Class 4 - Introduction - Refuge Objects & Method

Download PDF's of Class Handouts, Notes, and MP3 Tracks from the 4th class of Spring 2012 term held on Monday, April 16:

DOWNLOAD Handouts - text for Class 4:

2012 Handout 6 -  complete Review of first two (of 10) Sub-Topics of the 2nd Topic of Chapter 1 (the Mahayana Practice Instructions):  the Two Truths & Four Noble Truths.  Introduction to Spring 2012 topic, 3rd Sub-Topic of Practice Instructions:  THREE OBJECTS of REFUGE.  Causal & Resultant Three Jewels.  Causes for Taking Refuge.  Three Types of Persons / Goals.

2012 Handout 7 – (cont.) Persons of Small Spiritual Scope. Persons of Intermediate & Persons of Great Spiritual Scope. REASONS WHY THE BUDDHA IS WORTHY TO BE A REFUGE: The Buddhas (4 Reasons stated by Asanga). WAYS TO TAKE REFUGE - Four Aspects of Taking Refuge (stated by Asanga): by knowing the good qualities of the three Jewels): List of Four good qualities of the Buddha.

ALL SPRING 2012 PDF Handouts are HERE.

DOWNLOAD MP3 TRACKS:

Track 1: Studies and the Joy of Faith

• Inseparability of Buddha’s Body, Speech and Mind:
• Meaning of Inseparable:
• Phenomena that are not one — that are different — but that are of one nature (ངོ་བོ་དབྱེར་མེད་).
• Inherently Existent Phenomena must be either completely One or Separate
• Merely Imputed Phenomena may be of One Nature (neither totally separate nor totally identical) 

• What distinguishes phenomena as Separate, of One Nature, or Identical? 
• Phenomena can be Identical (one) or Equivalent but not Identical.
• Body, Speech and Mind of a Buddha are not Identical but are of One Nature.

Track 2 - Review strict and general meanings of the Three Jewels as Objects of Refuge:
                         Buddha Jewel, Dharma Jewel & Sangha Jewel

Track 3 - Causal Three Jewels & Resultant Three Jewels:

• Resultant Three Jewels
• Causes For Taking Refuge
• Three Types of Persons with Three different Goals take Refuge:
• First Scope Practitioners aim: Highest Worldly Goal - All Future Lives in Higher Realms. [Handout 7]
• Three Causal Refuges & Three Resultant Refuges of First Scope Practitioners
• Debates:  Do First Scope Practitioners’ Have Resultant Refuges?
• Forced Rebirth (from power of karma & delusions) in Lower Realms is an Object of Abandonment on the Path of Seeing

Track 4:  Questions & Answers

Distinguishing ordinary Fear and the Fear of Fear & Faith (Two causes for taking Refuge).
Clarification re Truths of Path & Truths of Cessation as Dharma Jewels.

NOTES of Class 4 (April 16) - rough draft transcript of class offered for what it's worth.

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This is the 4th class of the Spring 2012 term Perfection of Wisdom course
which addresses Refuge, the 3rd sub-topic of the 2nd Topic
(Mahayana Practice Instructions) of Chapter 1 of Maitreya's
Ornament for Clear Realizations - Abhisamayalamkara.