Lamrim Lineage
The Buddha’s foremost Bodhisattva disciples Maitreya and Manjushri proliferated the Buddha’s teachings through two separate lineages.
Lamrim literally means ‘Stages of the Path’ and refers to a systematic presentation of the entire corpus of the Buddha’s teachings, ranging from renunciation all the way up to the highest teachings on wisdom. There are many versions of the Lamrim, which were composed by various Buddhist teachers however all are based on the original treatise by the 11th Century Lama Atisha. The work is known as the “Bodhipathapradīpa” or “A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment”. Each individual Lamrim treatise presents topics in a slightly different order but each is still complete in the sense that they actually cover all the major topics.
The teachings contained with the Lamrim genre of spiritual texts did not originate from Lama Atisha, nor did the teachings begin with another famous Buddhist teacher Lama Tsongkhapa, who wrote the Lamrim Chenmo, known as “The Great Stages on the Path to Enlightenment”. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, who gave a Lamrim discourse, which was recorded down by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche known as “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand”, stresses that any teaching contained within the Lamrim stems from the historical Buddha Shakyamuni himself. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche traces the lineage of teachings from Buddha Shakyamuni to two of his great Bodhisattva disciples – Maitreya and Manjushri. Buddha’s teachings were split into two lineages at that point known as the Extensive Lineage which was propagated by Maitreya and the Profound Lineage which was propagated by Manjushri.
The path of the Extensive Lineage stresses ‘method’ or the development of great compassion; and the Profound Lineage emphasizes ‘wisdom’ or the teachings on the emptiness of inherent existence. It was the indomitable Lama Atisha who combined both lineages together and since that time, it has descended down to us today as a single lineage. Thus, the Lamrim contains all the major topics of the Buddha’s teachings and is a complete set of teachings to propel any Buddhist practitioner to enlightenment; it is extremely suitable to be read and studied by any Dharma practitioner.
The following explanation is taken from Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.
Buddha Shakyamuni is the source of the lamrim teachings. Click for high-resolution image or click here for more Buddha images.
Now what we call the lamrim was not invented by Je Rinpoche [Lama Tsongkhapa], or Atisha, etc. Its lineage stems from the completely perfect Buddha himself and from him alone. But when you come to understand the teachings, beyond whether they have been given the name “lamrim” while others have not, you will see that all the scriptures are the lamrim. The precious set of the Perfection of Wisdom sūtras is supreme, outstanding, and most excellent among all the teachings of our Teacher. In these sūtras he taught directly the profound stages of the path [the wisdom of emptiness], which are the profound items of the eighty-four thousand bundles of the Dharma; he also covertly taught the extensive part of the lamrim in them [the methods of the buddhas]. This then is the source of the lineage. The extensive part was passed on to the Buddha’s foremost disciple Maitreya, who in turn passed it on to Asaṅga. The profound part of the lamrim passed from Mañjuśhrī to Nāgārjuna. This is how the lamrim lineage split into two—the Profound and the Extensive.
In order to clarify the lamrim, Maitreya composed his Five Treatises, Asaṅga wrote the Five Texts on the Levels, Nāgārjuna his Six Logic Treatises, and so on. So the Profound and Extensive lamrim lineages came down separately to the great peerless Atiśha. He received the Extensive Lineage from Suvarnạdvīpa and the Profound from Vidyākokila; he combined the two into one stream. He also inherited the Lineage of Deeds Bestowing Great Blessing that Śhāntideva received from Mañjughosḥa, as well as the lineages of the secret tantras, and so on. Thus, the lineages he inherited carried the complete sūtras and tantras.
This seminal text by Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand is meant for all spiritual seekers who would like to engage in meditational retreats, teachings and practices.
Atiśha composed his Lamp on the Path to Enlightenment in Tibet. This work combines the key points of the complete doctrine. Since that time, the convention of calling these teachings by the name lamrim developed. After that, the lineages concerning the profound view and the extensive tasks have been combined into one stream. But due to further expanding and condensing, this was split into three during the Kadampa period: the Classical, the Stages of the Path, and the Oral Instruction lineages. Later still, Je Tsongkapa received all three of these from Namkha Gyaeltsaen of Lhodrag, himself a great adept, and from Choekyab Zangpo, the abbot of Dragor. It has been a single lineage from that time on.
Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche (1878 – 1941) was one of the most important Gelug lamas of the 20th Century and was known to have received teachings on the Lamrim from Dagpo Lama Jamphel Lhundrub. His lama taught him a topic at a time and sent him to meditate on each topic until he gained realisation of the subject before he progressed on to the next topic. Thus, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche was very famous for his lively and concise teachings on the lamrim. Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand was compiled from notes and anecdotes that were written down by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche during a historic 21- day Lamrim teaching that Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche gave in 1921 at Chuzang hermitage.
For more interesting information:
- Atisha Dipamkara Shrijnana: The Master Who Revived Buddhism in India and Tibet
- The Collected Works of H.H. Pabongka Rinpoche
- Pabongka Rinpoche and His Yogini Student, the Lady Lhalu
- Lam Rim Lineage Surprise
- Heruka’s Eye
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Have begin my online Lamrim discourse yesterday. Many of my classmates are not able to get the version by His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche. I feel it’s unfortunate that if more people miss the chance to read this book, hope it is not out-of-print.
What I learn from yesterday is I notice the importance of guru devotion in Tibetan Buddhism is because all teachings that we receive nowadays are from our guru. Like Buddha splits his teachings to two of his Bodhisattva disciples, Maitreya(the Extensive Lineage) and Manjushri(the Profound Lineage). Then Lama Atisha made these two lineages merged into one and descended down to us today.
Next we learn about how the Buddha’s teaching spread widely through Lamrin from Je Tsongkhapa, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. This is like a Buddhism history book that one should have read it over and over again.
It is fortunate indeed for us to engage in Lamrim which was condense from the teaching of Maitreya and Manjushri .
Lamrim-a discourse that have changed my life. It has changed my perspectives towards many things and the very least, it has changed my behaviour, my attitude and my thinking towards sentient beings, my like and dislike, my thoughts on universe, my relation with others and most importantly, the practical part of practicing Buddhism.
I have read some other Lamrim lineages but His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s one is the most concise and practical. When Rinpoche first introduced it, I literally fell in love with it. Now, every year, I will read this precious teachings over the course of 24 days and take it as mini retreat. (Ocassionally will read back those points that I may have missed or forgoten).
For those who are keen to learn more, this is the book that one should have and we read it again and again. Rinpoche has suggested and I firmly believe Rinpoche has suggested what is the best for us.
Again, may I end my comment here with a note – Rinpoche, please return swiftly and I miss you Rinpoche. All that I can do now is to practice what I’ve learnt and to remember what You’ve shared. Thank you Rinpoche.
Atisha in his seminal Lamrim, “A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment”, brought the entire teachings of Lord Buddha back together again, by combining the Extensive Lineage, which had been transmitted to Maitreya, and the Profound Lineage, which had been transmitted to Manjushri. After Atisha, the Lamrim teachings became 3 Lineages – the Classical, the Stages of the Path, and the Oral Instruction lineages.Lama Tsongkhapa received the teachings of all 3 Lineages and brought them together as one lineage in his “Lamrim Chenmo”.
When Lama Tsongkhapa wrote the “Lamrim Chenmo”, he took the discussion points of Atisha’s “Lamp for the Path” as his root, and the” Three Fundamentals”, taught by Manjushri, as the lifeblood of the Path. Thus Lama Tsongkhapa’s “Lamrim Chenmo” or “Great Stages of the Path” not only includes all and every teaching of Atisha(and Lord Buddha), but also embodies the “Three Principal Paths”.
Pabongka Rinpoche received the teachings on the Lamrim from his teacher Dagpo Lama Jamphel Lhundrub. His “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand” is a transcript, by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, of his famous 21 day teaching on the Lamrim, given at his Chuzang Hermitage in 1921. Tsem Rinpoche calls “Liberation” the “definitive ” Dharma scripture. It is a condensation of the Lamrim, but still contains the entire 84000 teachings of the Buddha in the form of Stages of the Path to Enlightenment and Lama Tsongkhapa’s Three Principal Paths!How incredibly fortunate and meritorious to have received “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand” and the whole Lamrim lineage, through the blessings of our most precious and compassionate Guru, Tsem Rinpoche .
Lamrin is a Tibetan Buddhist textual form for presenting the stages in the complete path to enlightenment as taught by Buddha. There have been many different versions of lamrim, presented by different teachers of the Nyingma, Kagyu and Gelug schools in the Tibetan Buddhist history. It is a complete guide that shows how one can practice, meditate and gain the full enlightenment of a Buddha. In Tibetan Buddhist history there have been many different versions of lamrim, presented by different teachers of the Nyingma, Kagyu and Gelug schools. All Buddha’s teachings are in a special arrangement that is easy for anyone to understand and put into practice. It is an edited transcript based on a series of Lam Rim teachings given by the Great Tibetan Master Pabongka Rinpoche. And lineage can traced back to Lama Tsongkhapa, Lama Atisha, and finally Buddha Shakyamuni himself. A wonderful book to lead a practitioner from the very beginning of interest in spiritual . For most to learn and practice and put into action.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
Thank you Rinpcohe for sharing this article so we can understand the history and the background of today’s Lamrim. We here in Kechara are so fortunate to be able to learn Lamrim and have pastors guiding us on the 24 chapters. Lamrim is the teaching direct from Buddha Shakyamuni. If not because of the great lamas who compiled the teachings along the years, we are not able to learn it now. Appreciation to all the high lamas and Rinpoche for bringing Lamrim to Kechara.
Thank you, Rinpoche and blog team for sharing the information on Lamrim. We are indeed fortunate to have met with Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings on the Lamrim because it is the complete teachings from the Lord Buddha. The teachings are originally being transmitted in 2 lineages, from Buddha Maitreya and Buddha Manjushri.
Thanks to Lord Atisha, the teaching from these two Maha Bodhisattva were combined into one. Hence, the LamRim teachings descended from Lord Atisha comprises of most of Lord Buddha’s teachings, and it can lead us up until enlightenment. How fortunate we are to have met with such a complete set of teachings.
Last time when the teachings are not consolidated, there are many lineages of teachings out there carried by different lineage holders. Hence, masters like Atisha has to travel to different places to learn from a different guru for a particular subject in Lord Buddha’s teaching. Since we have the complete teachings of LamRim, we can get most of Buddha’s teachings from one Guru. We are indeed very fortunate to have met with such supreme teachings in this degenerated times.
I bow to all the lineage masters of the Lamrim without whom much Dharma would be lost.
I hold in gracious awe, respect and thankfulness, the masters who have time and again returned to turn the wheel of Dharma.
I pray that an infinite number of beings will benefit from these kind deeds of the lineage masters.
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I have Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand on my altar. Learn great knowledge from there , will read again from time to time . It’s a excellent book for all of us to have it on our altar,read and practice it. Glad to know the history behind this powerful book and the lineage of teachings from Buddha Shakyamuni. Well its meant for all spiritual seekers who would like to engage in meditational retreats, teachings and practices.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
We are very fortunate that we can encounter and study the Lamrim. Instead of having to study each and every sutra or tantra, we get to study the Lamrim which is the condensation of all Buddha’s teachings. I’ve read many written versions of the Lamrim but the first one that I encountered was the one written by Lama Tsongkhapa The Great Stages on the Path to Enlightenment when it was first translated into English several years ago. I was amazed at the well detailed it was, and it answered several of my questions regarding Buddha’s teachings. It is a bit academic but that’s what you could expect from a scholar and erudite master like Lama Tsongkhapa. It was through that chance encounter with Lama Tsongkhapa’s Lamrim Chenmo that lead me to learn more about Lama Tsongkhapa and in turn that lead me to His Eminence’s Tsem Rinpoche’s blog and youtube videos. All Lamrim’s are great to read but I think by far Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand is perhaps the best rendition to read for a modern individual. The flow of the discourse given by Pabonka Rinpoche is very easy to comprehend. I have two copies of this Lamrim book. One I use for everyday reading, and the other kept on my altar.