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English Visual Outline of The Nectar of Manjushris Speech - A Commentary on Shantidevas treatise Bodhicharyavatara by Kunzang Pelden

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WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE THE GENERATION OF BODHICHITTA WHERE IT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED

PART TWO HOW TO PREVENT BODHICHITTA FROM WEAKENING ONCE IT HAS BEEN GENERATED

PART THREE HOW BODHICHITTA IS TO BE DEVELOPED AND INTENSIFIED

PART FOUR DEDICATION OF THE RESULTING MERIT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS

Chapter 1 THE EXCELLENCE AND BENEFITS OF BODHICHITTA

Chapter 2 CONFESSION OF NEGATIVITY

Chapter 3 TAKING HOLD OF BODHICHITTA

Chapter 4 CAREFULNESS

Chapter 5 VIGILANT INTROSPECTION

Chapter 6 PATIENCE

Chapter 7 DILIGENCE

Chapter 8 MEDITATIVE CONCENTRATION

Chapter 9 WISDOM

Chapter 10 DEDICATION

WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE THE GENERATION OF BODHICHITTA WHERE IT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED

PART TWO HOW TO PREVENT BODHICHITTA FROM WEAKENING ONCE IT HAS BEEN GENERATED

PART THREE HOW BODHICHITTA IS TO BE DEVELOPED AND INTENSIFIED

PART FOUR DEDICATION OF THE RESULTING MERIT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS

1. THE PRELIMINARY TOPICS OF THE COMMENTARY

2. AN EXPLANATION OF THE TREATISE ITSELF

CHAPTER 1: THE EXCELLENCE AND BENEFITS OF BODHICHITTA

CHAPTER 2: CONFESSION OF NEGATIVITY

CHAPTER 3: TAKING HOLD OF BODHICHITTA

CHAPTER 4: CAREFULNESS

CHAPTER 5: VIGILANT INTROSPECTION

CHAPTER 6: PATIENCE

CHAPTER 7: DILIGENCE

CHAPTER 8: MEDITATIVE CONCENTRATION

CHAPTER 9: WISDOM

CHAPTER 10: DEDICATION

1. How a teacher sets forth the Dharma

2. How disciples should attend to the teachings

3. The method of explanation and study

1. An explanation of the title of the treatise

2. An explanation of the treatise thus named

1. The basis required for the generation of bodhichitta

2. The benefits of bodhichitta

1. The making of offerings

2. An act of veneration (verses 2425)

3. Taking refuge

4. The confession of negative actions

1. Preparatory practice

2. The actual vow of bodhichitta (verses 2324)

3. Conclusion

1. A brief presentation (verse 1)

2. The detailed explanation

1. Guarding the mind in order to implement the trainings

2. Using mindfulness and introspection in order to guard ones mind

3. Schooling oneself in the mindtraining by means of mindfulness and vigilant introspection

4. Other elements of a perfect practice

1. The removal of anger (verses 110)

2. Cultivating patience

3. Respect for beings

1. A brief explanation of the need for diligence (verse 1)

2. A detailed explanation of diligence

1. A brief explanation on how this chapter is related to the previous ones (verse 1)

2. A full explanation of conditions conducive to meditative concentration

3. Meditative concentration on bodhichitta

1. Brief exposition (verse 1)

2. Detailed explanation

1. A brief exposition (verse 1)

2. A detailed teaching

3. Conclusion

1. How the Dharma is taught by a Buddha 2. How the Dharma is taught by an Arhat 3. How the Dharma is taught by a learned master 1. The author of the treatise 2. The scriptural sources of the treatise 3. The general tendency of the treatise 4. The general synopsis of the Bodhicharyavatara 5. The purpose of the treatise

1. Inner motivation

2. Outer conduct

1. The title itself 2. The translators homage

1. The preambles to the treatise

2. The main body of the treatise

1. The human body as a basis for the generation of bodhichitta (verse 4) 2. The mind as a basis for bodhichitta (verse 5)

1. The general benefits of generating bodhichitta

2. The specific benefits of bodhichitta in intention and the specific benefits of bodhichitta in action

3. The greatness of a person who possesses bodhichitta (verses 3136)

1. Material offerings 1. The offering of ones possessions (verse 1) 2. The offering of things unowned (verses 27)

1. The general principles of refuge

2. Refuge precepts

1. The visualization of the witnesses of ones confession (verse 27)

2. The confession itself

1. The accumulation of merit 1. Rejoicing in virtue (verses 14) 2. Requesting the Buddhas to turn the wheel of the Dharma (verse 5)

1. The joy the author feels in himself (verses 2533) 2. Exhorting others to rejoice (verse 34)

1. Reflecting on the precepts to be implemented as a means to inculcate carefulness in ones behavior 1. Preventing the attitude of bodhichitta from weakening (verses 212) 2. Observing the precepts to be implemented without relaxing ones diligence (verses 1314)

1. A brief exposition (verse 1) 2. A detailed explanation 1. All harm comes from the mind (verses 28) 2. All virtue comes from the mind (verses 917) 3. The need to keep watch over the mind (verses 1822)

1. A brief explanation (verse 23) 2. A detailed explanation 1. The drawbacks of having no introspection (verses 2428) 2. How to practice mindfulness (verses 2933)

1. The discipline of avoiding negativity 1. Purifying the actions of body, speech, and mind (verses 3444) 2. Protecting the precepts from degeneration (verses 4558)

1. The perfect practice itself (verses 97107) 2. A summary of the chapter (verses 108109)

1. Identifying the object of patience (verse 11)

2. Cultivating patience

1. Reverencing beings, considering them as the field of merit (verses 112118) 2. Reverencing beings with the wish to rejoice the Buddhas (verses 119127) 3. Practicing respect for beings, thinking of the consequences of the good and evil done to them (verses 128134)

1. Diligence identified (verse 2)

2. Removing the conditions inimical to diligence

3. Implementing the favorable conditions for diligence

1. A brief summary (verse 2)

2. A detailed explanation

1. A short exposition that links the subject to the previous teaching (verse 89)

2. A detailed explanation on how to train in meditative concentration on bodhichitta

3. An injunction to practice meditative concentration (verses 185187)

1. Wisdom established by means of the view

2. Wisdom experienced by means of meditation

3. Misconceptions dispelled through reasoning

4. The benefits of realizing emptiness

1. Dedication of virtue as the cause of happiness and of benefit for others

1. Behavior to be abandoned 2. Behavior to be adopted

1. The expression of homage (verse 1) 2. The authors commitment to compose 3. The taking of a humble attitude (verse 2) 4. The stirring up of a joyful and enthusiastic attitude (verse 3)

2. Dedication of virtue for ones own sake, that is, as the cause of enlightened activities (verses 5156)

3. Dedication for the propagation and prosperity of the Buddhas Doctrine embodying as it does the twofold goal (verse 57)

1. Homage paid by remembering the kindness of Manjughosha (verse 58) 2. The translators colophon 3. Khenpo Kunzang Peldens colophon

1. Bodhichitta is superior to all other virtues (verses 68) 2. A change of name and of status (verse 9) 3. The benefits of bodhichitta shown by means of examples 1. The example of alchemy (verse 10) 2. The example of the jewel (verse 11) 3. The example of the miraculous fruit-bearing tree (verse 12) 4. The example of the heroic bodyguard (verse 13) 5. The example of the fires at the end of time (verse 14) 6. The benefits of bodhichitta explained in other texts

1. Classification of bodhichitta in intention and action

2. The benefits of bodhichitta in intention and in action (verses 1719)

3. Proving the benefits of bodhichitta by scripture and with reasoning

3. The offering of ones body (verses 89)

1. The cause of refuge

2. The essence of refuge

3. The different kinds of refuge

1. The strength of regretting that one has done wrong (verses 2846) 2. The strength of support (verses 4753)

3. Praying that the Buddhas remain and do not pass into nirvana (verse 6) 4. Dedication of roots of virtue for the welfare of others (verses 710)

1. Cultivating patience with regard to what we do not want

2. Cultivating patience toward obstacles that prevent us from getting what we want

1. Identifying laziness and its causes (verse 3) 2. An explanation of how to rid oneself of the three kinds of laziness 1. Cultivating an antidote to the kind of laziness that is a yearning for idleness (verses 414) 2. Cultivating an antidote to the kind of laziness that consists in an inclination to unwholesome actions (verses 1516) 3. Cultivating an antidote to the kind of laziness that consists in self-depreciation and defeatism (verses 1731)

1. A brief explanation (verse 32)

2. A detailed explanation

1. Relinquishing the world

2. Giving up wandering thoughts

1. Equalizing self and other

2. The exchange of self and other

1. An outline of the two truths

2. Refutation of objections to the two truths

3. Proofs of the supremacy of the Mahayana

1. Meditation on the absence of self in individuals

2. Meditation on the absence of self in phenomena

1. A refutation of the argument of those who believe in true existence (verses 111115)

2. An exposition of the proofs of those who uphold the doctrine of emptiness

1. The equivalence of the eight worldly concerns (verses 151154)

2. The effortless display of great compassion (verses 155167)

2. Offerings manifested by the power of the mind 1. Plain or relative bodhichitta, engendered on the basis of prompting 2. Subtle or ultimate bodhichitta, gained through [the recognition of] ultimate reality (verses 1516) 1. Proving the benefits of bodhichitta by scripture (verse 20) 2. Proving the benefits of bodhichitta with reasoning 1. Proving with reasoning the benefits of bodhichitta in intention (verses 2126) 2. Proving with reasoning the benefits of bodhichitta in action (verses 2730) 1. The offering of a ceremonial bath (verses 1013) 2. Offerings of pleasant substances (verses 1419) 1. An explanation of provisional causal refuge 2. An explanation of ultimate resultant refuge 3. Refuge according to the Bodhicharyavatara 1. An explanation of Hinayana refuge 4. The unsurpassable offering (verse 22) 5. The offering of melodious praise (verse 23) 2. An explanation of Mahayana refuge (verse 26) 3. The general way of taking refuge

3. The strength of the remedial practice (verses 5465) 4. The strength of amendment

2. Reflection on the freedoms and advantages of the precious human body as a means to inculcate carefulness in action 1. Carefulness in action resulting from thinking of the difficulty involved in gaining the freedoms and advantages of the precious human condition (verses 1520) 2. Carefulness in action resulting from reflecting on the difficulty of escaping from the lower realms (verses 2122) 3. Now that the freedoms and advantages of this human form have been obtained, it is important to strive in virtue (verses 2327)

2. The discipline of gathering virtue 1. Why it is necessary to abandon attachment to ones body, which is the cause for not training in the precepts (verses 5970) 2. Becoming skilled in ones way of behaving (verses 7183) 3. The discipline of working for the benefit of others 1. Earnestly working for the welfare of beings (verse 84) 2. Drawing beings to the Dharma by the gift of material things and of the teachings (verses 8590) 3. Avoidance of giving scandal to others (verses 9196)

1. General dedication of virtue in order to rid the three worlds of the sorrows with which they are filled (verses 23) 2. Dedication of virtue in order to free beings from their particular sufferings such as those of the three lower realms (verses 447)

1. Cultivating patience with regard to what brings us suffering 1. The patience of accepting suffering (verses 1221) 2. Patience that consists in certainty with regard to the ultimate reality of things (verses 2233) 3. The patience of making light of what causes harm (verses 3451)

2. The mind-training 1. The actual mindtraining (verse 11) 2. A reasoned demonstration of the need for mindtraining (verse 12) 3. The specific gift of ones body (verses 1317) 4. Dedication of the results of mind-training to the welfare of others (verses 1822)

1. Cultivating patience toward obstacles that prevent unpleasant things from happening to our enemies (verses 8789) 2. Cultivating patience with those who obstruct what we and our friends desire (verses 90111)

1. Summoning the four remedial forces

2. Cultivating the two strengths

1. Why the world should be abandoned (verses 34) 2. Giving up attachment to beings (verses 516)

1. A brief exposition (verse 39)

2. A detailed explanation

1. A brief explanation (verse 90) 2. A detailed explanation

1. A brief explanation of this practice by stating the reason for it (verses 111113)

2. A detailed explanation of this practice

1. Distinguishing the two truths (verse 2) 2. Definition of the two truths

1. Refutation of objections with regard to the ground, the two truths 1. Refutation of the objections of ordinary people (verse 5) 2. Refutation of the objections of the Shravakas (verses 615) 3. Refutation of the objections of the Chittamatrins (verses 1629)

1. The Mahayana is the Buddhas teaching (verses 4051) 2. Proofs that the theory and practice of emptiness are the real solution (verses 5256)

1. Meditation on the emptiness of the coemergent self (verses 5759)

2. Meditation on the emptiness of the imputed self

1. Close mindfulness of the body

2. Close mindfulness of the feelings

3. Close mindfulness of the mind

4. Close mindfulness of phenomena

1. Investigation of the cause: the diamond splinters argument

2. Investigation of the nature: the great interdependence argument (verses 143144)

3. Investigation of the result: the argument that refutes the origination of the existent and the nonexistent effect (verses 145150)

1. The force of aspiration (verses 3346) 2. The force of steadfastness 1. A general explanation (verses 4749) 2. An explanation of specific points 1. Cultivating a feeling of selfconfidence with regard to the task (verses 5051)

3. Offerings made through the power of aspiration (verses 2021)

1. The strength of earnest practice (verses 6874) 2. The strength of controlling body, speech, and mind (verses 7576)

3. Giving up attachment to worldly gain (verses 1724) 4. Once one has relinquished all attachments, one should rely on the excellent qualities of solitude (verses 2538)

1. Abandoning ones craving for a lover 1. The difficulties men go to in order to acquire a woman (verses 4042) 2. A reflection on the unclean nature of the human body (verses 4370) 3. A reflection on the many injuries that result from attachment (verses 7178)

1. How to meditate on equality (verses 91103) 2. Answering objections to the equalization of self and other (verses 104106) 3. The benefits of such a practice (verses 107109) 3. Summary (verse 110)

1. The general way of exchanging self and other

2. Training in the practice of exchange, with regard to specific antidotes

3. How to act once the meditative exchange of self and other has been made

3. Concerning those who establish the two truths (verses 34)

1. Refutation of the belief in a self that is conscious (verses 6067) 2. Refutation of the belief in a self that is unconscious (verses 6869) 3. Answers to objections concerning the nonexistence of the self 1. The nonexistence of the self is not incompatible with the principle of cause and effect (verses 7074) 2. The nonexistence of the self is not incompatible with compassion (verse 75) 3. A demonstration that the self as label is not refuted (verses 7677)

1. Examination of the body in general (verses 7884) 2. Specific examination of physical parts (verses 8586) 3. The need for relinquishing attachment to ones body (verse 87)

1. Examination of the nature of the feelings (verses 8892) 2. Examination of the cause of the feelings (verses 9397) 3. Examination of the result of the feelings (verse 98) 4. Examination of the feeling subject (verses 99101)

1. The mind is without inherent existence (verses 102103) 2. The mind is unborn (verses 104105)

1. Actual close mindfulness of phenomena 2. Refutation of objections 1. Eliminating the objection that the two truths are untenable (verses 106107) 2. Refutation of the objection that phenomena are inaccessible to reasoned analysis (verse 108) 3. Refutation of the objection that analysis must result in an infinite regress (verses 109110)

1. Refutation of the belief in uncaused origination (verses 116117) 2. Refutation of the belief in other-production 1. Refutation of the belief in production from a permanent cause (verses 118126)

2. Cultivating patience toward those who treat us with contempt (verses 5263) 3. Cultivating patience toward those who ill-treat our loved ones (verses 6475) 4. Cultivating patience when people do good to our enemies (verses 7686)

1. Taking the place of others with enthusiasm (verses 114120) 2. Getting rid of selfcherishing (verses 121124) 3. The defects of considering oneself as important; the excellence that derives from considering others as important (verses 125133) 4. The actual practice of exchange.Why it is necessary (verses 134139)

1. Brief explanation (verse 140) 2. A detailed explanation 1. The practice of envy from the point of view of someone less well-off (verses 141146) 2. The practice of jealous rivalry from the point of view of an equal (verses 147150) 3. The practice of pride from the point of view of someone better-off (verses 151154)

1. An instruction on the gentle way (verses 155167) 2. An instruction on the severe way 1. Treating the mind severely (verses 168173) 2. Treating the body severely (verses 174184)

3. Reflecting on the afflictive emotions to be discarded as a means to inculcate carefulness in ones behavior 1. The defects of the afflictive emotions (verses 2835) 2. Putting up with the hardships involved in abandoning the afflictions (verses 3642) 3. How emotional defilement is to be abandoned (verses 4348)

2. Cultivating a feeling of selfconfidence with regard to ones abilities (verses 5259) 3. Cultivating a sense of selfconfidence with regard to the afflictive emotions (verses 6062) 3. The force of joy (verses 6366) 4. The force of relinquishment (verse 67)

2. Giving up attachment to wealth and possessions (verses 7984) 3. A reflection on the excellence of solitude (verses 8588)

2. Refutation of objections with regard to the path, that is, emptiness (verses 3034) 3. Refutation of objections with regard to the fruit, that is, the benefit of others (verses 3539)

3. Refutation of the belief in self-production 1. Refutation of the primal substance (verses 127134) 2. The actual refutation of self-production: the main argument (verses 135140)

4. Conclusion of the argument (verses 141142)

Produced by Rafael Ortet (Tsadra Foundation). Outline text translated by the Padmakara Translation Group Copyright 2009 by the Tsadra Foundation. All rights reserved