Monday, July 11, 2011

Handouts & Charts - Spring 2011 Classes

Below is a list of the class Handouts and Charts prepared by Geshe Kelsang Wangmo for the Spring 2011 semester of the Perfection of Wisdom Course.  These primarily relate to:
  • Bodhicitta, the 1st of the 10 Topics of Chapter 1 of Maitreya's Ornament for Clear Realization (Abhisamayalamkara);
  • The Two Truths, which is the 1st of the 10 sub-topics of the 2nd Topic of Chapter 1:  the Mahayana Practice Instructions.
See Handout 19 for a chart listing the 10 Topics of the first chapter of the Ornament and the 10 Sub-Topics of the Mahayana Practice Instructions.

Please note:  Even though these downloadable charts and handouts do not contain the Creative Commons logo, they are covered by Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs"Copyright [SEE right-hand column].

HANDOUTS - TWO TRUTHS

2011 Handout 29 - Conventional Truth: Definition; Different Aspects of definition; Categories.  Ultimate Truth: Definition; Different Aspects of definition; Categories. Phenomena that are relations of One Entity/One Nature by being one/identical, equivalent (Eight Doors of Pervasion), a characteristic of a phenomenon.  Meaning of Different Entity/Different Nature Suggested Reading List.

2011 Handout 28 - Conclusion of Two Truths according to Chandrakirti’s Supplement to the Middle Way and Lama Tsongkhapa’s Illumination of the Thought: Omniscient consciousnesses are able to realize both truths because they are able to apply two different modes of cognition simultaneously; meanings of Dualistic Appearance; direct & explicit realizations of Emptiness - Seeing by way of not seeing; Analogy: "just as one sees uncompounded space by not seeing obstructive contact, one sees emptiness by not seeing conventional truths."  Buddhas realize conventional truths by way of ‘other appearance.’

2011 Handout 27 - Learner Arya's Exalted Wisdom of Subsequent Attainment. Way in which phenomena are Ultimate and Conventional for ordinary beings and for Aryas. Explanation of Ultimate Truth (Meaning of the Root Verse.

2011 Handout 26 - Cognitive Obscurations per Prasangika and the Svatantrika  Madhyamika tenet systems.  Exalted Wisdoms of Meditative Equipoise/absorptions & of Subsequent Attainment per Prasangika Madhyamika tenets.

2011 Handout 25 - Afflictive Obscurations per Prasangika (Consequentialist) and the Svatantrika (Autonomy) Madhyamika (Middle Way) tenet systems. Way in which mere Conventionalities appear and do not appear to the Three Beings.

2011 Handout 24 - Why "conventional phenomena are both conventional truths (truths for a concealer) and mere conventionalities." Differences between a conventional truth and existing conventionally and existing ultimately.  Explaining the unique Prasangika tenet presentation of Afflictive Emotions. Per Svatantrika Madhyamika tenets, ignorance that apprehends true existence is neither the root of Samsara nor an afflictive emotion.

2011 Handout 23 (June 27) - Explaining from Whose Perspective the Conventional Is a Truth and Not a Truth.

2011 Handout 22 (June 24) - Chandrakirti re Two Truths, cont. (Mistaken / Wrong Consciousness distinguished), etc.

2011 Handout 21 - "Causes of error of mental sense consciousnesses", etc.

2011 Handout 20 - "Prasangika Madhyamika tenet: Conventional Truths cannot be divided into true and unreal conventional truths because all conventional truths are deceptive...However, relative to the perspective of the world, objects which are not Ultimate Truths can be categorized into those that are true and those that are unreal. Furthermore, just as conventional phenomena can in general be categorized into subjects (awarenesses) and objects (objects of those awarenesses) likewise ..."

2011 Handout 19 - Explaining the Category of the Conventional Relative to the World; Svatantrika Madhyamika tenet asserts re the Two Truths.

2011 Handout 18 - A. Two Truths are different phenomena but not different entities, i.e., they are not one phenomenon but are one entity. Reasoning & Faults of contrary assertions. B. Two Truths are definite in number.

2011 Handout 17 - Je Tsongkhapa's Illumination of the Thought:  a) Explaining, by Means of the Category of the Two Truths, that All Phenomena Have Two Entities;  b) Another Presentation of the Two Truths.

2011 Handout 16 - a) Ornament, Ch. 1, Topic 2 - Mahayana Practice Instructions' ten topics [See, Handout 15]. b) Two Truths: Conventional Truth & Ultimate Truth - Etymologies & Instances.

CHARTS

2011 Chart 6 - (June 27) - GRADUAL PROCESS of ELIMINATING IGNORANCE in DEPENDENCE on: HINAYANA PATHS & MAHAYANA PATHS.

2011 Chart 5 - Existent and the Two Truths.

2011 Chart 4 - the Two Truths According to the Four Tenets.

2011 Chart 3 - The Five Bodhisattva Paths.

2011 Chart 2 - Four Philosophical Tenets.

2011 Chart 1 - Different Vehicles (Trainees, Goals, Wisdom, Obstructions, Results).


HANDOUTS - BODHICITTA

2011 Handout 15 - Benefits of Bodhicitta. b) Ch. 1's 2nd topic: Mahayana Practice Instructions: Six Sub-topics that explain them.

2011 Handout 14 - Basis of Bodhicitta: 1) Physical basis among Six Realms for generating Aspirational & Engaging Bodhicitta; 2) Mental basis.

2011 Handout 13 - Generating Bodhicitta: A) Seven-Fold Cuase & Effect Instruction; B) Equalizing & Exchanging Self for Others.

2011 Handout 12 - Causes of Bodhicitta: a) Four Causes; b) Four Conditions; c) Four Strenths/Powers/Forces; d) Two Principal Causes.

2011 Handout 11 - Explanation of Similes of Bodhicitta, cont., Nos. 11-22.

2011 Handout 10 - Explanation of 22 Similes of Bodhicitta, Nos. 1-10.

2011 Handout 9 - Remaining categories of Bodhicitta: a) By way of Demarcation; b) By way of Devoted Conduct; c) Category by way of the Purpose; d) Category by way of Similes.

2011 Handout 8 - Three Classes of Vows: I. Pratimoksha Vow: a) Lay Vow (3 Sets; Eight One-day Vows); b) Ordained Vows (5 sets). II. Bodhisattva Vow - a) 18 Downfalls & 46 Faulty Actions. b) How to Lose Bodhisattva Vow: Four Binding Factors.

2011 Handout 7 - Differences between Svatantrika-Madhyamika (Autonomy Middle Way) & Prasangika-Madhyamika (Middle Way Consequentialist) Tenets re AspiratIonal & Engaging Bodhicitta.

2011 Handout 6 - Category by way of Being (Bodhicitta): Aspirational Bodhicitta & Engaging Bodhicitta - Definitions, Aspects of the definitions; and Differences between the two.

2011 Handout 5 - a) Meaning of Definition of Bodhicitta & Verse 19 (Chapter 1). b) Divisions of Bodhicitta: 4 Ways of Categorizing. c) Reason for calling this Mind "Ultimate Bodhicitta." d) Chart: Comparison between Conventional Bodhicitta & Ultimate Bodhicitta (in the continua of sentient beings).

2011 Handout 4 - Explanation of Ornament's Three Verses on Bodhicitta: a) Definition & its aspects. b) Two Branches of Bodhicitta (Other's Benefit Aspiration & Enlightened Aspiration) & their Sequence.

2011 Handout 3 - First Chapter of the Ornament: Exalted Knower of Aspects (i.e., Omnisicent Mind): Two Modes of Presentation; Ten Topics/Dharmas; How the Ten Topics Characterize the Exalted Knower of Aspects. Bodhicitta: Mind Generation & Mind of Enlightenment.

2011 Handout 2 - Introduction to the Ornament for Clear Realizations - Part II: a) Meaning of the Title in Sanskrit and Tibetan; b) Homage by the Tibetan Translator; c) Homage by Maitreya: Three Types of Wisdom (Knower of Bases, Knower of Paths, Exalted Knower of Aspects); d) Purpose for Composition of Ornament; e) 15 verses that serve as table of Contents (8 Clear Realizations & 70 Topics).

2011 Handout 1 - Perfection of Wisdom: I. Main Objects of Study in Tibetan Monastic Colleges: Five Great Canonical Texts. II. Three Wheels of Dharma. III. Perfection of Wisdom Sutras. IV. Introduction to the Ornament for Clear Realizations - Part I.

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