Lines of Experience

Lam-Rim Bsdus-Don

The Main Aspects of the Practice
of the Stages on the Graded Path to Enlightenment
By rJe Tzong-kha-pa
 
Verse 23

(Having achieved in your meditation a union of mental quiescence and penetrative insight,) you should focus your single-minded concentration on the Sunyata that is like space (45) (during your meditation sessions.) During your post-meditational periods you should focus on the Sunyata that is like conjured illusion (46). By meditating on both these levels in turn, you will in this way unite the practice of skilful and effective means with the wisdom of understanding Sunyata. Thus you will achieve complete perfection in the conduct of the Bodhisattvas, (attaining the Full Enlightenment of Buddhahood) -- an accomplishment that is greatly praised. Having fully comprehended (the importance and necessity of following such a path uniting skilful and effective means with wisdom,) and not being satisfied with paths leading in directions other than this, you should (make all efforts to follow this course and thus) emulate the way of those fortunate enough (to have attained Buddhahood.)
 

I, who actually have traveled a true path that leads to Enlightenment, have had the experience of doing just that. If you would also seek Liberation, please cultivate yourself in the same way.

 

Verse 24

The Great Vehicle, Mahayana, proceeds via the two high paths (of the Perfection Vehicle, Sutrayana (47), and the Diamond-hard Vehicle, Tantrayana (48). Success in riding the Perfection Vehicle) enables (you to board the Diamond-hard Vehicle. Success in riding the Diamond-hard Vehicle is) the result (of having mastered the Perfection Vehicle. Renunciation, Bodhicitta, and a true understanding of Sunyata as the threefold theme of Buddha's teachings, are required stages on that part of the path through which both Mahayana Vehicles) in common must travel. (As you have already studied this threefold theme in the course of perfecting the conduct of the Bodhisattvas,) you should now properly develop (the insights of these three even further) by boarding (the Diamond-hard Vehicle and crossing) the great ocean of the four classes of tantra. This you should do by depending on a skilful navigator as protector, (namely a fully qualified Tantric Master. In short,) you should take the opportunity to make this attainment of a fully endowed human body purposeful by fully relying on the complete oral tradition explanations of a Tantric Master (from the beginning of the path, Guru-devotion, until your full attainment of Buddhahood.)
 

I, who actually have traveled a true path that leads to Enlightenment, have had the experience of doing just that. If you would also seek Liberation, please cultivate yourself in the same way.

 

Verse 25

By the virtues of my explanation in easily understandable words of the complete path pleasing to all the Buddhas -- which I have written both for the sake of habituating my own thinking to these teachings, as well as for the sake of benefiting others fortunate to meet with a true Guru and to be able to practice the pure Dharma -- I pray that all sentient beings may never be separated from this pure path combining the threefold theme of Buddha's teachings.
 

I, who actually have traveled a true path that leads to Enlightenment, have offered prayers for just that. If you would also seek Liberation, please offer prayers in the same way.

This concludes "Lines of Experience: The Main Aspects of the Practice of the Stages on the Graded Path to Enlightenment," compiled in brief so that they may not be forgotten. It has been written at dGe-ldan rNam-par rgyal-bahi Monastery on hBrog Ri-bo-che Mountain, Tibet, by the Buddhist monk, Blo-bzang grags-pa, rJe Rinpoche Tzong-kha-pa, a meditator who has heard many teachings.

Back Back to Lines of Experience contents

Back Back to GBLT's library