On
to Lines of Experience Verse 9
The stages of the path to Enlightenment have been transmitted in their
correct order by the proper lineages from Nagarjuna and Asanga, the crowning
jewels of all the erudite Indian masters, the banner of whose fame is resplendent
throughout the Three Realms. As following these stages can bring about
the complete fulfillment of the two basic aims (10)
of the nine kinds of beings (11),
they are considered the power-granting king (12)
of the precious teachings. Because these stages combine the streams of
thousands of good scriptural texts, they are indeed an ocean of excellent
and correct explanations.
(The four great benefits you will receive from studying the path to
Enlightenment as taught in Atisa's "Bodhipathapradipa,"
are as follows.) You will understand that there is no contradiction in
any of Buddha's teachings. (13)
You will be made aware that all the scriptural texts are to be taken as
sound advice (as there is no contradiction between the texts and their
practice.) You will then easily discover the significance of the threefold
theme (14)
of Buddha's teachings: (renunciation of the sufferings of samsara, Bodhicitta,
and a true understanding of Sunyata.) Moreover, you will be protected from
the abyss of the great mistake (15).
Because (the study of the stages of the path to Enlightenment has these
four benefits), what intelligent person among the erudite masters of India
and Tibet will not have his heart and attention stolen away by this best
of teachings, which has been studied by many fortunate ones, and which
is taught in a graded path according to three levels of human motivation.
(16)
(There is much good merit to be gained from) listening to or reciting
even once this abridgement of Atisa's summary of the main points of all
the scriptural texts (17).
Furthermore, it is certain that you will amass even more waves of good
merit as a result of actually teaching and studying the pure Dharma contained
in it. Therefore, this being the case, you should think about (the proper
way to teach and study this text and about the benefits of so doing.)
