Video 2. Choose and Study a Lamrim Text
(duration: 5 minutes)
(You can read the transcript of the video below. Alternatively, you can read the same transcript alongside the video by clicking here to download it or view it in a separate window.)
You have to study either Lamrim Dring[1] (Middle Lamrim), Lamrim Chenmo[2] (Great Lamrim) or Dring. If you are able to study, then it is extremely good the Lamrim Dring. If not, then Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand or Jampäl Zhäl Lung.[3] Jampäl Zhäl Lung, how do you say it? The Sayings of Manjushri?
Student: Sacred Words of Manjushri.
Sacred Words… Zhäl Lung, what is that? The Sayings… From Manjushri’s Holy Mouth, The Sayings, or something. There are many lamrims, Essence of Refined Gold. Anyways, one lamrim. There is Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand or Lama Tsongkhapa’s Middle Lamrim, for those who study. You have to study it, you have to read it, not just only one time but try to understand it. Those who are able to do the Basic Program, then the teacher, whoever, the geshes who have studied all their life, they teach it, so that is very good. They did it with discussion, not just to learn the meaning of the words, but with debate, discussion, they have studied in an extensive way, philosophy, the extensive way of studying, so that contains the lamrim. So if they explain it, so this is very, very fortunate. Either you yourself study it from some teacher, however at least you yourself read it.
You need to read it over and over, not being satisfied with only one time. Each time you read lamrim, then you get new understanding, each time when you read it. This is what happened to me and also normally the people who read the lamrim over and over, again and again, that is what they experience. At least three times, at least like that study it. Then there are other lamas who have do it nine times, they study it, reading it again and again. There are those like that.
Either the outline or, once you know the commentary, those commentaries, then your guide book is the lamrim outline. There is an outline to the Lamrim Chenmo and the Lamrim Dring. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, my root guru and Lama Yeshe’s root guru, Rinpoche made an outline to the Lamrim Dring, The Middle Lamrim. And I received the oral transmission [of The Middle Lamrim] from Kyabje Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche in Dharamsala, in his room.
Once you have read and studied the commentary, then do daily meditation on the outlines or you can use Essential Nectar. Essential Nectar is not too short but it is good, very effective words, very, very effective words. Either Essential Nectar or the lamrim outline, one of the lamrim outlines. In daily usage, as a daily meditation book to guide your meditation, you can use that, after you have studied the commentaries.