By Sara Wells
Some of the members of GBLT have been meeting on Wednesday nights for study and discussion of Lam Rim. At this time we are studying from the text, The Essence of Nectar, by Yeshe Tsondru.
Soon we will begin to study a book based on a text by the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, entitled, Lamrim Sershunma (Essence of Refined Gold), which is a commentary on Lama Tsongkhapa's shortest version of Lamrim. This book is entitled, Path to Enlightenment, and also provides commentary by the present Dalai Lama.
What is Lamrim? I quote from the preface of Path to Enlightenment, by H.H. Dalai Lama and Geshe Thupten Jinpa:
Lamrim is the teaching of the Graduated Path to Enlightenment. It originated with
Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment in which he condensed the essence of
the entire Buddhist training of the mind in the stages of mental development suitable
to the trainees if initial, middle and highest capacity. The beauty of Lam Rim lies in
its systematic approach to training the mind through meditative contemplation, taking
into account the complexity of the human mind. With Lam Rim practice, one embarks
upon a fresh spiritual journey in uncovering the layers of mists that obscure the human
personality. Its approach is simple, rational and yet profound and does not presuppose
any knowledge or training on the part of the beginner. Beginning with elementary
trainings, such as how to adopt a sound and right mental outlook and motivation in
one's life, it leads the practitioner to the profound discovery of the reality, emptiness,
that underlies the entire expanse of phenomena. Such an insight brings into question the
very basis and validity of many of our strongly held conventional beliefs which are at the
root of all our fluctuating emotions, thus showing the discrepancy between the way things
are and how we perceive them to be. This revelation, when developed with the
bodhisattva motive of universal compassion to work for the benefit of all beings, comes
into its perfection in a state beyond duality and conceptuality. It is the state of full
enlightenment, where the individual is free of all limitations and has brought his or her
human potential to its fullest development, so as to be of limitless service to his or her
fellow beings.
So, you can see, we have plenty of material to discuss! And fascinating material it is! Our weekly discussion group begins with a short breathing meditation, and traditional Tibetan Buddhist refuge and dedications. We then read and discuss Lam Rim enthusiastically! Our discussions are fun, lively and most profoundly "enlightening"!
You are more than welcome to attend!
