Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

 

To achieve the temporary happiness of this life and future lives, especially the permanent everlasting happiness of liberation from samsara and full enlightenment, requires a sustained and systematic way of disciplining the mind and changing behaviour in daily life. This must come from belief and faith that our thoughts and actions do matter and will bring about effects in this and all future lives. This in turn comes from accepting that reincarnation and karma exist, understanding what karma is, and that the permanent everlasting happiness of liberation from samsara exists and can be achieved.

It is through the understanding of dependent origination on both coarse and subtle levels that one comes to understand and have conviction that there is reincarnation, karma, the existence of the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – our objects of refuge), permanent liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, and omniscience, and that it is possible for us to attain the highest state of omniscience or Buddhahood.

With this understanding as the basis, the course proceeds to teach the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Tibetan: lam-rim) which is the synthesis of all the essential points of the entire Buddha’s teachings arranged in their proper order of practice without missing anything. At its very heart is the determination to be free of all levels of suffering and their causes. This is to be achieved through developing the ultimate good heart, bodhicitta—the aspiration to achieve omniscience to do perfect work for all beings—and the wisdom that cuts through the fundamental misapprehension of how things exist.

The weekly classes will be taught using the lam-rim text, “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand” by Pabongka Rinpoche.

Suitable for: Anyone with an interest in obtaining an in-depth reasoned understanding of Buddhism over a sustained period of time.
Taught by:
Venerable Tenzin Gyurme
Schedule: Continuing from 11 March 2017, Saturdays, 2.30 – 5.45 pm

Note: The topics listed in the second paragraph above were completed in 2015. The lam-rim topics pertaining to the person of small capacity were taught in 2016. The topics of selflessness and emptiness which forms the core of the Buddha’s teachings will be presented in 2017.