The Path to Bliss: A Practical Guide to Stages of Meditation by Dalai Lama & Christine Cox & Thupten Jinpa

Author:Dalai Lama & Christine Cox & Thupten Jinpa
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Snow Lion
Published: 2003-04-25T00:00:00+00:00

After having undertaken the practice of refuge, you should observe the precepts of refuge, the abandonments and the affirmations. All these precepts should be studied from Lamrim Chenmo by Lama Tsongkhapa. This text is like the constitution; it is very important, and you should study and practice it. Path to Bliss, on which you are receiving teachings right now, should be taken as a key with which you can unlock the treasure found in Lamrim Chenmo.

As a precept of taking refuge, you should never indulge in the business of selling statues and scriptures for profit, and you should never talk of or judge the value of statues on the basis of their material. Whether they are made of clay or any precious material, they should be treated equally. Also observe the precept of seeing the distinctive features of the Buddhist master and the doctrine. Among all the precepts of taking refuge, the most important is to observe the law of causality, living your life with awareness of the laws of karma.

Also reflect upon the fact that all the Buddha's activities are motivated by his great compassion and that the essence of his doctrine is to be compassionate and to work for others. The gist of his message to the world is the practice of a kind heart. A kind heart and altruism bring about a positive atmosphere around the person who practices them. Even a gentle dog makes people around it feel comfortable, whereas a very aggressive dog will make people cautious and apprehensive. Such is true also of human beings: when your companions are calm and gentle and warm-hearted, you can rely on them and trust them. Human beings are social animals who depend for their survival on others' cooperation and assistance. So it is better not to have a companion at all than to have one who is very aggressive and harmful. You can never rely on such a person but always have to be suspicious and apprehensive about him or her. And conversely, if your own character and personality is such that all people avoid you, that is very sad. Therefore, a kind heart and compassion are the real sources of peace and happiness; this compassion, when you enhance it to its fullest potential by employing the right skillful means though meditation, marks the realization of a universal compassion. When such a compassion is further complemented by the factors of wisdom and intelligence, then you will achieve a state called buddhahood in which you totally sacrifice yourself for the benefit of others; such a compassion and kind heart are really priceless and most precious.

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