ABHISAMAYALAMKARA THE ORNAMENT OF HIGHER REALIZATION BY MAITREYA ~ AN INTRODUCTION SOURCE BOOK RIME SHEDRA NYC SMCNY ADVANCED BUDDHIST STUDIES CHANTS ASPIRATION In order that all sentient beings may attain Buddhahood, From my heart I take refuge in the three jewels. This was composed by Mipham. Translated by the Nalanda Translation Committee MANJUSHRI SUPPLICATION Whatever the virtues of the many fields of knowledge All are steps on the path of omniscience. May these arise in the clear mirror of intellect. O Manjushri, please accomplish this. This was specially composed by Mangala (Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche). Translated by the Nalanda Translation Committee DEDICATION OF MERIT By this merit may all obtain omniscience May it defeat the enemy, wrong doing. From the stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death, From the ocean of samsara, may I free all beings By the confidence of the golden sun of the great east May the lotus garden of the Rigden’s wisdom bloom, May the dark ignorance of sentient beings be dispelled. May all beings enjoy profound, brilliant glory. Translated by the Nalanda Translation Committee For internal use only Exclusively for the Rime Shedra NYC Core Texts Program A program of Shambhala Meditation Center of New York First Edition – 2014 THE ABHISAMAYALAMKARA THE ORNAMENT OF HIGHER REALIZATION BY MAITREYA AN INTRODUCTION Who Knows What, Where, When, and How SOURCEBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Syllabus 2. Outline of the Chapters of the Abhisamayalamkara 3. The 70 Points of the Abhisamayalamkara from Edward Conze 4. A Detailed Outline of the Abhisamayalamkara by Thrangu Rinpoche 5. The Eight Categories by FPMT Masters Courses 6. Points for Topics One through Six by FPMT Masters Courses 7. The Abhisamayalamkara, Appendix VIII from Gone, Beyond Volume One, by Karl Brunnholzl, pp. 475‐505 8. Talk Two, Commentary on The Perfection of Supreme Knowledge: Chapters Two and Three, by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, pp. 5‐12 9. Abhisamayalankara, from Wikipedia, pp. 1‐14 10. Contextual and Doctrinal Presumptions, Stairway to Nirvana, by James Apple, pp. 47‐55 11. Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses, pp. 1‐9 12. The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One, by Karl Brunnholzl, pp. 47‐62 13. Gone Beyond, Volume One, by Karl Brunnholzl: a. The Prajnaparamita Sutras, pp. 23‐41 b. The Abhisamayalamkara in Its Traditional Setting, pp. 93‐106 c. Is there any Practical Relevance to the Abhisamayalamkara, pp. 111‐117 d. The Abhisamalamkara as a Contemplative Manual, pp. 119‐127 14. The Mahayana Path of the Bodhisattva in the Ornament for Clear Realization, by James Apple, pp. 166‐178 Page 1 THE ABHISAMALAMKARA THE ORNAMENT OF HIGHER REALIZATION: AN INTRODUCTION Who Knows What, Where, When, and How Syllabus Sources: The Ornament of Clear Realization: A Commentary on the Prajnparamita of the Maitreya Buddha, Thrangu Rinpoche, Trs. by Ken and Katia Holmes and Cornelia Weishaar‐Gunter Abhisamayalamkara ‐ Ornament of Higher Realization: An Introduction, A Rime Shedra Sourcebook Readings: 1) Class One: Introduction to the AA a) Talk Two, Commentary on The Perfection of Supreme Knowledge: Chapters Two and Three, by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, pp. 5‐12 b) Abhisamayalankara, from Wikipedia, pp. 1‐14 2) Class Two : Overview of the Eight Topics & Seventy Points of the AA a) Homage and Overview, from the Abhisamayalamkara b) Contextual and Doctrinal Presumptions, Stairway to Nirvana, by James Apple, pp. 47‐55 c) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) An introduction to the Prajnaparamita, pp. 5‐9 ii) Introductory Verses of the Text, pp. 11‐18 3) Class Three: Topic One ‐ The Knowledge of all Phenomena a) Chapter One from the Abhisamayalamkara, verses I.17‐38 b) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) Bodhicitta, pp. 19‐25 ii) Practice Instructions, pp. 27‐32 iii) The Path of Junction and Buddha‐Nature, pp. 33‐39 c) Relevant Sections from: i) Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses ii) The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One d) The Three Cylces of the Buddha’s Teaching, Gone Beyond, Volume One, pp. 23‐28 4) Class Four: Topic One ‐ The Knowledge of all Phenomena (Cont’d) a) Chapter One from the Abhisamayalamkara, verses I.19‐I.73 b) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) The Objects of Focus for the Bodhisattva, pp. 41‐46 ii) The Meditation Practices and the Practice of Accumulation, pp. 47‐58 Page 2 c) Relevant Sections from: i) Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses ii) The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One d) What is prajnaparamita?, Gone Beyond, Volume One, pp. 28‐34 5) Class Five: Topic Two ‐ Knowledge of the Path a) Chapter Two from the Abhisamayalamkara b) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) The Hinayana Path, pp. 59‐65 ii) The Bodhisattva Path of Insight, pp. 66‐71 iii) The Bodhisattva Path of Meditation or Cultivation, pp. 73‐84 c) Relevant Sections from: i) Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses ii) The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One 6) Class Six: Topic Three ‐ Knowledge of the Basis a) Chapter Three from the Abhisamayalamkara b) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) Knowledge of the Foundation, pp. 85‐93 c) Relevant Sections from: i) Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses ii) The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One d) The Prajnaparamita Sutras and Their Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One, pp. 34‐ 37 7) Class Seven: Topic Four ‐ The Application of Realization of All Aspects a) Chapter Four from the Abhisamayalamkara b) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) The Application of Realization of All Aspects, pp. 95‐108 ii) The Path of Junction, pp. 109‐116 c) Relevant Sections from: i) Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses ii) The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One d) Paths and Bhumis, Gone Beyond, Volume One, pp. 37‐41 8) Class Eight: Topic Five ‐ Application when Reaching the Peak a) Chapter Five from the Abhisamayalamkara b) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) The Application When Reaching the Peak, pp. 117‐127 c) Relevant Sections from: i) Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses Page 3 ii) The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One d) The Abhisamayalamkara in Its Traditional Setting, Gone Beyond, Volume One, pp. 93‐106 9) Class Nine: Topic Six ‐ Gradual Application of the Stages of the Bodhisattva Path a) Chapter Six from the Abhisamayalamkara b) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) Gradual Application of the Bodhisattva Path, pp. 129‐132 c) Relevant Sections from: i) Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses ii) The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One d) Is there any Practical Relevance to the Abhisamayalamkara, Gone Beyond, Volume One, pp. 111‐117 10) Class Ten: Topic Seven ‐ Instantaneous Application a) Chapter Seven from the Abhisamayalamkara b) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) The Instantaneous Practitioners, pp. 133‐135 c) Relevant Sections from: i) Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses ii) The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One d) The Abhisamalamkara as a Contemplative Manual, Gone Beyond, Volume One, pp. 119‐127 11) Class Eleven: Topic Eight: The Dharmakaya a) Chapters Eight and Nine from the Abhisamayalamkara b) A Commentary, by Thrangu Rinpoche: i) The Three Kayas, pp. 137‐148 c) Relevant Sections from: i) Chapter Summaries of the Ornament for Clear Realization, FPMT Masters Courses ii) The Abhisamayalamkara and Its Contents, Gone Beyond, Volume One d) The Mahayana Path of the Bodhisattva in the Ornament for Clear Realization, by James Apple, pp. 166‐178 Page 4 Outline of the Abhisamayalamkara by Maitreya I. Introduction A. Homage and Overview of the Content of the Text 1. Verses I.0 – I.17 II. The Object: The Three Aspects of Wisdom which are the Object to be Known A. Chapter One: The Knowledge of All Aspects (Omniscience) 1. Ten Points 2. Verses I.18‐I.73 B. Chapter Two: The Knowledge of the Path 1. Eleven Points 2. Verses II.1‐II.31 C. Chapter Three: The Knowledge of Entities (the Ground) 1. Nine Points 2. Verses III.1‐III.16 III. The Method: The Four Applications of Practice A. Cause and Effect of Gaining Proficiency 1. Chapter Four: The Complete Training in All Aspects a) Path of Accumulation to Path of Application b) Eleven Points c) Verses IV.1‐IV.63 2. Chapter Five: Culmination Training a) Path of Application to Path of Seeing b) Eight Points c) Verses V.1‐V.42 B. Cause and Effect of Stability 1. Chapter Six: Serial Training a) Seeing to Meditation b) Thirteen Points c) Verses VI.1 2. Chapter Seven: The Instantaneous Training a) No More Learning b) Four Points c) Verses VII.1‐VII.5 IV. The Result: The Three Aspects of Enlightenment A. Chapter Eight: Dharmakaya/Buddhahood 1. Five Points 2. Verses VIII.1‐40 V. Conclusion A. Chapter Nine: Summary In Six and Three Points 1. Verses IX.1‐XI.2 Page 5 20 Sangha RESULT 4 Abandon 81st c GhesceAfflictions 1st-15th moments RESULT 1 Effort to RESULT 2 Effort to RESULT 3 Effort to abandon affliction Suppressed Path of Seeing abandon 1st-6th abandon 7th-9th afflictions 16th moment Abandon 6th Abandon 9th before Path of affliction affliction Path of Seeing affliction affliction (1st 10th-81st Seeing conc) Serial