The Buddha as a reliable guide

• Forward order of four syllogisms to establish why Buddha is a reliable guide
• Intent on benefiting sentient beings
• Generating wisdom that serves as the way
• Three qualities of Sugata’s abandonments
• Teaches four truths and method to actualize nirvana
• One gone to bliss
• Protector, who works for the welfare of others
• Why all four qualities are required to be a perfectly trustworthy guide

16 The Buddha as a Reliable Guide (download)

Refer to the handout for the teaching

Contemplation points

1. Investigate the first of the four syllogisms that demonstrate that the Buddha is a reliable guide: Consider the person of the same mental continuum as the Buddha, who has just attained the bodhisattva path of accumulation: he is suitable to give rise to the Teacher – that is, the wisdom realizing selflessness – because he is an ordinary bodhisattva endowed with great compassion.
   • Does the reason apply to the subject?
   • What is the pervasion?
   • What did compassion lead him to do and why?
2. Investigate the second of the four syllogisms: Consider the person in the same continuum as the Buddha who is on the liberated path of the bodhisattva’s path of seeing: he is suitable to give rise to the Sugata whose abandonments hae three distinctive features, because he is a bodhisattva who has directly realized selflessness and is familiarizing his mind with this realization.
   • Does the reason apply to the subject?
   • What is the pervasion?
   • What does familiarizing himself with bodhicitta and wisdom for a long time lead the bodhisattva to attain?
   • What are the three distinctive features of the abandonments and what does each of these mean?
3. Investigate the third of the four syllogisms: Consider the Arya Buddha in the same continuum as the bodhisattva at the end of his continuum as a sentient being, who has just attained the first moment of omniscience: he is suitable to be the Protector, who perfectly works for the welfare of others and protects sentient beings by teaching them the four truths, because he is a being who has discovered the Sugata whose abandonments have three distinctive features.
   • Does the reason apply to the subject?
   • What is the pervasion?
   • How does the Buddha best benefit us?
4. Investigate the fourth of the four syllogisms: Consider the Safe, the Buddha: he is proven to be an authoritative, reliable being for those who seek liberation because he is a being with the Protector, the perfect welfare of others, in his continuum.
   • Does the reason apply to the subject?
   • What is the pervasion?
   • What is the Buddha’s motivation for working for the benefit of beings?
5. Why are all four attributes necessary for the Buddha to be a reliable, trustworthy and non deceptive spiritual guide?