The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Volume 1)

by Tsongkhapa, Joshua Cutler (Editor), Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee (Translator), Guy Newland (Editor)

Overview

The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lam rim chen mo) is one of the brightest jewels in the world's treasury of sacred literature. The author Tsong-kha-pa (1357–1419) completed this masterpiece in 1402 and it soon became one of the most renowned works of spiritual practice and philosophy in the world of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsong-kha-pa took great pains to base his incisive insights on the classical Indian Buddhist literature, illustrating his points with classical citations as well as with sayings of the masters of the earlier Kadampa tradition. In this way, the text demonstrates clearly how Tibetan Buddhism carefully preserved and developed the Indian Buddhist traditions. Volume One covers all practices that are prerequisite for developing the spirit of enlightenment (bodhicitta). Volume Two explains how to train in the six perfections in order to develop the heart of compassion indispensable for any student who wants to put the Dharma into practice. Volume Three contains a presentation of the two most important topics to be found in the Great Treatise: meditative serenity (shamatha) and supramundane insight into the nature of reality (vipasyana).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781645474609
Publisher:	Shambhala
Publication date:	07/01/2025
Pages:	440
Product dimensions:	5.72(w) x 8.73(h) x 1.01(d)

About the Author

Je Tsong-kha-pa (1357–1419), founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, was one of Tibet's greatest philosophers and a prolific writer. His most famous work, The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path, is a classic of Tibetan Buddhism.

Table of Contents

Editor's Preface
Foreword by Robert A. F. Thurman
Introduction by D. Seyfort Ruegg
Prologue
1. Atisha
2. The Greatness of the Teaching
3. How to Listen to and Explain Things
4. Relying on the Teacher
5. The Meditation Session
6. Refuting Misconceptions About Meditation
7. A Human Life of Leisure and Opportunity
8. The Three Types of Persons
9. Mindfulness of Death
10. Reflecting on Your Future Life
11. Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels
12. The Precepts of Refuge
13. The General Characteristics of Karma
14. The Varieties of Karma
15. Cultivating Ethical Behavior
16. The Attitude of a Person of Small Capacity
17. The Eight Types of Suffering
18. The Six Types of Suffering
19. Further Meditations on Suffering
20. The Origin of Suffering
21. The Twelve Factors of Dependent-Arising
22. The Attitude of a Person of Medium Capacity
23. Ascertaining the Nature of the Path
24. The Nature of the Three Trainings
Appendix 1: Outline of the Text
Appendix 2: Glossary
Notes
Abbreviations
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Of the many works of the Tibetan master Tsong-kha-pa, none compare in terms of popularity and breadth of influence with his Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Chenmo), which has been treasured by practitioners and scholars alike for centuries. What distinguishes it as one of the principal texts of Mahayana Buddhism is its scope and clarity. It expounds the entire path from the way one should rely on a spiritual teacher, which is the very root, right up to the attainment of Buddhahood, which is the final fruit. The various stages of the path are presented so clearly and systematically that they can be easily understood and are inspiring to put into practice."—H.H. the Dalai Lama

"Ultimately, this is a classic of religious thought and is essential for libraries with a demonstrated interest in Buddhism or comparative religion. It should also be considered for all larger research collections and public libraries."—Library Journal

"One of the greatest religious or secular works in the library of our human heritage."—Robert A. F. Thurman

"A must-read for anyone seeking to better understand the principles of Buddhism as well as an effective manual for spiritual self-improvement."—Bookwatch Review

"The present translation in three volumes is a remarkable accomplishment and a great gift to all students and practitioners of Vajrayana. The teachings, given open-handedly in this key text, are essential for anyone hoping to enter into or attain success in the higher (Tantric) stages of the path. The wisdom found in the nearly 1200 pages of this work is truly astonishing and liberating. As Robert Thurman mentions in his Foreword, Je Tsongkhapa's treatise can cause a 'paradigm shift' in the reader from a self-centered individual concerned with his own happiness to a bodhisattva for whom the happiness of others has become an ultimate concern. May it be so!"—Georg Feuerstein, author of The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra

"As timely and radiant as ever . . . an indispensable work for Buddhists of all stripes."—Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

From the Publisher