Eight liberations and nine serial absorptions
69 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Volume 4 Following in the Buddha's Footsteps 
Oct 3, 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.
- Liberation of cessation and absorption of cessation
- Suppressing coarse feelings and discriminations
- Eight liberations in Pali tradition
- Foulness of body
- Four formless meditative absorptions
- Different orders of leaping over nine serial absorptions
- Polluted and unpolluted
- Nonreturners, arhats and bodhisattvas
69 Eight Liberations and Nine Serial Absorptions (download)
Contemplation points
- The eighth liberation is the liberation of cessation. It is a consciousness in which coarse feelings and discriminations associated with the mental consciousness have ceased, rendering the mind very peaceful. Venerable Chodron commented that the feelings of pleasure and pain have ceased as well as the discriminations like “I like” and “I don’t like.” Take some time to imagine what it might be like to be in a state without coarse feelings and discrimination? How might this influence the way you practice both on and off the cushion?
- What is the difference between Sravaka meditators and bodhisattvas as they practice the Eight Liberations?
- Now, from the Pali tradition, how are the Eight Liberations described and how does each build on the previous one as the meditator progresses?
- Describe the way in which the Nine Serial Absorptions are practiced/mastered. What benefit does this bring to the meditator?
- What is the difference in emphasis between the Eight Liberations and the Nine Serial Absorptions?
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.
