The Foundation of Buddhist Practice by Chodron, Thubten -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Page Title Page Contents Preface by Bhikṣuṇī Thubten Chodron Abbreviations Introduction by His Holiness the Dalai Lama 1. The Buddhist Approach

Four Seals Two Truths

2. Gaining Nondeceptive Knowledge

Three Kinds of Objects and Their Cognizers Seven Types of Awareness Reliable Cognizers and Unreliable Awarenesses Direct Reliable Cognizers Inferential Reliable Cognizers Reliable Cognizers Based on an Example Reliable Cognizers Based on Authoritative Testimony Applying the Threefold Analysis Reflections on Scriptural Inference The Prāsaṅgikas’ Unique View of Reliable Cognizers Knowing When We Have a Correct Reason and a Reliable Cognizer Inferential Reliable Cognizers and Meditation

3. The Basis of the Self: The Body and Mind

Classifications of Phenomena Five Aggregates Twelve Sources and Eighteen Constituents Consciousness: Mind and Mental Factors Five Omnipresent Mental Factors Five Object-Ascertaining Mental Factors Eleven Virtuous Mental Factors Six Root Afflictions Twenty Auxiliary Afflictions Four Variable Mental Factors Conceptual and Nonconceptual Consciousnesses

4. Choosing Spiritual Mentors and Becoming a Qualified Disciple

Importance of Relying on Spiritual Mentors Spiritual Mentors Three Types of Practice, Three Types of Spiritual Mentors Investigate a Person’s Qualities Qualities of a Spiritual Mentor Seek Internal Qualities, Not Titles or External Appearance Becoming a Qualified Disciple

5. Relying on Spiritual Mentors

The Benefits of Relying on Spiritual Mentors Cultivate Trust by Seeing Their Qualities Cultivate Appreciation and Respect by Seeing Their Kindness Seeing Spiritual Mentors as Buddhas The Role of Devotion Relying on Spiritual Mentors in Our Actions Behavior toward Spiritual Mentors Preventing Difficulties Unusual Behavior Resolving Problems When Our Spiritual Mentors Pass Away Advice to Spiritual Mentors and Disciples

6. How to Structure a Meditation Session

Types of Meditation Meditation on the Lamrim The Six Preparatory Practices The Actual Session and Dedication at the Conclusion Interrelationship of the Lamrim Topics Breaks between Meditation Sessions Making Requests, Receiving Blessings, and Gaining Realizations

7. Mind, Body, and Rebirth

Sentience, Mind, and Brain The Nature of Mind Rebirth: Past and Future Lives The Buddha Responds to Questions about Rebirth

8. The Essence of a Meaningful Life

Precious Human Life Rare and Difficult to Attain Taking the Essence of Our Precious Human Life Eight Worldly Concerns Disadvantages of the Eight Worldly Concerns

9. Looking beyond This Life

Gross and Subtle Impermanence Learning from Our Own Mortality Other Life Forms Fear or Hope at Death? The Death Process Helping Ourselves and Others at the Time of Death Powa, Transference of Consciousness

10. Karma and Its Effects

The Law of Karma and Its Effects General Characteristics of Karma Specific Characteristics of Karma Constructive Actions The Weight of Karma Discerning Virtuous from Nonvirtuous Actions Karma and Current Ethical Issues

11. Results of Karma

Three Results of Karma The Ripening of Karmic Seeds Definite and Indefinite Karma When Karma Ripens How Karma Functions The Benefits of Contemplating Karma and Its Effects

12. The Workings of Karma

Projecting and Completing Karma Collective and Individual Karma Naturally Nonvirtuous Actions and Proscribed Actions Intention Karma, Intended Karma, and Mental Karma Physical and Verbal Karma, Perceptible and Imperceptible Forms Gloomy and Bright Karmas and Their Effects Purifying Destructive Karma Creating Our Future Who Creates Constructive Karma? The Complexity of Karma Creating the Causes for Higher Rebirth, Liberation, and Awakening A Deeper Perspective on Causality The Path of the Initial-Level Practitioner: A Conclusion

Notes Glossary Recommended Reading Index About the Authors Copyright