This series of teachings provides an in-depth analysis of the twelve links of dependent arising, which describe the mechanism of rebirth and the continuity of the mind through successive samsaric lives.

Twelve Links of Dependent Arising Describe Rebirth and How to Stop It The twelve links of dependent arising (rten-’brel yan-lag bcu-gnyis) describe the mechanism of rebirth. Rebirth concerns the continuity of the mind. When we speak about mind in Buddhism, we are not talking...

Review We were talking about how "mind" in Buddhism refers to an activity that goes on with no break, with no beginning and with no end. It is the mental activity of experiencing things and it is an individual, subjective experiencing of things. We are not talking here about...

The next three links – eight, nine, and ten – are the causal links that actualize (bsgrub-byed-kyi yan-lag). They are what activate the karmic aftermath of throwing karma in the moments preceding death so that the karmic results will actualize. Thus, they serve as the...

The various ways of dividing Buddha’s verbal teachings according to different textual points of view.

Conventional and deepest bodhichittas as the basis for mind training.

Identifying the Two Camps of Assertions about Ignorance The Indian Buddhist tenet systems divide into two camps of assertions regarding ignorance (ma-rig-pa, Skt. avidyā): One camp follows the assertions of the two Asanga brothers, Vasubandhu and Asanga, and includes...

The samsara-builder networks of positive force and deep awareness are involved with perpetuating our samsaric existence, while the pure builder ones bring about our attainment of liberation and enlightenment.

A detailed analysis of how to understand the networks of “pure-builder positive force” and “pure-builder deep awareness.”

The Need for Understanding Correctly the Two Truths To gain a true stopping (’gog-bden; true cessation) of suffering and thus attain liberation, we need to gain a true stopping of unawareness (ma-rig-pa; ignorance) and of the rest of the emotional obscurations (nyon-sgrib)...