Buddha as a reliable guide, reverse order

• Significance of buddha’s intent to benefit sentient beings
• Forward order highlights the reasoning of nature
• Reverse order emphasizes the causal reasoning
• Protector, Sugata, wisdom that realizes emptiness, and intent to benefit
• Three qualities of buddha’s perfect realizations
• Causes buddha created to his awakening and his incompatibility
• Recollection of buddha via the epithets, Teacher, Bhagavan, Tathagata, arhat, completely and perfectly awakened one

17 The Buddha as a Reliable Guide, Reverse Order (download)

Contemplation points

1. Why does the reasoning establishing why the Buddha is a reliable guide start out with the intent to benefit others instead of the wisdom realizing emptiness?
2. Why is the reasoning establishing the Buddha as a reliable guide presented in a forward and reverse order? What does each show us?
3. Spend time reflecting on both the forward and reverse orders as a means to deepen your refuge and as a map for how to practice in order to progress on the path.
4. Reflect on the verses from Matrceta. How do they inspire your confidence in and admiration for the Buddha? How does it motivate you to practice in your own life?
5. Contemplate each of the epithets of the Buddha written by Buddhaghosa in his Path of Purification that were presented this week: Teacher, Bhagavan, Tathagata, arhat, and completely and perfectly awakened one. What does each say about the Buddha’s qualities?