Lamrim

The Lamrim (Tib.: " Lam " means path; " Rim " means steps) is a teaching presentation and form of practice of Tibetan Buddhism with a 1000 year old tradition, showing through concrete instructions instructions for gradual improvement of the path to enlightenment. The Lam Rim goes back to a font that coming from India Buddhist master Atisha.

History

The first Lamrim text " The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment " was the masterpiece of the Indian Buddhist master Atisha, who wrote this after his arrival in Tibet for Tibetans and for it later by the Indian pundits ( scholars) was his monastery Vikramashila very appreciated.

Later, the Lamrim by Gampopa was integrated into the Karma Kagyu school and is writing as "Jewel Ornament of Liberation " known.

The founder of the Gelug school Tsongkhapa wrote three Lamrimtexte: a long, known as the Great Exposition of the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment ( Tib: Lam Rim Chen Mo), which is about 1000 pages and a shorter over 200 pages and a brief summary ( Tib. Lamrim Düdon ) about 10 pages, which is recited daily usually in the Gelug tradition.

The most important of the Nyingma Lamrim school comes from Patrul Rinpoche and is called The Words of My Perfect Teacher.

Atisha's Lamrim text

Atisha begins " Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment " with homage to the Bodhisattva Manjushri, the nod to the Three Jewels - Buddha, Dharma and Sangha - and the letter of intent, for Jangchub east to write the text ( verse 1).

In verse 2 Atisha summarizes the essence according to their spiritual qualifications into three groups:

Persons lowest qualifications are those who are not more than the pleasures of samsara seek by all means. Persons medium qualifications are those who seek peace only on its own, turn away from worldly pleasures and avoid harmful acts. Persons highest qualifications are those who want to completely overcome truly all suffering by others because of their own suffering.

(Verses 3-6 of the original text )

The original text of Atisha then continues with the Father and schools of enlightenment Spirit ( Skt. bodhicitta ) (verses 7-18 ), the business of the bodhisattva vows (verses 19-39 ) and how to Higher knowledge developed through concentration and wisdom ( verses 34-59 ). It ends with the presentation of Vajrayana (verses 60-68 ).

Adaptation

Traditionally, certain constructive explanations for each stage are given. For example, people lowest proficiency Teaching to precious human life, death and impermanence, refuge and karma. Thus, the mind turns to the teachings and overcomes the fixation on as well as the attachment to this life. Harmful by the full run of good acts and the failure is a good human rebirth are achieved.

Persons medium proficiency receive teachings about the disadvantages of cyclic existence, the twelve links of dependent origination mutually, ethics ( Pratimoksha ), concentration and wisdom (known as the three higher trainings ). This should disgust with samsara and the renunciation of his transitory pleasures ( renunciation) are developed and the reasons for the attainment of liberation ( Nirvana ) to be created.

Persons highest qualification obtained explanations of how they develop the mind of enlightenment ( bodhicitta ) and on the basis of practice in the six perfections ( paramitas ), so the path of a bodhisattva to full enlightenment ( Buddhahood ) to go - for the benefit of all beings.

Finally, the Vajrayana is presented ( Tantra ) and faster, but also more dangerous path for those with exceptional skills.

The structure of the Lamrim texts is different and is found in all four Tibetan traditions. So Gampopas text begins with identifying where Buddha Nature ( Tathagatagarbha ), then the precious human life, etc. Tsongkhapa, however, his explanations begins with the trust in the teacher and then follows with the explanation of the precious human lives.