Articles by alphabetic order
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 Ā Ī Ñ Ś Ū Ö Ō
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0


Gateway to Knowledge

From Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
27yt045 n.jpg




MKha-pa’i-tshul-la-‘jug-pa’i-sgo


In the context of the need for study, we offer you a work entitled The Gateway to Knowledge by Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912), also known as Ju Mipam (after his family name Ju), Mipham Jampel Yang or Mipham Jamyang Namgyal Gyatso. He studied under many great masters of all traditions. Moreover, he received teachings on all traditional topics of knowledge, and also received a large number of empowerments, oral transmissions, and instructions. Gifted with natural intelligence, Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche became an incredible scholar. He mastered all five sections of knowledge (sciences) and still remains an example of a great scientist. If we look at him as a practitioner, it seems that he spent almost his entire life in retreat. If we look at the works he left behind, it seems that he spent his whole life expounding texts. If you try to evaluate his role as a Dharma teacher, it would seem that he spent his entire life giving teachings. Reading his biography, we can see the improbability of his achievements. In short, how he studied, contemplated and practiced, how he bestowed teachings, debated and wrote texts, his activities in study and teaching are vast and unbiased.


Among the huge number of texts that belong to his pen, "Gateway to Knowledge" carries a fundamentally important semantic load for the followers of Buddhism. Why? Not because the text is extensive and detailed, no, the text is not large at all. Nevertheless, studying it guarantees a general understanding of what the Buddha taught. In particular, The Gateway to Knowledge provides the conditions for an easier understanding of all subsequent excellent words of the Buddha and texts such as those of Nagarjuna. Thus, there are many reasons why Ju Mipham Rinpoche's text "The Gateway to Knowledge" is of fundamental importance.

What is the essence and content of the text "Gateway to Knowledge"? As I have just emphasized, this text is the key to gaining an initial understanding of the Buddha's great words and commentaries. Characteristically, students of this text can begin to understand to some extent the meaning of the main works of Buddhist philosophy and traditional sciences.

The majestic words and commentaries of the sections of Sutra and Tantra are a very wide and deep subject to study. If you want to extract their meaning, then you need a key. The "Gateway to Knowledge" is like that key, the magic key that opens the treasure chest of precious stones in the vast collection of Buddhist texts.


Having carefully studied the Gates to Knowledge, it will not be difficult for those who wish to study the main works of Buddhist philosophy to understand them. The Gateway to Knowledge is in itself an excellent text for the study of Buddhism.

Chokyi Nima Rinpoche

Title in Sanskrit: Pandita Syanayam Avataramukha Nama Shastrasti.

Title in Tibetan: mkhas pa'i tshul la jug pa'i sgo zhes bya ba'i bstan bcos bzhugs so

Title in Russian: A commentary called "The Gate Opening the Way to Knowledge".

I prostrate before the Three Jewels.

Having fully comprehended the ten topics, You reveal to beings the meaning of the Four Seals. Treasure that completely illumines the teachings of impeccable words and meaning, Holy Speech, enter our hearts.

If you want to acquire the wisdom that unmistakably determines what is proper to know, you should study the ten topics that provide you with learning, as taught in the great sutras and sastras, What are these topics?


1) Skandhas;

2) Elements (dhatu);

3) Ayatana;

4) Interdependence;

5) Right and wrong;

6) Organs;

7) Time;

8) Truth;

9) Chariots of the Teaching;

10) Conditioned and unconditioned phenomena.


When you master these ten topics, you will free yourself from all the delusions of non-virtuous views, such as the ten ego beliefs, and increase the wisdom of understanding all phenomena and their essence.


Source


[[1]]