I. Relying on a Dharma mentor, the foundation of the path

“All the Buddhas of the past, present and future, residing in every land in the ten directions, has paid homage to the Tantric Masters from whom they received the highest empowerments”

-- Aryasura: „Fifty Stanzas of Guru Devotion“

1) Dharma mentor

4 kinds of Dharma mentors:

4 qualities of Dharma mentor:

Requirements of monastic preceptor:

10 requirements of Bodhisattva's instructor:

Requirements of Vajrayana (tantric) master:

6 necessities of Vajrayana master:

Dharma mentor's 4 instructions against attachments:

Dharma mentor's 4 modes of teaching:

Features of Dharma disciple:

Qualifications of monastic candidate:

Qualifications of Bodhisattva candidate:

Qualifications of Vajrayana candidate:

Maintaining relationship:

4 points of kindness of Dharma mentor:

4 reasons which help look at Dharma mentor as Buddha (important especially in one's own Vajrayana practice):

8 benefits of following Dharma mentor:

8 disadvantages of disrespecting the Dharma mentor (important especially in one's own Vajrayana practice):

II. Initial scope

“Those who by whatever means

Seek for themselves no more

Than the pleasures of cyclic existence

Are person of the least capacity.”

-- Lord Atisha: “The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment”

2) Precious human rebirth

8 freedoms:

5 internal fortunes:

5 exterior fortunes:

8 circumstanced hindrances:

8 hindrances of mind separated from Dharma:

Understanding the value of precious human rebirth:

5 features of degenerate times:

Considering the importance of a precious human life:

Seeing how difficult it is to gain a precious human rebirth:

3) Death and Impermanence

Ninefold way of meditating on remembering death:

6 faults of not thinking about the death:

6 benefits of remembering death:

2 categories of impermanence:

7 contemplations on impermanence:

4) Sufferings of lower realms

4 types of Hells:

Sufferings of deprived (hungry) spirits:

Sufferings of animals:

5) Refuge

Reasons for refuge:

3 objects of refuge:

Buddha:

Buddhahood qualities:

Dharma:

Dharma qualities:

Sangha:

Sangha qualities:

4 reasons they are suitable objects of refuge:

Taking refuge from knowing the qualities and skills of Triple Gem:

Taking refuge by accepting nature of Triple Gem:

Refuge practice:

8 benefits of refuge:

6) Karma, the action

Classification of actions:

3 types of karma actions:

10 non-virtuous actions:

10 virtuous actions:

Unwavering (concentration) actions:

Characteristic of karma:

4 conditions that complete the karmic result:

3 effects of karma actions:

4 factors that classify karmic result:

6 aspects to classify seriousness of actions:

5 heinous crimes (which not purified lead directly to hell):

5 secondary heinous crimes:

8 qualities of the fully ripening effect of practice the Dharma:

2 types of karma:

2 types of karma experience:

2 kinds of accumulation the karma:

4 remedial powers to purify non-virtuous actions:

6 traditional remedial activities:

Practice of the Seven Limbs:

III. Intermediate scope

“Those who seek peace for themselves alone,

Turning away from worldly pleasures

And avoiding destructive actions

Are said to be of middling capacity.”

-- Lord Atisha: “The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment”

7) General sufferings and sufferings of higher realms

3 types of Samsara sufferings:

6 general sufferings:

4 facts about Samsara:

Sufferings of higher realms:

8) Delusions

2 kinds of delusions:

6 causes of delusions:

5 poisons of the mind:

12 links of Dependent Origination:

Causal sequence of 12 links (the process of reincarnation):

Death:

Intermediate state (the Bardo):

Rebirth:

9) Path to liberation

4 Noble Truths:

Definition of Noble Truth of the Suffering:

4 attributes of Noble Truth of the Suffering:

4 wrong conceptions of Noble Truth of the Suffering:

Definition of Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering:

4 attributes of Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering:

4 wrong conceptions of Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering:

Definition of Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering:

4 attributes of Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering:

4 wrong conceptions of Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering:

Definition of Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering:

4 attributes of Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering:

4 wrong conceptions of Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering:

The Noble Eightfold Path of the three higher trainings (which are higher than no-Dharma and directly practised by Aryas):

4 methods of eliminating delusions:

Traditional contemplations that overcome delusions by opponent remedies:

4 seals of Buddhism:

4 reliances on Dharma teachings:

Manjushri and Sachen Kunga Nyingpo teachings on Parting From the Four Desires:

Vows of individual liberation:

Necessity of keeping vows:

Advantages of observing the high training in ethics:

8 worldly concerns:

5 desires (of humans):

IV. Great scope

„Those who, through their personal suffering,

Truly want to end completely

All the suffering of others

Are persons of supreme capacity.“

-- Lord Atisha: “The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment”

10) Developing and maintaining Bodhicitta

Definition of Bodhicitta:

Divisions of Bodhicitta:

Basis for Bodhicitta:

Focus on Bodhicitta:

Causes for Bodhicitta's development:

8 benefits because of Bodhicitta:

Bodhicitta features:

10 qualities of Bodhicitta:

2 methods for developing Bodhicitta:

4 immeasurables (sublime abodes to all sentient beings limitless in number):

18 (Main) Bodhisattva Vows (of abandonings):

46 Secondary Bodhisattva Vows (abandonings which can not completely brake but only weaken the Bodhicitta but also they are destroying especially for one's practice of Paramitas):

4 attitudes that must all be present in transgressing any of (main) vow for braking completely the Bodhisattva's discipline:

5 precepts for the aspiring Bodhicitta (common to Asanga and Nagarjuna traditions):

3 noble aspirations:

eliminating 3 causes of deterioration:

7 actions which are incompatible with vows of Bodhisattva:

11) Practice of Bodhisattva

Special three higher trainings of Paramitas:

General practice:

2 aspects of practice of Paramitas:

2 goals of Paramitas:

4 characteristics of Paramitas:

How Paramitas can be increased:

6 noble components of one's practice of 6 Paramitas:

Obstacles on Bodhisattva path:

Definition of Generosity transcendent virtue (the first Paramita):

3 aspects of the first Paramita:

3 kinds of gifts (offered by a Bodhisattva):

12 traditional offerings to Buddhas:

Definition of Right Conduct transcendent virtue (the second Paramita):

3 aspects of the second Paramita:

3 purities of Right Conduct:

Definition of Forbearance Transcendent Virtue (the third Paramita):

3 aspects of the third Paramita:

Definition of Diligence Transcendent Virtue (the fourth Paramita):

3 aspects of the fourth Paramita:

3 types of absence of diligence and remedies:

4 powers for increasing diligence:

Definition of Meditation Transcendent Virtue (the fifth Paramita):

2 types of the fifth Paramita:

3 types of the fifth Paramita:

3 aspects of the fifth Paramita according to their function:

3 aspects of the fifth Paramita according to their strength:

Definition of Wisdom Transcendent Virtue (the sixth Paramita):

3 aspects of the sixth Paramita:

4 types of wisdom:

6 topics of Prajna wisdom:

4 (supplement) Paramitas which are fully practised on the very high Bodhisattva levels:

4 types of attraction (which connect beings with the Dharma):

12) Training the mind in tranquil stabilization

6 necessities for training the mind:

5 obstacles for training the mind:

9 levels of mental stabilization and 6 forces:

4 attentions:

7-point posture of Vairochana:

13) Training the mind in superior seeing

"Become familiar with looking at your own mind",

"Just as water is transparent when it is not disturbed, rest without contrivance. Like the sun unobstructed by clouds, let the six sense consciousnesses rest in their own state without impeding them".

-- Je Gampopa

2 types of superior seeing' objects:

3 reasons for meditations on emptiness (Sunyata):

Scheme of meditating on emptiness (Sunyata):

Progressive stages of meditations on emptiness (Sunyata) (according to some Kagyu and Nyingma schools):

The Sevenfold Reasoning on the Selflessness by Chandrakirti:

4 kinds of emptiness (Sunyata):

16 kinds of emptiness (Sunyata):

Purification of the mind:

14) Phases of the path

5 phases of the path:

15) Levels of the path

Beginner’s level:

Level of practice due to aspiration:

The 10 Bodhisattva levels (in the phase of Insight -first level, and the phase of Cultivation):

Transformation of mind into wisdom and embodiments (kayas) of Buddha during levels of the path:

16) Vajrayana path

Definition of Vajrayana:

Synonyms of Vajrayana:

6 alternatives of meaning of vajra-expressions:

The 4 Modes of Vajra expressions:

Aims of Vajrayana:

Preliminaries for Vajrayana:

4 classes of tantra:

2 initiations (empowerments) of Action Tantra:

Vows of Action Tantra:

Concentration of the four-limbed recitation (concentration with repetition) in Action Tantra:

2 modes of cultivating the six Deities in Action Tantra:

Using the four-limbed recitation in Action Tantra:

Concluding the four-limbed recitation in Action Tantra:

Concentration without repetition in Action Tantra:

4 concentrations (yogas) of Action Tantra:

3 (and 2) yogas of Action Tantra:

The phases of the path according to system of Action Tantra:

5 practices in the Highest Yoga Tantra:

Classification of the Highest Yoga Tantras (according to Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug):

4 initiations (empowerments) of the Highest Yoga Tantra:

The order of receiving the empowerments in the Highest Yoga Tantra:

General tantric vows and commitments in the Highest Yoga Tantra (Gelug tradition):

Significance of Tantric vows and commitments in the Highest Yoga Tantra:

4 attitudes that must all be present in transgressing of vow for braking completely the tantric vows (except the vows e.g. giving up Bodhicitta):

Stage of generation (in general the Highest Yoga Tantras):

2-fold division of stage of generation (in general the Highest Yoga Tantras):

3 meditative stabilizations of stage of generation (in general the Highest Yoga Tantras):

6 levels of stage of completion (in general Highest Yoga Tantras):

3 bodies of sentient beings according to the Highest Yoga Tantra:

An example of general Highest Yoga Tantra completion stage:

9 mixings (for bringing ordinary death, intermediate state, rebirth into the paths of Truth, Enjoyment and Emanation Bodies):

The Kagyu system of Mahamudra:

The Nyingma system of the 3 inner tantras:

7 features of final non-learner's union (Buddhahood) according to the Highest Yoga Tantra:

The phases of the path in system of the Highest Yoga Tantra:

17) Perfect enlightenment

64 main features of Buddhahood:

18 distinctive qualities of Buddhahood:

Mental marks of the Perfect One:

32 physical marks of the Perfect One:

64 verbal marks of the Perfect One:

9 qualities and skills of Perfect One's enlightening influence:

3 kayas of Buddhahood:

Definition of Dharmakaya:

2 aspects of Dharmakaya:

8 qualities of Dharmakaya:

Definition of Formkaya (Rupakaya):

Definition of Sambhogakaya:

8 qualities of Sambhogakaya:

Definition of Nirmanakaya:

8 qualities of Nirmanakaya:

12 deeds of Nirmanakaya:

Characteristics of 3 Kayas:

Formkaya is a consequence of:

3 Particularities of kayas of Buddhahood:

Resources

May these notes be helpful for others,
excuse me if errors in my notes,

Mariusz Mantur

E-mail: lamrimnotes@yahoo.com