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Path to Buddhahood: Teachings on Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation

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The Jewel Ornament of Liberation is regarded by all Tibetan Buddhist schools as one of the most inspiring and comprehensive works of the tradition. Written by Gampopa (born 1079 CE), the main spiritual son of the great hermit Milarepa, this important text lays out the stages of the Buddhist path and explains how an enlightened attitude is strengthened by practicing the six perfections of generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and knowledge. (Source: Shambhala Publications)

Citation	Ringu Tulku Rinpoche. Path to Buddhahood: Teachings on Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation. Edited by Maggy Jones, Briona Nic Dhiarmada, and Corinne Segers. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2003. Originally published in French as Et si vous m'expliquiez le bouddhisme? Paris: Nil Editions, 2001.

The Cause: Buddha Nature

Book Excerpt

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

• • Foreword xi
  • Preface xv
  • Acknowledgments xix
  • Homage to Manjushri xxi
  • Introduction 1
• 1. THE CAUSE: Buddha Nature 7
• 2. THE BASIS: A Precious Human Life 15
• 3. THE CONDITION: The Spiritual Friend 23
  • Why We Need a Spiritual Friend 24
  • The Different Categories of Spiritual Friends 25
  • The Qualities of Ordinary Spiritual Friends 26
  • The Master-Disciple Relationship 27
  • Receiving the Teachings in the Right Way 29
• 4. THE METHOD: The Instructions of the Spiritual Friend 37
  • First Antidote: Contemplating Impermanence 32
  • Second Antidote 37
    • Contemplating the Misery of Samsara 37
    • Understanding Karma 44
  • Third Antidote: Love and Compassion 50
    • The Development of Loving-Kindness 51
    • The Development of Compassion 60
  • Fourth Antidote: Bodhichitta 64
    • The Bodhichitta of Aspiration 67
      • Refuge 67
      • Taking Refuge in the Buddha 68
      • Taking Refuge in the Dharma 70
      • Taking Refuge in the Sangha 70
      • The Three Kayas 72
      • The Refuge Ceremony 74
    • The Bodhichitta of Commitment 76
    • The Bodhisattva Vows 76
    • Instructions for Developing the Bodhichitta of Commitment: The Six Paramitas 80
      • First Paramita: Generosity 82
      • Second Paramita: Ethics or Right Conduct 87
      • Third Paramita: Forbearance 88
      • Fourth Paramita: Diligence 93
      • Fifth Paramita: Meditation 99
      • Sixth Paramita: Wisdom 108
    • The Five Levels of the Bodhisattva Path 138
      • Accumulation 139
      • Integration 140
      • Insight 141
      • Meditation 142
      • Complete Accomplishment 142
    • The Ten Bodhisattva Levels 143
• 5. THE RESULT: Perfect Buddhahood149
• 6. The Activities of a Buddha 163

• Conclusion 169
• Dedication of Merit 171
• Template:INotes
• Index 179

Sgam po pa. dam chos yid bzhin nor bu thar pa rin po che'i rgyan. Kathmandu: gam-po-pa library, 2005.

Gampopa's famous work on the stages of the Buddhist path.