The Great Path of Awakening

by KONGTRUL, JAMGONMCLEOD, KEN

• ISBN13: 9781590302149
• ISBN10: 1590302141
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2005-04-12
• Publisher: Shambhala

Summary

Here is a practical Buddhist guidebook that offers techniques for developing a truly compassionate heart in the midst of everyday life. For centuries, Tibetans have used fifty-nine pithy slogans-such as "A joyous state of mind is a constant support" and "Don't talk about others' shortcomings"-as a means to awaken kindness, gentleness, and compassion. While Tibetan Buddhists have long valued these slogans, recently they have become popular in the West due to such books asStart Where You Areby Pema Chouml;drouml;n andTraining the Mindby Chouml;gyam Trungpa. This edition ofThe Great Path of Awakeningcontains an accessible, newly revised translation of the slogans from the famous textThe Seven Points of Mind Training. It also includes illuminating commentary from Jamgon Kongtrul that provides further instruction on how to meet every situation with intelligence and an open heart.

Author Biography

Jamg÷n Kongtrnl (1813–1899) was a versatile and prolific scholar. He has been characterized as a "Tibetan Leonardo" because of his significant contributions to religion, education, medicine, and politics.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Translator's Introduction	xiii
The Great Path of Awakening	1	(2)
THE SOURCE OF THE TRANSMISSION	3	(2)
THE NEED FOR MIND TRAINING	5	(2)
THE ACTUAL INSTRUCTIONS	7	(46)
The Explanation of the Seven Points of Mind Training	7	(39)
The Groundwork: Instruction on What Supports Dharma	8	(2)
The Actual Practice: Training in Bodhicitta	10	(7)
The Transformation of Adversity into the Path of Awakening	17	(8)
The Utilization of the Practice in One's Whole Life	25	(4)
The Extent of Proficiency in Mind Training	29	(1)
Commitments of Mind Training	30	(7)
Guidelines for Mind Training	37	(8)
Concluding Verses	45	(1)
Additional Instructions from the Transmission Lineage	46	(7)
CONCLUSION	53	(2)
Notes	55	(32)
Appendices	87
The Seven Points of Mind Training (McLeod)	89	(4)
The Root Text of the Seven Points of Training the Mind (Nalanda Translation Committee)	93	(6)
Soothing the Pain of Faith: A Prayer to the Mind-Training Lineage	99	(6)
The Seven-Branch Prayer	105