Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand:
A Concise Discourse on the Path to Enlightenment

by Pabongka Rinpoche
(1878-1941)

The following is an outline of the text: Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand: A Concise Discourse on the Path to Enlightenment. This text and the Lam Rim Chen Mo (The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment) by Je Tsongkhapa upon which it is based are used as the basis for foundational studies and practices of the Geluk Sect.

PART ONE

  • Lineage of Teaching and Bibliography of the authors, Atisha, Tsongkpa, et al
  • Greatness of the Dharma which contains all of the key points of the sutras and tantras and the instructions from the gurus of the two major traditions: Nagajuna of the Profound or Wisdom School of Madhyamaka and Asanga of the Vast or Method School of Yogacara. It is easy to put the scriptures into practice because it emphasizes the steps required for taming the mind. It provides for three graduated paths for disciples of differing capabilities that are not at conflict, but are shown to be parts of an integrated whole.
  • The correct way to teach and listen to this Dharma.
    • The way to listen: becoming a worthy vessel and gaining the six helpful attitudes
    • The way to teach: usually you do not teach what has not been requested.
    • What the Disciples and teacher should do together at the end:  dedicate root merits. Disciples should not rush out, but file out one my one.
  • The Sequence in which the disciples are to be taught the actual instructions.
    • The root of the Path: devotion to a spiritual guide
      • What to do during meditation
        • The preparatory rites: “Seven-limbed Prayer”
        • The main part of the session: advantages of relying and disadvantages of not relying on a spiritual guide, devoting yourself through thought and deeds.
        • The last part of the session
      • What to do between meditation sessions. Remember! Be vigilant! Guard your three doors!
    • Graduated training to be undertaken
      • Motivation to take the essence from your optimum human rebirth
      • How to extract this essence
      • Three scopes of practice

PART TWO:  The Small Scope

  • Training your mind in the stages of the path shared with the Small Scope
  • Developing a yearning for a good rebirth
  • Teaching the means for happiness in your next rebirth

PART THREE:  The Medium Scope

  • Training your mind in the stages of the path shared with the Medium Scope
  • Developing thoughts yearning for liberation
  • Ascertaining the nature of the path leading to liberation

PART FOUR:  The Great Scope

  • Training the mind in the Great scope stages of the path
  • Teaching that the development of bodhichitta is the sole gateway to the Mahayana
  • The way to develop bodhichitta
      • The actual stages in training for bodhichitta
        • Seven-fold cause and effect instructions
        • Seven-point Mind Training
      • Developing bodhichitta through the ritual of taking vows
      • Activities to train in after developing bodhichitta.
  • After developing bodhichitta, the way to train in the deeds of the Children of the Victorious Ones
    • How to train in the six perfections
      • Generosity
      • Ethics
      • Patience
      • Perseverance
      • Concentraion
      • Wisdom
    • How to train in the four ways of gathering disciples

 

SOURCE:  Text was based on discourses given by Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941) in 1921, compiled by his disciple Trijang Rinpoche (1901-1981) who completed it in 1957. It was translated into the English from the Tibetan by Michael Richards in 1991.

NYINGMA: Outline of Patrul RInpoche's The Words of My Perfect Teacher.

KAGYU: Outline to The Jewel Ornament of Liberation: The Wish-Fulfilling Gem of the Noble Teachings.

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Page last updated on May 17, 2008 .

Pabongka Rinpoche
(1878-1941)