Interrelationship of the lamrim topics

• Importance of meditating on lamrim topics at all levels of the path
• Developing confidence in the path and a proper motivation for the practice
• Repeatedly going over the sequence of topics and doing glance meditation
• How later topics influence the understanding of earlier topics
• Using life activities between meditation sessions to integrate what we have learned
• Verses to contemplate before eating
• Transforming sleep into virtuous activity

The Foundation of Buddhist Practice 32: Interrelationship Of The Lamrim Topics (download)

Contemplation points

1. Why is meditation on lamrim topics critical on all levels of the path? Why is it we don’t graduate from them and move on “to the real stuff?”
2. Venerable Chodron said that cultivating the Buddhist worldview over time benefits us when it comes to real life situations. Make some personal examples of how you have experienced this. Now think of difficult situations in your life before you met the Dharma. How might they have turned out differently if you had been familiar with the Buddhist worldview?
3. How do later topics influence and deepen our understanding of earlier topics and vice versa?
4. Why is the time in-between meditation sessions jut as important as the sessions themselves? Make examples of things you do in the “break time” that adversely affects your meditation sessions?
5. How we eat influences our meditation practice. What guidelines were shared in the teaching regarding eating and drinking? Which ones do you already observe and how has this benefitted you? Consider the ones you have not yet adopted? Why do you think this is / is there an affliction arising in your mind? What antidotes can you apply?
6. Sleep also influences our meditation practice. What guidelines were shared in the teaching regarding sleeping?