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The LAMRIM: An Abbreviated Outline

From Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia
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A commonly used outline for lamrim teachings today is in the English translation from Tibetan of Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche. An abbreviated and annotated outline follows to show the structure of this lamrim.

Preliminaries Greatness of the author of the lamrim, to establish the authenticity of the teaching Greatness of the lamrim itself, to gain respect for it

How the instructions are to be received and given 

How students are to be guided through the subjects

How to rely on a spiritual guide

How to train one's mind on the basis of the correct way to rely on the spiritual guide


The way to encourage oneself to take the essence of this precious human rebirth .The way to take the essence of this precious human rebirth – that is, the training of one's mind in the paths of the three scopes included within the lamrim

The path shared with persons who have a modest scope motivation (striving for a rebirth in the upper realms) 

Reality that this life will end and that one will die  S

suffering in a rebirth in the lower realms (a rebirth as a hell being, a hungry ghost, or an animal, which one would want to avoid) 

(so one takes) Refuge in the three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha  (and adjusts one's behaviour of body, speech and mind according to the) Law of cause and effect, that is, karma This will lead one to a favourable rebirth within cyclic existence in the human realm, demigod realm, or god realm.


The path shared with persons who have a medium scope motivation (striving for liberation from cyclic existence)  Truth of suffering (in cyclic existence in general, including the favourable rebirths)

Truth of the causes of suffering (the afflictive emotions, and ignorance)  The truth of cessation (the state that is free of suffering and its origins)

 The truth of paths (the way to attain this state free of suffering and its causes by practicing ethics, concentration, and wisdom)

 Presentation of the 12 links of dependent arising The training in the medium scope path will lead to the development of the wish to be liberated from all un-free rebirths in cyclic existence caused by the power of delusions (afflictive emotions and ignorance) and karma. The path of persons who have a high scope motivation (striving for complete buddhahood)  Advantages of the mind of enlightenment (the wish to become a buddha for the welfare of all sentient beings)

 The way to develop the mind of enlightenment

 The 7-point instruction in seeing all sentient beings as one's mothers (from previous lives and contemplating their kindness towards oneself)

 Instruction on how to exchange one's self-interest for others' interest (by looking at the drawbacks of self cherishing, and the advantages of cherishing others)

 The way to train one's mind after developing the mind of enlightenment

 Training in the six perfections of: generosity, ethics, patience, joyful effort, concentration, and wisdom


Preliminaries


 Greatness of the author of the lamrim, to establish the authenticity of the teaching

 Greatness of the lamrim itself, to gain respect for it

 How the instructions are to be received and given

 How students are to be guided through the subjects

 How to rely on a spiritual guide  How to train one's mind on the basis of the correct way to rely on the spiritual guide

 The way to encourage oneself to take the essence of this precious human rebirth

 The way to take the essence of this precious human rebirth – that is, the training of one's mind in the paths of the three scopes included within the lamrim

The path shared with persons who have a modest scope motivation (striving for a rebirth in the upper realms)


Reality that this life will end and that one will die

Suffering in a rebirth in the lower realms (a rebirth as a hell being, a hungry ghost, or an animal, which one would want to avoid)

 (so one takes) Refuge in the three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha

 (and adjusts one's behaviour of body, speech and mind according to the) Law of cause and effect, that is, karma This will lead one to a favourable rebirth within cyclic existence in the human realm, demigod realm, or god realm.

The path shared with persons who have a medium scope motivation (striving for liberation from cyclic existence)

Truth of suffering (in cyclic existence in general, including the favourable rebirths)

Truth of the causes of suffering (the afflictive emotions, and ignorance)

 The truth of cessation (the state that is free of suffering and its origins)

 The truth of paths (the way to attain this state free of suffering and its causes by practicing ethics, concentration, and wisdom)

 Presentation of the 12 links of dependent arising The training in the medium scope path will lead to the development of the wish to be liberated from all un-free rebirths in cyclic existence caused by the power of delusions (afflictive emotions and ignorance) and karma. The path of persons who have a high scope motivation (striving for complete buddhahood)

 Advantages of the mind of enlightenment (the wish to become a buddha for the welfare of all sentient beings)

 The way to develop the mind of enlightenment

 The 7-point instruction in seeing all sentient beings as one's mothers (from previous lives and contemplating their kindness towards oneself)

 Instruction on how to exchange one's self-interest for others' interest (by looking at the drawbacks of selfcherishing, and the advantages of cherishing others) 

The way to train one's mind after developing the mind of enlightenment  Training in the six perfections of: generosity, ethics, patience, joyful effort, concentration, and wisdom


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