Part of a series of talks on Nagarjuna's Precious Garland of Advice for a King.
- The four elements cannot form an inherently existent composite because composites are dependent on parts
- Each of the four elements lack inherent existence because they are mutually dependent on the other elements
- Prasangikas refute the lower schools’ assertion that things are both dependent arisings and inherently existent
- The elements and other things have their own specific characteristics, but their characteristics do not exist inherently
- Examining other phenomena to see that they are mutually dependent and therefore lack inherent existence
Precious Garland 25: Verses 86-92 (download)
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.
