Lamrim (Tibetan: "stages of the path") is a

Tibetan Buddhist Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...

textual form for presenting the stages in the complete path to enlightenment as taught by

Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...

. In Tibetan Buddhist history there have been many different versions of ''lamrim'', presented by different teachers of the

Nyingma Nyingma (literally 'old school') is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also often referred to as ''Ngangyur'' (, ), "order of the ancient translations". The Nyingma school is founded on the first lineages and transl ...

Kagyu The ''Kagyu'' school, also transliterated as ''Kagyü'', or ''Kagyud'' (), which translates to "Oral Lineage" or "Whispered Transmission" school, is one of the main schools (''chos lugs'') of Tibetan (or Himalayan) Buddhism. The Kagyu lineag ...

and

Gelug file:DalaiLama0054 tiny.jpg, 240px, 14th Dalai Lama, The 14th Dalai Lama (center), the most influential figure of the contemporary Gelug tradition, at the 2003 Kalachakra ceremony, Bodh Gaya, Bodhgaya (India). The Gelug (, also Geluk; "virtuous ...

schools. However, all versions of the ''lamrim'' are elaborations of

Atiśa ( bn, অতীশ দীপংকর শ্রীজ্ঞান, ôtiś dīpôṅkôr śrigyen; 982–1054) was a Buddhist religious leader and master. He is generally associated with his work carried out at the Vikramashila monastery in Biha ...

's 11th-century root text '' A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment'' (''Bodhipathapradīpa'').Lamrim: the Gradual Path to Enlightenment
/ref>

History

When

, the originator of the ''lamrim'' came from India to Tibet,Lam Rim Meditation — What is it?
/ref> he was asked by king Jang Chub Ö to give a complete and easily accessible summary of the doctrine in order to clarify wrong views, especially those resulting from apparent contradictions across the

sutra ''Sutra'' ( sa, सूत्र, translit=sūtra, translit-std=IAST, translation=string, thread)Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indian literary traditions refers to an aph ...

s and their commentaries. Based upon this request he wrote the ''

Bodhipathapradīpa ''Bodhipathapradīpa'' (''A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment'') is a Buddhist text composed in Sanskrit by the 11th-century teacher Atiśa and widely considered his magnum opus. The text reconciles the doctrines of many various Buddhist schools ...

'' ("A Lamp for the Path to Awakening"), teaching what came to be known as the ''lamrim'' for the Tibetans. Atiśa's presentation of the doctrine later became known as the

Kadampa 300px, Tibetan Portrait of Atiśa The Kadam school () of Tibetan Buddhism was an 11th century Buddhist tradition founded by the great Bengali master Atiśa (982-1054) and his students like Dromtön (1005–1064), a Tibetan Buddhist lay master. ...

tradition in Tibet. According to Tsong Khapa, in his ''Lam Rim Chen Mo'' ("The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment"), Atiśa took the number and order of the subjects in Maitreya-natha and Asaṅgas ''

Abhisamayalankara The "Ornament of/for Realization , abbreviated AA, is one of five Sanskrit-language Mahayana śastras which, according to Tibetan tradition, Maitreya revealed to Asaṅga in northwest India circa the 4th century AD. (Chinese tradition recogni ...

'' ("Ornament of clear realizations"), which was based on the wisdom sutras, as the basis to write the ''Bodhipathapradīpa''. In the ''Abhisamayalankara'' they emphasised the hidden meanings of the sutras. Tibetan Buddhists thus believe that the teachings of the ''lamrim'' are based on the sutras that the Buddha taughtLamrim - The Stages of the Path
/ref> and therefore contains the essential points of all sutra teachings in their logical order for practice.

Gampopa Gampopa Sönam Rinchen (, 1079–1153) was the main student of Milarepa, and a Tibetan Buddhist master who codified his own master's ascetic teachings, which form the foundation of the Kagyu educational tradition. Gampopa was also a doctor and ...

, a Kadampa monk and student of the famed ''yogi''

Milarepa Jetsun Milarepa (, 1028/40–1111/23) was a Tibetan siddha, who was famously known as a murderer when he was a young man, before turning to Buddhism and becoming a highly accomplished Buddhist disciple. He is generally considered one of Tibet's m ...

, introduced the ''lamrim'' to his disciples as a way of developing the mind gradually. His exposition of ''lamrim'' is known in English translation as " The Jewel Ornament of Liberation" and is studied to this day in the various

schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The main Lam Rim text in the Nyingma tradition is Longchen Rabjampa's ''Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind,'' along with its voluminous auto-commentary, ''The Great Chariot.'' Both lay out the entire scope of the buddhist teachings according to the view of the

school, from the foundational practices through to Dzogchen.

Tsongkhapa Tsongkhapa ('','' meaning: "the man from Tsongkha" or "the Man from Onion Valley", c. 1357–1419) was an influential Tibetan Buddhist monk, philosopher and tantric yogi, whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Budd ...

, founder of the

school which is primarily based on Atiśa's

school, wrote one of his masterpieces on ''lamrim'': ''The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path of Enlightenment'' (Tib. ''Lam-rim Chen-mo'') which has about 1000 pages, and is primarily based on literary sources. There is also a medium-length ''lamrim'' text by Tsongkhapa (200 pages) and a short one, called ''Lam-rim Dü-dön'' (Tib.), which is recited daily by many Gelugpas and is about 10 pages long. The Lamrim was the first Tibetan text translated into a European language by

Ippolito Desideri Ippolito Desideri or Hippolyte Desideri (21 December 1684 – 14 April 1733) was an Italian Jesuit missionary and traveller and the most famous of the early European missionaries to visit Tibet. He was the first documented European ethnic groups ...

, a Jesuit missionary, who visited Tibet and made an extensive study of Tibetan Buddhism from 1716 to 1721. Desideri studied the Lam Rim Chen Mo of Tsongkhapa, and his manuscript describing Tibet was one of the most extensive and accurate accounts of Buddhist philosophy until the twentieth century.

Philosophy

Three kinds of motivation

The starting point of the ''lamrim'' is a division of Buddhist practitioners into beings of three scopes, based upon the motivation of their religious activity. Disregarded in this division are individuals whose motives revolve around benefits in their current life. Striving for a favorable rebirth is implicitly the minimum requirement for an activity or practice to be classified as spiritual. Atiśa wrote in "Lamp of the Path" (verse 2) that one should understand that there are three kind of persons: # Persons of modest motive search for happiness within samsara; their motive is to achieve high rebirth. Buddhists traditionally consider that this domain includes followers of most non-Buddhist religions who strive for a rebirth in a heaven. # Persons of medium motive are searching for their own ultimate peace and abandoned worldly pleasure. This includes the paths of '' pratyekabuddhas'' and '' śravakabuddhas'', which seek personal liberation alone, the traditional goal of Hīnayāna practice. # Persons of high motive, who, based on their insight of their own suffering, seek by all means to stop the suffering of all beings. This is the

Mahāyāna ''Mahāyāna'' (; "Great Vehicle") is a term for a broad group of Buddhism, Buddhist traditions, Buddhist texts#Mahāyāna texts, texts, Buddhist philosophy, philosophies, and practices. Mahāyāna Buddhism developed in India (c. 1st century BC ...

Bodhisattva path In Buddhism, a bodhisattva ( ; sa, 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺𑀲𑀢𑁆𑀢𑁆𑀯 (Brahmī), translit=bodhisattva, label=Sanskrit) or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards Enlightenment in Buddhism, bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood. In ...

of the '' samyaksaṃbuddhas'', who practice the

six Perfections 6 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 6 or six may also refer to: * AD 6, the sixth year of the AD era * 6 BC, the sixth year before the AD era * The month of June Science * Carbon, the element with atomic number 6 * 6 Hebe, an asteroid Peop ...

. One of the formulaic presentations of the Buddhist path in the Nikayas is ''

anupubbikathā In Theravada Buddhism, ''anupubbikathā'' or ''ānupubbikathā'' (Pali) – variously translated as "gradual discourse," "gradual instruction," "progressive instruction," and "step-by-step talk" – is a method by which the Buddha taught the Dhamma ...

'', "graduated talk" or "progressive instruction," in which the Buddha talks on generosity (''

dāna Dāna (Devanagari: दान, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: Dānam) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity (practice), charity or giving of alms in Indian philosophies. In Hindui ...

''), virtue (''

sīla Buddhist ethics are traditionally based on what Buddhists view as the enlightened perspective of the Buddha. The term for ethics or morality used in Buddhism is ''Śīla'' or ''sīla'' (Pāli). ''Śīla'' in Buddhism is one of three sections of ...

''), heaven ('' sagga''), danger of sensual pleasure ('' ādīnava'') and renunciation (''

nekkhamma ''Nekkhamma'' (Sanskrit: नैष्क्राम्य, Naiṣkrāmya) is a Pali word generally translated as "renunciation" or "the pleasure of renunciation" while also conveying more specifically "giving up the world and leading a holy life" ...

''). When the listener is prepared by these topics, the Buddha then delivers "the teaching special to the Buddhas,"Majjhima Nikaya 56, ''To Upali'', verse 18.Bhikkhu Nanamoli & Bhikku Bodhi. the

Four Noble Truths In Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths (Sanskrit: ; pi, cattāri ariyasaccāni; "The four Arya satyas") are "the truths of the Noble Ones", the truths or realities for the "spiritually worthy ones". saccāni''), by which arises "the spotless immaculate vision of the Dhamma."Carole Anderson (2013), ''Pain and its Ending'', p.143 In the Tibetan Lamrim teachings, the Bodhisattva-path, with its training of the six perfections, is added to this formula.

Subjects of the ''lamrim''

Although ''lamrim'' texts cover much the same subject areas, subjects within them may be arranged in different ways. The ''lamrim'' of Atiśa starts with bodhicitta, the altruistic mind of enlightenment, followed by taking the bodhisattva vows. Gampopa's ''lamrim'', however, starts with the Buddha-nature, followed by the preciousness of human rebirth. Tsongkhapa's texts start with reliance on a guru (Tib.: ''lama''), followed by the preciousness of human rebirth, and continue with the paths of the modest, medium and high scopes. Longchenpa's lamrim begins with the four thoughts that turn the mind, and proceeds through to the two stages of vajrayana practice and dzogchen.

Longchenpa Longchen Rabjam Drimé Özer (), commonly abbreviated to Longchenpa (1308–1364, an honorific meaning "The Vast Expanse") was a Tibetan scholar-yogi of the Nyingma school ('Old School') of Tibetan Buddhism. According to tibetologist David Ge ...

, and others, expanded the short root-text of Atiśa into an extensive system to understand the entire Buddhist philosophy. In this way, subjects like

karma Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...

rebirth Rebirth may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Film * ''Rebirth'' (2011 film), a 2011 Japanese drama film * ''Rebirth'' (2016 film), a 2016 American thriller film * ''Rebirth'', a documentary film produced by Project Rebirth * ''The Re ...

, Buddhist cosmology and the practice of

meditation Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally cal ...

are gradually explained in logical order.

Outline of Topics

An example of the outline for ''lamrim'' teachings is that of ''Liberation in the Palm of your Hand'' by

Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo (), (1878–1941) was a Gelug lama of the modern era of Tibetan Buddhism. He attained his Geshe degree at Sera Mey Monastic University, Lhasa, and became a highly influential teacher in Tibet. He was unusual for t ...

. An abbreviated and annotated outline follows to show the structure of this ''lamrim'': ;Introduction * the identities and lineages of the authors of the ''lamrim'' (

Shakyamuni Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was born in Lu ...

, Atisha, Dromtoenpa, etc.), to establish the authenticity of the teaching * the greatness of the ''lamrim'' itself, to gain respect for it * the way the instructions are to be received and given * the way the students are to be guided through the subjects. This fourth subject has two divisions: :* the way to rely on a spiritual guide :* the way to train your mind on the basis of the correct way to rely on the spiritual guide. This last heading contains the rest of the instructions under the headings: ::* the way to encourage yourself to take the essence of this precious human rebirth ::* the way to take the essence of this precious human rebirth (that is: training your mind in the paths of the three scopes included within the ''lamrim'') ;The path shared with persons who have the modest scope motivation Striving for a rebirth in the upper realms: * the reality that this life will end and that you will die * the suffering in a rebirth in the lower realms (a rebirth as hell being, hungry ghost or animal, which you want to avoid) * (so you) take refuge in the three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha * (and adjust your behavior of body, speech and mind according to the) law of cause and effect/ karma which will lead you to a favorable rebirth within cyclic existence in the human-, demigod-, or god realm. ;The path shared with persons who have the medium scope motivation Striving for liberation of cyclic existence. The training in the medium scope path will lead to the development of the wish to be liberated from all un-free rebirths in cyclic existence through the power of afflictive emotions and karma. It consists of: * The Four Noble Truths: :* The truth of suffering (in cyclic existence in general, including the favorable rebirths) :* The truth of the causes of suffering (the afflictive emotions, especially ignorance) :* The truth of cessation (there is a state that is free of suffering and its origins) :* The truth of paths (the way to attain this state free of suffering and its causes by practicing ethics, concentration and wisdom) * Another presentation of the middle scope subjects is the presentation of the 12 links of dependent arising ;The path for persons who have the high scope motivation Striving for complete buddhahood: * Developing mind of enlightenment (''bodhicitta''), the wish to become a buddha for the welfare of all sentient beings: :* the advantages of the mind of enlightenment; :* the way to develop the mind of enlightenment :* the 7-point instruction in seeing all sentient beings as your mothers (from previous lives and contemplating their kindness towards you) :* the instruction on how to exchange your self-interest for others' interest (by looking at the drawbacks of self-cherishing and the advantages of cherishing others) * the way to train your mind after developing the mind of enlightenment, by training the six perfections: :* training in the perfection of generosity :* training in the perfection of ethics :* training in the perfection of patience :* training in the perfection of joyful effort :* training in the perfection of concentration :* training in the perfection of wisdom

Gelug Lamrim tradition

The study of Lamrim is a major focus of the Gelug school and numerous Gelug figures wrote Lamrim works. A collection of important Lamrim works is known as the Eight Great Commentaries (on Atisha's ''Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment).'' The

14th Dalai Lama The 14th Dalai Lama (spiritual name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, known as Tenzin Gyatso (Tibetan: བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wylie: ''bsTan-'dzin rgya-mtsho''); né Lhamo Thondup), known as ...

frequently teaches on these works. These are: # ''The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim chen mo)'' by Je Tsong Khapa # ''The Medium Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim ‘bring po)'' by Je Tsong Khapa # ''The Concise Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim bsdus don)'' also known as Song of the Stages of the Path (lam rim nyams mgur) by Je Tsong Khapa # ''The Essence of Refined Gold – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim gser zhun ma)'' by His Holiness the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso. # ''The Easy Path – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim bde lam)'' by Panchen Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen. # ''The Sacred Words of Manjushri – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim ‘jam dpal zhal lung)'' by the Fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso # ''The Swift Path – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim myur lam)'' by Panchen Lobsang Yeshe # ''Essence of Fine Speech – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim legs gsung nying khu)'' by Ngawang Drakpa of Dagpo

Lamrim texts in English

Classical Lamrim Books (in historical order)

* *''Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment'' by Geshe Sonam Rinchen, Snow Lion Publications *'' The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa'', translated and annotated by Herbert V. Guenther (1986). Shambala Publications, (pbk) *''The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa'', translated by Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche (1998). Snow Lion Publications - Ithaca, New York, with a foreword by The Dalai Lama, . *''Engaging by Stages in the Teachings of the Buddha'', 2 vols., by Phagmodrupa (Gampopa's disciple), Otter Verlag, Munich * Longchen Rabjambr>
''Finding Rest in the Nature of Min

' Padmakara Translation Group (Boston: Shambhala, 201

**''Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind'' (sems nyid ngal gso), is a complete lam rim in 13 chapters written in verse form. It covers the ground, path, and fruition as well as the view, meditation and conduct according to the Nyingma school, beginning from the foundational four reflections that turn the mind through to the two stages of vajrayana practice and the view and practice of dzogchen, blending the sutra presentation of buddha nature with the tantric view of the luminous, empty, spontaneously present primordial ground of pristine awareness. Longchenpa composed three auto-commentaries on the root text: one short, one extensive, and one which lays out the practice instructions: ***The short auto-commentary: ''Garland of White Lotuses'' (Tib. padma dkar po’i phreng ba). ***The extensive auto-commentary: ''The Great Chariot'' (Tib. shing rta chen po) ****''The Great Chariot'' is currently (as of 2022) in preparation for publishing by the Library of Tibetan Classics, translated by Ives Waldo. The digital version of the translation in progress is available online a
Wisdomlib
Th
Library of Tibetan Classics
under the direction of Geshe Thupten Jinpa, PhD., has prepared
critical edition
of the Tibetan text. ***The practice instructions: ''The Excellent Path to Enlightenment'' (Tib. byang chub lam bzang), Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche and Gerry Winer (translators), Jewelled Lotus, 2014.

** ** ** *Sonam Gyatso (bSod Nams rGya mTso, the third Dalai Lama), ''Lam rim gser zhun ma.'' English translation by Glenn H. Mullin; 1st edition titled ''Essence of Refined Gold by the Third Dalai Lama: with related texts by the Second and Seventh Dalai Lamas'' (Dharamsala, HP, India: Tushita Books, 1978); 2nd edition titled ''Selected Works of the Dalai Lama III: Essence of Refined Gold'' (Ithaca, New York: Snow Lion, 1985). *

Modern Lamrim Books & Commentaries

*''Wake Up To Your Life: Discovering the Buddhist Path of Attention''.

Ken McLeod Ken McLeod (born 1948) is a senior Western translator, author, and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. He received traditional training mainly in the Shangpa Kagyu lineage through a long association with his principal teacher, Kalu Rinpoche, whom he met ...

. HarperCollins. *''Practicing the Path: A Commentary on the Lamrim Chenmo'', Yangsi Rinpoche, Wisdom Publications, *''Steps on the Path to Enlightenment'', Volume 1: A Commentary on the Lamrim Chenmo, The Foundational Practices, by Geshe

Lhundub Sopa Lhundub Sopa (born Tsang, 1923 – August 28, 2014) was a Tibetan monk. Biography Sopa was born in Tibet. He became a novice monk and entered Gaden Chokor Monastery in 1932. In 1941, he joined Sera Monastery in Lhasa. He was chosen as one of th ...

, Wisdom Publications, *''Steps on the Path to Enlightenment'', Vol.2: Karma : A Commentary on the Lamrim Chenmo by Geshe

, Wisdom Publications, *''Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment'', TDL Publications, *''Joyful Path of Good Fortune: The Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment'', Tharpa Publications (2nd. ed., 1995) *''

The New Meditation Handbook ''The New Meditation Handbook: Meditations to Make Our Life Happy and Meaningful'' (Tharpa Publications (2003) ) is a guide to Buddhist philosophy and meditation techniques. It is a compilation of twenty-one concise meditations on Lamrim, or the st ...

: Meditations to Make Our Life Happy and Meaningful'', Tharpa Publications (2003) *''Path to Enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism'', Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, Tushita Publications, *''Meditations on the Path to Enlightenment'', Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, Tushita Publications, *''Essence of the Path to Enlightenment'', Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, Tushita Publications, *''Guided Meditations on The Stages of the Path'', Thubten Chodron, Snow Lion Publications,

Notes

References

External links

The English Translation of the Lam-Rim Chenmo
by Tsongkhapa (Shambhala Publications)

by Atisha

by Atisha

by Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche

at Study Buddhism

by Alexander Berzin * ttp://www.lamrim.org.uk Lam Rim Centresbr>Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand
by

on Google Book Search
HH the Dalai Lama's Illuminating the Path to EnlightenmentLamrim Outline pdfTranscriptsLamrim MindmapLamRim RadioLamRim TVLamRim Mongolia
{{TibetanBuddhism Kagyu Gelug Nyingma Kadam (Tibetan Buddhism) Tibetan Buddhist literature