Liberation in Our Hands

Published by The Mahayana Sutra and Tantra Press of Howell, N.J. 908-364-1824.

A Lam Rim teaching given in Tibet in 1921 by Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche

Transcribed by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.

Translated by Serame Geshe Lobsang Tharchin with Artemus Engle

DAY TEN:

(Please read in order)

IMPERMANENCE IN THE FORM OF DEATH


(Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche began the day's discourse by quoting these lines by the great scholar and spiritual adept Gendun Tenzin Gyatso: [1]

It (Lam Rim)[2] is the essence of the unerring Kangyur and Tengyur[3],
unlike the false, made-up teachings of others.
It represents the views of the great philosophers,
unlike the speech of fools.
It contains the realized experience of learned adepts,
unlike the frenzied delusions of others.
It is the great road to supreme enlightenment,
unlike the terrifying abyss of samsara[4].

The methods of deriving value from a human form possessing leisure and fortune

1) Recalling death in the sense that we do not remain long in this life

This section also has three subsections:

(1) The disadvantages of failing to recall death.

(2) The advantages of recalling death.

(3) The actual method of recalling death.

This section has two parts: (1) meditating on the set of nine points relating to death, and (2) meditating on the nature of death.


The nine points that make up this instruction consist of three root categories:

(1) Contemplating the certainty of death,

(2) Contemplating the uncertainty of the time of death,

(3) Contemplating that, when we die, nothing except the dharma can benefit us.

Each of these root categories is then further explained in terms of three supporting reasons.

Meditating on the nature of death.

 

DAY 11:


THE SUFFERING OF THE LOWER REALMS

Contemplating the Suffering of Hell Beings The Great Hells

Contemplating the Suffering of the Adjacent Hells

Contemplating the Suffering of the Cold Hells

Contemplating the Suffering of the Partial Hells

Contemplating the Suffering of the Hungry Ghosts

Contemplating the Suffering of the Animals and concluding contemplation.

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