Gradual Path to Enlightenment (1991-94)
In the early 11th century, the Indian Buddhist master Atisha condensed essential points from the sutras and ordered them into the text Lamp of the Path. These were then expanded upon in the 14th century by the Tibetan Buddhist master Lama Tsongkhapa in The Great Exposition on the Gradual Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Chenmo). Venerable Thubten Chodron comments on this text and relates these practical teachings to our daily lives. Teachings given at Dharma Friendship Foundation 1991-1994.
Ignorance, doubt, and afflicted views
Venerable Thubten Chodron The different ways in which ignorance manifests, how afflicted doubt impedes spiritual progress, and the five kinds of afflicted views.
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The cause of unsatisfactory experience
Completion of the teaching on wrong views and the first 10 of the 20 secondary afflictions.
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Recognizing our afflictions
Continuing the explanation of the secondary afflictions and the importance of recognizing them in daily life in order to apply the proper antidotes.
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The order in which afflictions develop
Examining how the afflictions arise in our day-to-day lives so that we can loosen our habitual ways of reacting to external stimuli.
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Causes of the afflictions
How wrong friends, the media, and the force of habit can stir up our afflictions and cause us to create negative karma. The importance of…
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Inappropriate attention
How we pay attention to something affects how we experience it. Considering the many factors that are involved in our experiences.
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Disadvantages of the afflictions
How our afflictions cause conflict, ruin our ethical behavior, and create negative karma.
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Death and the bardo
Why death occurs, how important it is to clear up our relationships with others now, helping the dying what to do after death has occurred.
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The bardo and taking rebirth
How a person goes from the bardo into the next rebirth. Why the time of death can be an excellent time to practice the Dharma.
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The wheel of life
Being aware of death while we are alive helps us distinguish what's important. Living each day without regret and having clean, clear relationships.
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The 12 links of dependent arising: Overview
I want to be happy and I deserve to be happy, but I’m not going about it the right way. How to free myself from…
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