dharmatalks

Thangka representation of the Sacred Lineage of the Lam Rim Chenmo

Over the past year, many students have asked me if I would consider bringing the teaching of the Lam Rim Chenmo, which is the foundational teaching for our monastic students, and make those accessible to the lay members of the community.

We researched several options to do this in a way that was both responsible and provided the level of interaction between the student and teacher, and discovered a particular set of software solutions that would accommodate our needs. But in order to finance the project, we had hoped that we could rely on 30 students to be willing to commit to $10/week for the classes, which would defray the cost of operations for the entire 46 weeks of the course. The course would involve a weekly video dharma talk, supported by blog articles and a virtual classroom/webinar, in which we could then meet to discuss the materials.

The Lam Rim is an elaboration by Je Tsongkhapa on the Indian sage, Atiśa  Dipankara Shrijnana’s, teaching, Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment. Even as a monk, Dipamkara Srijnana yearned for the fastest and most direct means of attaining perfect enlightenment. It is said that during a pilgrimage to Bodhgaya, he received a vision of two emanations of the Bodhisattva Tara, who explained that the most important practice for realisation of enlightenment was "the practice of bodhichitta, supported by loving kindness and great compassion." Atiśa dedicated himself, from that point forward, to refining his understanding and practice of bodhichitta.

For many years, Tibetan Buddhist were suppressed and persecuted by an unrighteous king. But when Lama Yeshe Yod became king, his devotion to the Dharma and desire for Tibetan Buddhism to be resuscitated, led to his sending a monk to plead with Atiśa to come to Tibetan and teach. It was there in Ngari, that Atiśa wrote A Lamp to the Path of Enlightenment, which came to be known as the Lam Rim in Tibetan.

When Je Tsongkhapa set out to further elaborate on the great teaching, he gave us The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lam Rim Chenmo in Tibetan). It was based on these teachings, transmitted from Je Tsongkhapa, whose teachings were received by Lama Je Phabongkhapa, and transmitted to his disciple Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche to Lama Thupten Yeshe. Lama Yeshe transmitted the teachings to one of my upa-gurus (teachers along the path), Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, by whose grace and compassion I received the teaching. Therefore, there is nothing brilliant or insightful that I can personally bring to the teaching, because I do not possess the remarkable attainments of these great masters. I can, however, share what was taught to me with those willing to listen.

Je Rinpoche (Lama Tsongkhapa) wrote: "If you train in Lam Rim, you will be training in the complete body of the path, which includes all the vital points of sutra and mantra. As a result, your attainment of a precious human life will have been worthwhile and you will be able to extend the Lord Buddha’s precious teaching within the minds of both yourself and of others."

The Lam Rim Deepens Your Understanding and Wisdom

I believe there is great cause to share this comprehensive and powerful teaching with members of the Lay Community (Spiritus Project) and other interested students, because the wisdom and simplicity of the teaching will organically reveal itself in three stages, depending on the level of commitment and intentionality of the students themselves.

The first level of wisdom acquired comes from what we call the “stage of hearing” – which organically arises as you read or listen to the teachings. This level seems superficial at first, but is actually a foundational principal. Because of the importance of this stage, whenever we give a teaching, we are sure to explain the lineage of transmission of that teaching – not because we have some superstitious or sectarian notions that one lineage is better than another, but because we are responsible for demonstrating that whatever we teach is based on the teachings of the Buddha and transmitted in unbroken succession to ensure accuracy.

The second stage of wisdom arises from becoming more familiar with the materials and teaching, by contemplating them deeply and testing them against reasoning, logic and science. This deeper understanding will yield itself to a level of certainty and a sense of “having known this before”.

Finally, the stage of “acquired wisdom” comes from no longer intellectually contemplating or thinking about the teachings, but rather experiencing the truth of these teachings in the deeply meditative state.

Lam Rim Provides Support for all Three Kinds of Motivation

The starting point of the teaching is a division of Buddhist practitioners into beings of “three scopes” or motivations, based upon the motivation of their spiritual pursuit. Disregarded in this division are individuals whose motives revolve around benefits in their current life. Striving for a favourable rebirth is implicitly the minimum requirement for an activity or practice to be classified as spiritual.

Atiśa wrote in "Lamp of the Path" (verse 2) that one should understand that there are three kind of persons:

1. persons of modest scope;
2. persons of medium scope;
3. persons of highest scope.

Persons of modest motive search for happiness within samsara; their motive is to achieve higher rebirth. Buddhists traditionally consider that this domain includes followers of most non-Buddhist religions who strive for a rebirth in a “heavenly realm”.

Persons of medium motive are searching for their own ultimate peace and abandonment of attachments to worldly pleasures. This includes the paths of pratyekabuddhas and śravakabuddhas, which seek personal liberation alone – the traditional goal of the Hinayana (Primary Vehicle) practice.

Based on insight into the cause of their own suffering, persons of highest motive seek, by all means availbale, to alleviate the suffering of all beings. This is the Mahayana (Higher Vehicle) and Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle) paths of the samyaksambuddhas.

Practical Considerations

We had previously hoped that we would have been able to acquire the new ladrang and dharma centre in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, so that we could offer the course locally, and just video record it, making it available at no cost to those who are interested. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented our getting the property, and so we are now waiting until we have thirty students willing to commit to $10/week for the course.

While I had hoped to be able to offer these courses at no cost, I also recognise the importance of every student taking responsibility for their formation and spiritual practice. We continue to seek a single benefactor to provide us with the $3800 needed to set up the Lojong Institute in a new location, so that we can apply for grant monies and make the course available worldwide at no cost. Until then, we will have to wait until our students express an interest in the course, and a willingness to contribute $10/week to cover our expenses.

Outline for the Course Itself

Below is a rough sketch of the material that will be covered, presented in outline form:

• Introduction to the authenticity of the lineage from which this teaching is transmitted.
• Introduction to the Lam Rim Chenmo as a respected masterpiece of spiritual training.
• Explanation of the way in which the instructions are to be received and given
• The way students are to be guided through the subjects
• Reliance upon a guru or lama as a spiritual guide
• The way to train your mind to correctly rely on a spiritual guide
• Encouragement to take the essence of this precious human birth and use it for attainment
• Encouragement to train your mind in the paths of the three scopes included within the lamrim

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

• the reality that this life will end and that you will die
• the suffering in a rebirth in the lower realms (a rebirth as hell being, hungry ghost or animal, which you want to avoid)
• (so you) take refuge in the three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
• (and adjust your behaviour of body, speech and mind according to the) law of cause and effect/ karma

which will lead you to a favourable rebirth within cyclic existence in the higher realms of existence.

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

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

• The truth of the causes of suffering (the afflictive emotions, especially ignorance)
• The truth of cessation (there is a 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 practising ethics, concentration and wisdom)

Another presentation of the middle scope subjects is the 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-liberated rebirths in cyclic existence through the power of afflictive emotions

The path of persons who have the high scope motivation (striving for complete Enlightenment)

• the 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 your mothers (from previous lives and contemplating their kindness towards you)
• the instruction on how to exchange your self-interest for others’ interest (by looking at the drawbacks of self-cherishing and the advantages of cherishing others)
• the way to train your mind after developing the mind of enlightenment
• training in the perfection of generosity
• training in the perfection of ethics
• training in the perfection of patience
• training in the perfection of joyful effort
• training in the perfection of concentration
• training in the perfection of wisdom

Master Thich Nhat Hanh writes:

"If in our daily lives we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. If we really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile? Our smile affirms our awareness and determination to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind." ~ from Peace is Every Step.

The study of the Lam Rim Chenmo is an opportunity to advance your spiritual practice and gain understanding and wisdom, as a means of supporting your progress toward non-suffering. It is a powerful first step toward acquiring wisdom, and cultivating compassion and generating true bodhicitta.

I encourage you to consider whether this is something that might interest you, and ask that you likewise share this information with others, who might be interested in such an in-depth study of the Dharma. You may also wish to consider whether you know of a company or individual, who would be willing to underwrite the $3800 we need to relocate the ladrang to an environment that will support the development of these materials in a way that reduces or eliminates all of the other costs we would otherwise face.

As the river of time continues to flow, we face the arising and passing of causes and conditions, bringing both sorrow and joy. Our experience in the past year has been fraught with challenges and hardships, but we remain mindful that these are temporary obstacles and all phenomena are subject to change. These too shall pass.

For 30 years, I was personally fortunate enough to be able to financially underwrite all of the programs we offered, and to support the costs of maintaining six contemplative houses and dharma centres throughout the country. My recent health concerns have interfered with the income I was once able to generate for the Order, and so that ability to bear all of the financial burden is no longer something I can do.

These obstacles, however, ought not slow or degrade my commitment to provide students of the Dharma with the training, spiritual guidance and support I vowed my life to offer. I am mindful that even a casual introduction to the Dharma can enrich a person’s entire life, opening to them the possibility for awakening. With your help, we can continue offering classes far into the future. Your financial gift makes it possible for others to experience the wonder and joy you have discovered through meditation and mindfulness.

May your coming week be filled with peace and mindfulness. May your practice be consistent, and may you find opportunities in every moment to be compassionate toward others, and alleviate suffering wherever you encounter it.

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

_____________________________________________

“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion;
Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom;
Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces;
O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa —
Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows,
Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”

_____________________________________________

Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Khenpo Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.