Lam-rim

Introduction This weekend I’d like to speak about bodhichitta, specifically about the two bodhichittas – relative and deepest – and the necessity or importance of developing both of them, and how we work with the two of them together. First, we need to understand the context...

Introduction: The Lam-Rim Graded Stages and Levels of Motivation  We’re going to start our seminar on a very vital topic. The topic is how to meditate on the voidness of a false “me” experiencing the four noble truths. That sounds complicated, and it is. I won’t fool you...

What Is Lam-rim and How Did It Derive from Buddha’s Teachings? The graded path, lam-rim, is a way to access and integrate the basic Buddhist teachings into our lives. Buddha lived 2,500 years ago, with a community of monks, and later on, a community of nuns. He not only taught...

Is Ordinary Life Satisfying? What is most important in following the lam-rim graded path is to take it very seriously. To take something seriously doesn’t mean to be grim and not be happy about it or not to joke about it sometimes in the process of studying. It doesn’t mean...

Introduction to the Structure of the Three Graded Levels of Motivation “Lam-rim” is a Tibetan term often translated as the “graded path to enlightenment,” but it’s not talking about a path we walk on. “Path” here actually refers to a state of mind that acts as a pathway that...

Introduction If we’ve received a tantric initiation, we usually commit to doing the associated practice every day for the rest of our lives. Many Tibetans take these empowerments with the motivation of planting seeds for their future lives, with no aim to really practice...

Background of the Text This text was written by Atisha, a great Indian master who lived about 1,000 years ago. He had been to study in Indonesia on the island of Sumatra. He had made a long, very difficult journey there. Buddhism had spread there long before, and he went...

Introduction Tomorrow is the Buddhist holiday known as Lhabab Duchen in Tibetan, or the Descent from the Heaven of the Thirty-three in English. The best way to celebrate this special day is to have a Buddhist teaching on the four noble truths, the first teaching that the...

Dharma-Lite vs. The Real Thing Dharma I’m very happy to be back here in Seattle once more and to have the opportunity to speak to you about the meditations for developing bodhichitta.I suppose that it would be appropriate to give an introduction. Bodhichitta is something that...

Introduction In the first part of this series, we looked at the initial level of motivation where we aim to avoid lower rebirths and gain a higher rebirth. In particular, we want a precious human rebirth so that we can improve in our practice. The intermediate scope is when we...