What is the Step-by-step Path to Enlightenment?
Here is a very brief lam rim outline. You can look up "Lam Rim" on Wikipedia and many other sources for a more in-depth look. I will be making podcast lessons on related vocabulary and concepts at https://www.youtube.com/@learntibetanwithmanjutib/podcasts and you can find the schedule and link to participate live at https://linktr.ee/manjutibÂ
introduction
authors' identities and lineages
greatness of the step-by-step path
how to receive and give the step-by-step instructions
how students are to be guided through the steps
how to rely on a spiritual mentor
how to train your mind to rely correctly on a spiritual mentor
how to encourage yourself to take the essence of this precious human rebirth
how to take the essence of this precious human rebirth by training your mind in the three motivation level paths
(three motivation levels:
modest, working toward a high rebirth
medium, working toward personal liberation
elevated, working toward developing the means to stop the suffering of all beings)
the part of the path shared with the higher-rebirth modest path person
recognizing that this life will end and death will come at an unknown time
recognizing that rebirth is likely to be in the lower realms as an animal, a hungry ghost or a hell being
recognizing the safe refuge of the buddha, his teachings and the followers of his path
adjusting one's actions to be in accord with the law of cause and effect, which will lead you to a rebirth in the human, demigod or god realm
the part of the path shared with the personal-liberation medium path person
acknowledging and living by the four noble truths
there is suffering in cyclic existence, even the favourable rebirths
suffering is caused by afflictive emotions, their root being ignorance
cessation of suffering is a state free of suffering and its origins
the paths to attaining the cessation of suffering its causes are eight in number and involve the practice of ethical discipline, concentration and the wisdom recognizing the interdependent and ever-changing nature of all things
acknowledging and understanding the twelve links of dependent arising
the part of the path for gaining the means to stop the suffering of all beings, the elevated path person
developing the mind for enlightenment, the wish to become a buddha to be able to help all sentient beings become free from suffering
the advantages of the mind for enlightenment (bodhicitta)
the way to develop the mind for enlightenment
the seven-point instruction in seeing all sentient beings as having been our mothers
the instruction on exchanging your self-interested regard for the regard of the interest of all others, and seeing the drawbacks of self-cherishing, the advantages of cherishing others
the way to train your mind, once you have developed the mind for enlightement, by engaging in training through the practice of the six transcendent attitudes
generosity
ethical discipline
patience
joyous effort
concentration at single-pointedness
wisdom recognizing dependent arising