texts: lamrim training outline

I: The mode of Relying on a Spiritual Master, the foundation of the path.

• Reliance through thought.
  • Cultivating faith, the root factor.
  • Cultivating respect through recollecting kindness.
• Reliance through action.

II: The stages of training based on such a reliance.

• Persuading to Take the Essence of a Fully Endowed Human Existence.
  • Reflecting on the great value of leisure and fortune.
  • Reflecting on its rarity.
• The manner in which to actually take the essence.
• Training the mind in the stages of path common to the practitioners of initial capacity.
  • Meditating on Death Awareness.
  • Reflecting on the Sufferings of Lower Realms.
  • Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels.
  • Generating conviction in the Karmic Laws.
• Training the mind in the stages of path common to those of middle capacity.
  • Generating the aspiration to Achieve Liberation from Cyclic Existence..
    • Reflecting on the suffering of cyclic existence in general.
    • Reflecting on the specific sufferings of individual realms.
  • Presentation of the nature of the paths leading to liberation.
• Training the mind in the stages of path common to those of great capacity.
  • The mode of Cultivating Bodhichitta (mind of enlightenment).
    • The actual generation of the mind.
      • Generating bodhichitta through the instruction of seven-point cause and effect.
        • Meditation on equanimity.
        • The seven points.
          1. Recognition that all beings as having been one's mother.
          2. Recollection of their kindness.
          3. Repaying the kindness.
          4. Loving kindness.
          5. Great compassion.
          6. Superior attitude.
          7. Bodhichitta.
        • Generating bodhichitta through the instruction on equality and exchange of oneself with others.
      • Reinforcing the generated altruistic mind through ceremony.
        • The way in which the vows are received.
        • How to protect the vows from degeneration.
  • The mode of engaging in the deeds following the generation of the altruistic mind.
    • Training in the bodhisattva deeds in general.
      1. Generosity.
      2. Morality.
      3. Patience.
      4. Joyous effort.
      5. Concentration.
      6. Wisdom.
      7. The four ripening factors.
    • Training in the last two perfections in particular.
      • Training in calm abiding, the essence of concentration.
      • Training in Special Insight, the Essence of Wisdom (wisdom realizing emptiness).
        1. On the selflessness of persons.
        2. On the selflessness of phenomena.
        3. On non-inherent existence of compounded phenomena.
        4. On non-inherent existence of uncompounded phenomena.