Aryadeva's 400 Stanzas with Venerable Thubten Chodron (2013-15)

Commentary by Venerable Thubten Chodron on Aryadeva’s Four Hundred Stanzas on the Middle Way to prepare for Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe's teachings.

Chapter 9: Refuting permanent functional phenomena

The explanation of ultimate truths begins with verses on the refutation of true existence by refuting permanent functional phenomena.

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Chapter 9: Verses 205-217

Refuting views held by non-Buddhist schools and lower Buddhist schools.

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Review of Chapter 6: Part 2

Part 2 of a review of Chapter 6 of Aryadeva's "400 Stanzas on the Middle Way" focuses on understanding ignorance and dependent arising.

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Review 1 of Chapter 8: Verses 176-183

This first review on Chapter 8 of Aryadeva's "400 Stanzas on the Middle Way" focuses on giving up attachment to samsara.

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Review 1 of Chapter 8: Verses 184-188

The first review of chapter 8 of Aryadeva's "400 Stanzas on the Middle Way" continues, focusing on the importance of understanding emptiness.

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Chapter 9: Verses 218-223

Examining and refuting the idea that there is a truly existent liberation and person who attains liberation.

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Chapters 9-10: Verses 224-226

When investigated, the strong feeling of a personal self and identity cannot be found, and there is no causeless, permanent self after liberation.

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Chapter 10: Refuting misconceptions of the self

Refuting erroneous views of an unchanging self, both innate and acquired. How to use awareness of momentary change to live a meaningful life.

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Chapter 10: Verses 236-246

The untenable consequences of positing a permanent creator or soul, refuting non-Buddhist views of a permanent self.

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Chapter 10: Verse 247

Considering how things are impermanent but do not go completely out of existence. Everything has a continuity.

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Chapter 10: Verses 248-250

How we avoid the extremes of permanence and annihilation by seeing that things change moment by moment but have a continuity.

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Chapter 11: Refuting truly existent time

How do the past, present, and future exist? How can things be impermanent yet have duration? Refuting misconceptions of time and establishing how it exists.

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