No More Learning

-- Assertion: Since there are analogies for emptiness of inherent existence, such as the reflection and so forth, everything else, like those analogies, exists and is not empty.
-- Answer: Is the analogy related or unrelated to the reason's meaning? The first has already been precluded by the reasoning which refutes truly existent reasons. In the second case, if the meaning is established through an analogy unrelated to the reason, is one able to say, "Just as the crow is black, so too is the self," because they are alike in being functional things? One should be able to do so. Yet an analogy, merely by virtue of its existence, is not suitable as an analogy for true existence. )
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L4: [F. Explaining the purpose of teaching emptiness]
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\ ###
\ 398.
\ If things exist inherently
\ What good is it to perceive emptiness?
\ Perception by way of conception binds.
\ This is refuted here.
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(i. e. The Middle Way about logic: The fact that all logic - reasons, analogies, . . . - are empty of inherent existence doesn't mean that it is completely non-existent, useless, meaningless. We still can use illusions to help to go over other illusions - the important is that there is a progression toward reality. Even if emptiness and Dependent Origination are both empty of inherent existence, they are still dependently arisen and functional. They are efficient antidotes in their proper situation. - We have no choice, we cannot jump from here to Nirvana without a virtuous path, without a gradual deconditioning. A gradual path composed of more and more subtle methods and wisdom, of adapted skillful means, can help in gradually seeing through our conditioning / karma, and ultimately attain total Liberation. Using logic showing the absurdity of the illusions, of our conditioning, is part of this. -- It is not because everything is empty of inherent existence that everything is completely non-existent, useless, meaningless, or that we should drop everything, drop all paths, or kill ourselves. That would be jumping to the other extreme, and certainly not escaping samsara. )
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(-- Question: If analogies, reasons and all things do not exist, what is the purpose of writing all the chapters of your treatise?
-- Answer: It is for the attainment of liberation and omniscience through understanding the meaning of suchness.
-- If things existed inherently, what good would there be in perceiving / emptiness, since it would be erroneous? Thinking of things as truly existent causes one to accumulate actions and thereby wander in cyclic existence, but through fully understanding that all phenomena lack inherent existence, one gains release from worldly existence Thus as long as one sees things as truly existent, because of conceptions which cling to their true existence, one is bound to cyclic existence. In this treatise, therefore, the truly existent person and aggregates, which are the referent objects of conceptions of true existence are refuted by an extensive collection of reasoning. Sutra says, "All phenomena are empty in that they do not exist inherently" and so forth. Accordingly, this was written to teach lack of inherent existence, which does not contradict the acceptance in our system of al dependently arising phenomena. )
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L4: [G. Showing that conceptions of extremes of existence are erroneous]
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\ ###
\ 399.
\ To say one exists and the other does not
\ Is neither reality nor the conventional.
\ Therefore it cannot be said
\ That this exists but that does not.
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(i. e. About the Mind Only School - the duality world-mind: One of the extremes, or skillful means, consist of thinking that only the mind inherently exist, and that everything else are completely non-existent, total fabrications of the mind. But this theory doesn't make sense nor from an absolute point of view, neither from a conventional point of view. We have already shown that everything is empty of inherent existence because everything is dependently arisen, and that there is no exception at all, not even for the three gems, dependent origination or emptiness, causality space or time, parts or characteristics, . . . A consciousness cannot exist without being conscious of something; these are co-dependent. - This is about the duality world-mind. Taking one side as absolute and the other not is not transcending the problem; it is falling into one extreme. The solution is to see their interdependence, their emptiness of inherent existence. Staying away from the four extremes: taking one side and rejecting the other, taking both sides, rejecting both sides. This applies to all dualities. )
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(-- Among our own sectarians, Vijnaptivadins and all those who have not understood the actual meaning of the scriptures assert that consciousness is truly existent, and that external objects do not even exist conventionally. This is therefore shown to be wrong, for both are alike in existing conventionally but not ultimately.
-- To say that one exists and the other does not is not a presentation of reality, since both do not exist ultimately and are not ultimate truths. Nor is it a presentation of the conventional, since both exist conventionally and are conventional truths. Therefore all five aggregates exist conventionally but not ultimately, and so it cannot be said that mind and mental factors exist truly while external objects do not even exist conventionally. Thus Madhyamikas, too, accept both external objects and consciousness as they are known in the world. )
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L4: [H. Impossibility of refuting through reasoning that which is free from extremes]
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\ ###
\ 400.
\ AGAINST ONE WHO HOLDS NO THESIS THAT [THINGS]
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\ EXIST, DO NOT, OR DO AND DO NOT EXIT,
\ COUNTER-ARGUMENTS CANNOT BE RAISED
\ NO MATTER HOW LONG [ONE TRIES].
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(i. e. The perfection of wisdom is not refutable because it is not a thesis, not a view, not a system. This perfection consist of staying away from all four extreme (Tetralemma)s: existence, non-existence, both, neither. It consist of staying away from all four positions concerning any duality. It is the Middle Way: not accepting any view, not rejecting any view. And since there is no other conceptual possibility, it is a negation without affirming anything. It is like space, like true cessation. It depends on nothing. It is not produced. It is indestructible, and has incommensurable powers. Why? Because it is almost perfectly in accord with the real non-dual nature of everything which is beyond any conceptualization and seen only by a Buddha. )
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(-- Though things do not exist in and of themselves, they nevertheless exist. Through understanding their true mode of existence, we can gain freedom.
-- When assertions regarding true existence of things and so forth have been thoroughly refuted in this way, it is impossible to state any refutation of the assertions regarding emptiness.
-- Assertion: Even though we are unable to answer you at present, you will receive an answer--there will be those who make great effort on behalf of the Tathagata's teaching.
-- Answer: That is a futile hope! If we held a faulty thesis, it could be refuted by proving its converse.
-- No Madhyamikas hold the erroneous theses that things are inherently existent, that even the slightest thing is non- existent, that non-things are inherently both existent and non-existent, or neither. No matter how long one tries, no counter-arguments can be raised. You should understand that refuting skilled proponents of emptiness is as impossible as drawing pictures in space or causing space pain by beating it with an iron bar.
-- The Master Dharmadasa gave one analogy for each stanza of the first eight chapters. Fearing an excess of words, they have merely been cited but not elaborated in detail. )
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L3: [The summarizing stanza:]
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\ ###
\ The sun's light dispels all darkness.
\ Darkness has no power to destroy the sun's light.
\ The correct view destroys all extreme conceptions,
\ Banishing any opportunity for controversy. .
(i. e. The perfection of Emptiness is irrefutable. )
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\ ###
\ This is the sixteenth chapter from the Four Hundred on the Yogic Deeds, showing how to meditate on settling [the procedure between] spiritual guides and students.
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This concludes the commentary on the sixteenth chapter, showing how to meditate on settling [the procedure between] spiritual guides and students, from Essence of Good Explanations, Explanation of the "Four Hundred on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas".
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L1: [The Colophon - P. 301]
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\ ###
\ This concludes the Treatise of Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas from the mouth of Aryadeva, the spiritual son at the Exalted Naga's feet. He was born miraculously from the heart of a lotus on the island of Sinhala. Having crossed the ocean of our own and others' tenets himself, he made the Middle Way most clear by distinguishing between correct and incorrect views.
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\ It was translated and [the meaning] settled in the temple of Ratnaguptavihara in the center of the glorious Kasmicri city of Anupamapura by the Indian abbot Suksmajana and the Tibetan translator Ba-tsap Nyi-ma-rak.
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(This concludes the explanation both of the great trailblazer and Bodhisattva, the Master Aryadeva's work Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas and its commentary by the Master Candrakirti.
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It was translated from the Indian into the Tibetan Language in the temple of Ratnaguptavihara in the center of the glorious Kasmiri city of Anupamapura by the Indian abbot Suksmajana, son of the Bramhmin Sajjana from the paternal line of the Brahmin Ratnavajra and by the Tibetan translator Ba-tsap Nyi-ma-drak who had consummate understanding of all texts on sutra and tantra. The meaning of the text was properly settled by explaining and listening to it.
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~ May the one predicted by the Conqueror who attained the supreme state,
~ As well as Aryadeva and the glorious Candrakirti,
~ Who most clearly elucidated Nagarjuna's good system,
~ Rest victoriously on the crown of our heads. .
~ May the one predicted by the Conqueror who attained the supreme state,
~ As well as Aryadeva and the glorious Candrakirti,
~ Who most clearly elucidated Nagarjuna's good system,
~ Rest victoriously on the crown of our heads. .
~ Unable to bear misinterpretations of this system
~ Through the misconceptions of those who follow their own presuppositions,
~ Who lack the flawless eye of reasoning
~ And ignore the textual systems of the great trailblazers, .
~ I have explained the words and meaning of this text simply,
~ Commenting in a clear, unconfused and complete way
~ On the paths that mature the mind and bring about release
~ For all people with a Mahayana disposition. .
~ Since Aryadeva's thought is hard to ascertain
~ And my mind is poor, my acquired knowledge weak,
~ May my spiritual guides and deities
~ Forgive whatever errors there may be. .
~ Through any immaculate virtue created by my efforts
~ To illuminate the good Madhyamika path free from extremes,
~ May all transmigrators, bound in the prison of worldly existence,
~ Attain the peerless happiness of liberation. .
~ May I, too, in all future lives never be separated
~ From a spiritual guide of the supreme vehicle,
~ And through fully entering this path by listening, thinking and meditation,
~ May I obtain the state of an omniscient Conqueror. .
This Essence of Good Explanations, Explanation of the "Four Hundred" was written at the insistence of La-ma Nam-ka- sang-bo-wa who cherishes his precious precepts and holds the three sets of vows, and of La-ma Drak-seng-wa, exceptionally tireless in bearing the responsibility of spreading the Subduer's teaching -- they urged me again and again
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from Upper Do-Kam with lavish and repeated flower-like offerings. It was written also at the insistence of Kun-ga Seng-ge of Dzay-tang, a great holder of the three sets of teachings who has heard the texts of sutra and tantra many times, and at the insistence of numerous other holders of the three sets of teaching.
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It was written at Drok-ri-wo-che Gan-den-nam-bar-gyel-way-ling by the logician and fully ordained monk Dar-ma- rin-chen. This was made possible by the kind explanations received directly from the noble, venerable and holy Ren-da- wa Shon-nu-lo-dro, great follower of the Conqueror, with consummate understanding especially that all external and internal dependently arising things are like the reflection of the moon in water, and from the great omniscient one in this time of degeneration, whose prayer to holds the excellent teaching of the Conquerors is perfectly accomplished, the glorious and good foremost precious Lo-sang-drak-ba. They are the father and son, the dust beneath whose feet I have long and respectfully venerated.
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The scribe was Rin-chen-cho-gyel, holder of the three sets of teaching and observant of his vows.
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By virtue also of this, may the precious teaching of the Conquerors spread and flourish in all ways, and endure for a long time. )
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L1: [Dedication]
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May any merit resulting from this work help to keep alive the flame of the Buddha's teaching, protected and nourished by many centuries by the people of Tibet.
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May it act as a cause for all living beings to enjoy peace and enlightenment.
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L1: [Abbreviations]
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Can. Peking edition of Candrakirti's Commentary on the "Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas", P5266, Vol. 98.
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Can. Candrakirti's Commentary on the "Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas", No. 3865 of thesDedge Tibetan Tripitaka - bsTan hgyur preserved at the Faculty of Letters, University of Tokyo (Tokyo: Tokyo University Press, 1977-82). .
Bo. bod sprul bstan pa'i nyi ma, Naga King's Ornament for Thought, Explanation of the "Four Hundred on the Middle Way" (Varanasi: Pleasure of Elegant Sayings Printing Press, 1987).
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Gah. kah thog mkhan po ngag dbang dpal bzang, Sea Spray, Explanation of the "Four Hundred on the Middle Way" (Bylakuppe: Nyingmapa Monastery, 1984).
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Gyel. rgyal tsab dar ma rin chen, Essence of Good Explanations (Varanasi: Pleasure of Elegant Sayings Printing Press, 1971).
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Ren. red mda' ba gzhon nu bio gros, Commentary to Aryadeva's "Four Hundred Verses" (Varanasi: Pleasure of Elegant Sayings Printing Press, 1974).
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Since work on this translation was carried out entirely in Dharamsala, India, most books on Madhyamika philosophy by modern western scholars were not available. It is therefore not out of a lack of respect or appreciation that no reference is made to these works. On the other hand the writing of Tibetan scholars on this subject was easily accessible and relevant passages which serve to clarify issues arising in Gyel-tsap's commentary have therefore been translated from the works of Dzong-ka-ba and others.
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L1: [My Re? sume? s]
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Note: In my re? sume? s I have tried to make the Middle Way, the need to combine method and wisdom together, to stay away from the four extremes, even more evident, because this is, I think, what makes any path a true Buddhist path, because only then is it IN ACCORD WITH THE REAL NON-DUAL NATURE OF EVERYTHING AS SEEN BY THE BUDDHA WHO HAS REALIZED THE PERFECT UNION OF THE TWO TRUTHS. I have also tried to make it evident that the discussion is about showing that dependent origination, and the virtuous methods based on it, are still valid if properly understood as including no inherently existing elements (cause, effect, particles, space, time, causality, production) whatsoever. I have also stressed non-duality as not two, not one; as the inseparability of opposites, as co- dependent concepts.
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So, contrary to the usual western misunderstanding of the relation between dependent origination and emptiness, THEY ARE NOT ONE, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. Non-duality means: not two, not one; or not different, but still not the same. Transcending a duality doesn't mean to reject completely the difference between the two poles, to reject the duality. The two poles are interdependent, inseparable, not different but still not the same; not two, not one. The Middle Way consist of not accepting anything as absolute, not rejecting everything as completely non-existent, useless, meaningless. TO THINK THAT DEPENDENT ORIGINATION AND EMPTINESS ARE THE SAME IS TO FALL INTO ONE OF THE FOUR EXTREMES. It is a grave mistake that inhibits one from pursuing their real nature and progressing in more subtle wisdom; it is an easy trap for intellectual fools seeking absolute certainties. Their non- duality is more subtle than this; it is beyond all conceptualization. I hope my comments will help in realizing this.
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Other complementary re? sume? presentations taken from the book are available in the Introduction, Preface and in each chapters.
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L2: [Re? sume? of all chapters together]
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On the path, we need both virtuous methods (based on dependent origination) and wisdom (based on emptiness) together, the two accumulations, corresponding to the Two Inseparable Truths. Only then is it efficient because in accord with the real non-dual nature of everything.
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PART I. ACCUMULATING MERIT WITH CONVENTIONAL TRUTHS AND VIRTUOUS METHODS
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PART I. A. ACCUMULATING MERIT USING CONVENTIONAL TRUTHS BASED ON THE HINAYANA POINT OF VIEW : the law of karma, dependent origination as presented in the Abhidharma, the three marks (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, no-self), the Four Noble Truths.
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-- 1) Meditation on death and impermanence.
-- 2) Meditation on unsatisfactoriness.
-- 3) Meditation on the foulness of the body.
-- 4) Meditation on no-self.
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PART I. B. ACCUMULATING MERIT USING SKILLFUL MEANS BASED THE MAHAYANA POINT OF VIEW: THE MIDDLE WAY
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-- 5) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT MORALITY: acting using more wisdom than following strict rules: the importance of the Bodhicitta motivation, relativity, interdependence, love, compassion, cooperation, exchanging self with others.
-- 6) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH DISTURBING EMOTIONS: using temporary antidotes, and wisdom in order to transcend them definitively, to transmute them into the five wisdoms.
-- 7) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH VIRTUES AND METHODS: perfecting them by combining their practice with the wisdom realizing the emptiness of the three: subject, object, action.
-- 8) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT THE PATH: using a gradual path composed of both method and wisdom together all the time until we can directly realize the real non-dual nature of the source of all disturbing emotions and thus transcend all karma.
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PART II. ACCUMULATING WISDOM BY GRADUALLY REALIZING THE ULTIMATE TRUTH
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-- 9) NO ABSOLUTE DEPENDENT ORIGINATION, CAUSALITY, DETERMINISM, PATH (all causes, effects are empty of inherent existence because dependent on other causes and conditions, and interdependent). But there is conventional causality, causes and effect. Liberation is not a functional thing, not caused by an absolute path.
-- 10) THERE IS NO SELF AS A PRIMARY CAUSE (free will), nothing permanent that is having rebirths, or that is being Liberated. But there is still continuity in samsara, and possible Liberation.
-- 11) THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE TIME AS A PRIMARY CAUSE. Time, duration, impermanence, are relative to the existence of empty things.
-- 12) THERE IS NO FINAL ABSOLUTE VIEW, OR SYSTEM. All views are flawed. But this has to be realized through a gradual path combining more and more subtle virtuous methods and wisdom - emptiness
-- 13) THERE IS NO DIRECT PERCEPTION OF AN EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT REALITY BY OBJECTIVE SENSES AND INHERENT CONSCIOUSNESS. All perceptions are conditioned by accumulated karma. The world and the mind are both empty because interdependent, inseparable, non-dual.
-- 14) THE PERFECTION OF WISDOM: All objects of the three realms (body, speech & mind) are: not inherently existent, not completely non-existent, not both, not neither. All dualities can be transcended by examining the interdependence of the two poles, their inseparability. Everything is non-dual: not two, not one; even the dualities like whole & parts / characteristics, cause & effect, existence & non-existence, dependent origination & emptiness, the Two Truths, impure & pure, samsara & Nirvana. Everything is already pure in emptiness. There is no absolute basis for discrimination or non-discrimination.
-- 15) THE PERFECTION OF DEPENDENT ORIGINATION consists of uniting it with emptiness, transcending the duality.
-- 16) THE PERFECTION OF EMPTINESS consists of uniting it with dependent origination, transcending the duality. That is the realization of THE UNION OF THE TWO TRUTHS, realizing their inseparability, their non-duality. Those expressions point toward a realization which is beyond all conceptualization.
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L2: [Re? sume? of each chapter]
L3: [PART I - Explaining the Stages of the Paths dependent on CONVENTIONAL TRUTHS (accumulation of merit)] L4: [SECTION I - A : Showing how the aspiring altruistic intention is generated after training in the attitudes of a person of intermediate capacity by explaining elimination of the four errors. ]
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CHAPTER 1 - ABANDONING BELIEF IN PERMANENCE (death & permanent) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT DEATH: Remembering death in order to abandon obsessions to worldly concerns, attachments, fears, and to have a strong motivation to practice the dharma. But not being obsessed by death either. On a more subtle level: everything is continually changing, impermanent.
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CHAPTER 2 - ABANDONING BELIEF IN PLEASURE (pleasurable) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT OUR BODY: not being slave to our insatiable body, not rejecting it completely as being useless; this precious human life is necessary to gain Enlightenment. Seeing the nature and relativity of pleasures. The three kinds of suffering: physical, mental, all- pervasive: everything that is impermanent is unsatisfactory. The five aggregates themselves are suffering if we cling to them. Developing compassion knowing everybody is in the same situation.
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CHAPTER 3 - ABANDONING BELIEF IN CLEANNESS (attractive) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT OTHERS. Not being slave to our insatiable sensual desires. Using the temporary antidote to sensual desire: foulness of the body. Seeing the relative or conventional nature of what we find attractive or not. On the other hand, not rejecting others completely; the reality is that we are interdependent. So we need to develop love, compassion, cooperation.
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CHAPTER 4 - ABANDONING PRIDE (self) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT OUR INDIVIDUALITY. There is no absolute basis for the "I" and "mine", or any status, or pride. Nothing that is impermanent, unsatisfactory and unclean can be the "self". But that doesn't means that the self is completely non-existent, or that we should reject self- confidence completely. We need to see the relativity of status, our interdependence and feel compassion for others.
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L4: [SECTION I - B : Explaining how to train in the deeds, having generated the practical altruistic intention. ]
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CHAPTER 5 - BODHISATTVA DEEDS - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT MORAL LAWS, THE BEST EFFICIENT WAY TO ACT AND GAIN POWER - THE WAY TO ACT LIKE A BUDDHA: Not accepting absolute moral laws, not rejecting morality completely. Going beyond simple morality based on absolute right and wrong, strict rules as taught in the Hinayana, and the belief in individual liberation. What counts is a more realistic motivation in all actions, Bodhicitta, and using gradual adapted skilful means (relativity) and wisdom (seeing the emptiness of all elements). This brings incommensurable efficiency and power, because it is more in accord with the real nature of everything: relativity, interdependence, the need for cooperation, emptiness, non-duality). What counts is not to follow absolute rules, but to find the best way to get out of samsara definitively; and the ego is one of the biggest obstacles.
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CHAPTER 6 - ABANDONING DISTURBING EMOTIONS - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT CONTROLLING DISTURBING EMOTIONS: Not letting them go wild; but being able to recognize them and to use their specific temporary antidotes (based on the law of dependent origination) in order to diminish their negative consequences, otherwise we might get overwhelmed by negative karma. On the other hand, not getting obsessed by trying to control them all the time, because those antidotes are mere temporary solutions. The only final solution is to see their real nature (their dependence and emptiness of inherent existence) and to transmute them into the five wisdoms. So, in dealing with disturbing emotions, we need both methods (antidotes) and wisdom (emptiness) together all the time - the two accumulations; only then is it in accord with reality, with the two inseparable truths (not existence, not non- existence, not both, not neither).
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CHAPTER 7 - ABANDONING ATTACHMENT TO SENSE OBJECTS (THE WHOLE SAMSARA) - THE MIDDLE WAY IN VIRTUOUS ACTIONS AND HAPPY REBIRTHS / SENSE OBJECTS: not grasping at any path, virtuous methods or the sense objects of happy rebirths, as if inherently existing, and not rejecting completely all virtues, all paths, as if useless (falling into the other extreme, nihilism). All actions are contaminated; all methods, virtuous or not, are ultimately creating bad karma; all higher rebirths will eventually end up in the lower realms. But, without accumulating enough merit, we do not have the requires conditions to develop insights, to directly realize the real nature of everything, and be totally Liberated; so, we will end un in those lower realms. What we need is both virtuous methods and wisdom together, the two accumulations. We need to perfect all Bodhisattva virtues / paramitas
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by practicing them while realizing the emptiness of the three: subject, action, object. There is no absolute method, only adapted skillful means that need to be combined with wisdom.
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CHAPTER 8 - THOROUGHLY PREPARING THE STUDENT - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT TEACHING AND THE WAY TO GAIN LIBERATION: not grasping at any view or teaching, like dependent origination or emptiness, as if they were the absolute truth to be presented in all cases; and not rejecting all views completely as if useless (falling into the other extreme, nihilism). Liberation is not gained by getting to a final view, or by dropping all views and methods. Liberations is gained by realizing that the source of all disturbing emotions are empty of inherent existence because dependently arisen (one implying the other). Until then, and to get there, we need a gradual path composed of both skillful means (virtuous methods) and wisdom adapted to the students and their actual conditioning (karma). It is usually better to start with the teachings of virtues and the law of dependent origination, not directly with subtle emptiness, because there is a high risk of provoking total rejection of all teachings or nihilism.
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L3: [PART II - Explaining the stages of the paths dependent on ULTIMATE TRUTH (accumulation of wisdom)]
L4: [SECTION II - A - Extensively explaining ultimate truth. ]
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CHAPTER 9 - REFUTING PERMANENT FUNCTIONAL PHENOMENA - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT CAUSALITY, DETERMINISM, THE NEED FOR A PATH TO CAUSE LIBERATION: There is no absolute, permanent, inherent causes, effects, causality. But, on the other hand, conventionally speaking, nothing functional is without a cause, there is no effect without a cause, and no cause without an effect. All functional things are conventionally both cause and effect, dependently arisen and functional. So there is no absolute path, as a cause for Liberation, but still the conventional / relative paths are not useless, or without any effect at all - they are useful in reducing the negative consequences of accumulating bad karma. As for Liberation, it is not a functional thing; it is not an effect caused by any possible causes and conditions, or path, nor a cause of something else. Liberation is beyond causality space and time. It is about directly seeing the real nature of all of those. It is more like space, a negation that is not affirming anything.
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CHAPTER 10 - REFUTING MISCONCEPTIONS OF THE SELF - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT THE SELF AND FREE WILL: There is nothing permanent or inherently existing that is creating karma, accumulating karma, having rebirths, and possibly being liberated. There is no inherent self. But this doesn't mean that there is completely no self at all, that there is no continuity of actions and their consequences in samsara, or that there is no possible Liberation at all. In fact, there is no need for any kind of permanent self to explain interdependence, continuity, memories, the cycle of the five aggregates and karma (the rebirths in samsara), the possibility of Liberation through a Noble Path. On the contrary a permanent self would not be able to produce impermanent effects, and would not care about any morality or path. And it is this belief in a permanent self that is the very root cause of all suffering. The mere functionality of the self proves its impermanence, its dependence, that it is both a cause and an effect, merely imputed by the mind. Liberation, like explained in chapter 8, is gained by accumulating both merit (through virtuous methods based on dependent origination), and wisdom (gradually realizing the emptiness of inherent existence of all dharmas, the inseparability of the Two Truths) together. So the self is not inherently existing, not completely non-existent, not both, not neither.
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CHAPTER 11 - REFUTING TRULY EXISTENT TIME - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT TIME: avoiding both extremes: not thinking it is absolute / existing, not thinking it is completely non-existent. There is no need for any kind of permanent time to explain interdependence, continuity, memories, the cycle of the five aggregates and karma (the rebirths in samsara), the possibility of Liberation through a Noble Path. On the contrary permanent past, present and future would negate the possibility of change, production, causality, morality, a path. Future cannot exist (now) otherwise there would be no need for further production, no need to work on it. Past and future cannot exist (now) otherwise they are not past and future. As for present, it is defined as actual duration of something (after origination, and before cessation), but this duration cannot be found because nothing can be found to exist by itself. There is no absolute basis for the definition and measurement of time. Even assuming the momentary model, duration or time cannot be directly seen. Time and duration (time interval) are two co-dependently arisen concepts. Even impermanence is not an absolute attribute; to say something exist (duration) and change (or is impermanent) is contradictory. Duration and impermanence are not two separate attributes, nor the same. A Yogi cannot see past and future as if they were truly existing; a Buddha does directly see the real non-dual nature of everything, the beginningless and endless flow of interdependence without any inherent existence in it. Things and time, defined on their duration, do not inherently exist; but they exist conventionally with all the imperfection that this brings.
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CHAPTER 12 - REFUTING WRONG VIEWS - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT VIEWS: There is no final absolute view that is proposed here, no superficial absolute system easy to assimilate by ordinary people. On the contrary all views are said to be flawed, because based one way of another onto something inherently existing, which is contrary to the real non-dual nature of everything. But that doesn't mean that no system at all is proposed here, or that we should drop everything right now, or that everything is useless and meaningless. Emptiness doesn't deny dependent origination, or vice versa. While being in samsara, we still need adapted progressive skillful means combining both methods (based on non-violence) and wisdom (based on the emptiness of inherent existence) together in order to create the proper conditions, and ultimately to be able to see though all of our own conditioning (karma), and get completely Liberated from the whole samsara. - The chosen path need to be gradual because, there are prerequisites (open- mindness, intelligence, enough accumulated merit, humility, compassion) before someone could be taught the subtle emptiness. Because of accumulated karma, pride, conceit and grasping at one's own view through habituation, to start with emptiness may create too much resistance, total rejection, or a fall into nihilism. On the other hand, only the realization of the emptiness of our own mind and of everything is the final antidote to all disturbing emotions; so all paths will always converge toward this point. Once we realize emptiness, all attachments and fears drop by themselves automatically; artificially dropping all attachments would not work, no more than superficial methods based on the ego. - The system proposed here is not absolute; it is also perceived as empty dependently arisen adapted skillful means. It doesn't have to be absolute (inherently existing) in the usual sense to be efficient; it cannot be. But it has to be based on the real non-dual nature of everything, which is not describable because beyond all conceptualization; but which we know, from the Buddha, that it is : not existence, not non-existence, not both, not neither. So the perfection of any path is the combination of both more and more subtle methods and wisdom together all the time. Only then is it a valid Buddhist path.
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CHAPTER 13 - REFUTING TRULY EXISTENT SENSE ORGANS AND OBJECTS - REFUTING DIRECT PERCEPTION OF AN OBJECTIVE REALITY INDEPENDENT OF THE MIND - Refuting the assumption that there are truly existing objects because we have direct objective perception of them. The Middle Way about a perception, senses and consciousness: there is no objective direct perception of an external reality by impartial sense organs and consciousnesses, but there is relative or conventional perception conditioned by our own accumulated karma. All objects of the three realms (desire, form, non-form / body, speech and mind) are empty of inherent existence, merely imputed by the mind, like illusions. But that doesn't mean that everything is completely non-existent; they exist conventionally, in co-dependence with our own mind. Everything is dependent on the mind, but not from the mind only. The way perception works is that we always perceive the basis first (the parts); then label the object; then have the impression of directly seeing the object -- the same for the parts themselves. Everything is both whole and parts; and everything is empty of inherent existence because dependent on its parts, because dependent on the mind labeling it and recognizing it, dependent on our own accumulated karma / conditioning. The world and the mind are both empty of inherent existence because interdependent, non-dual: not two, not one. So the perfection of perception is something like to realize the inseparability of appearances and mind, the inseparability of The Two Truths.
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CHAPTER 14 - REFUTING EXTREME CONCEPTIONS [OF EXISTENCE, NON-EXISTENCE, BOTH, AND NEITHER] - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT ALL DUALITIES, ALL OPPOSITES, ALL FOUR EXTREMES: All objects of the three worlds, including all characteristics or pseudo elementary components, are: not inherently existent, not completely non-existent; not both; not neither; because they are all co-dependently arisen, interdependent, merely imputed by the mind. All dualities (like: whole & parts/characteristics, cause & effect, pure & impure, body & mind, world & mind, appearances & emptiness, the Two Truths, dependent origination & emptiness, samsara & Nirvana, right & left, etc. ) are non-dual: one side doesn't include the other, nor are they different, or the same. Or for some dualities: it is not the case that one side is true and the other false, or that both are true, or that both are false. All opposites, all relations are like that, non-dual: not two, not one. This Tetralemma, describing the four extremes that should be avoided as absolute position, also describes the four possible skillful means or antidotes that could be used if understood as merely relative, conventional, not absolute. In the case of any duality, the wise would not accept any of the four possible positions as an absolute, nor would he reject them all, because then that would be falling into the fourth position, nihilism. He would not accept the duality as inherently existing, not reject it completely as if non-existent or useless. That is the Middle Way about any duality. No absolute, only adapted skillful means. And this is the method to solve all problems related to inherent existence and dualities: to prove that the four positions leads to absurdity if taken as absolute, and to be ready to use any of them as a skillful means when required. It means not discriminating thinking there is an absolute basis for objective discrimination, not non-discriminating thinking there is no basis at all for discrimination and that it would be useless. Transcending the two poles of any duality means realizing their interdependence, their emptiness, and thus not accepting the duality nor rejecting it. -- As we will see, the perfection of wisdom, of understanding Dependent Origination and Emptiness (another duality), consist of realizing their non-duality
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(not two, not one), their inseparability, the perfect Union of the Two Truths beyond all conceptualization.
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CHAPTER 15 - REFUTING TRULY EXISTENT CHARACTERISTICS [OF PRODUCTS] - PRODUCTION / ORIGINATION, DURATION, CESSATION - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT DEPENDENT ORIGINATION / PRODUCTION: there is no possible direct observation of inherent production, origination, duration and cessation, because inherent cause & effect are impossible; they cannot exist separately or at the same time; they could not be different or the same; they are all interdependent, merely imputed by the mind. The time of production itself cannot be pinpointed. It means all production should be seen like an illusion. So the law of dependent origination itself, the Wheel of Life, also have to be reinterpreted with more wisdom (emptiness) like in the case of methods and virtues. But that doesn't mean that they are totally non-existent - or that the teaching of dependent origination is completely false and should be dropped; that all paths based on it should be dropped right now. There is still conventional production, origination, duration, cessation; conventionally objects of the three realms still exist and should still be considered impermanent. The model of dependent origination as explained by the Buddha is still valid/ useful while being in samsara; it is just that it should be understood as implying no inherently existent cause, effect, or causality in it. No absolute truth here either. This teaching is also another adapted skillful means, a conventional truth. It is useful as a temporary imperfect model, as a framework to explain the causes of suffering and the path leading toward happiness; but it should not be grasped on as if it was an absolute truth, as if its elements were absolute or inherently existing. This mistake would inhibit the full completion of the path and the attainment of complete Enlightenment. So, even if there is no absolute dependent origination, we still need a gradual path composed of more and more subtle methods and wisdom; in order to get more and more in accord with the real non-dual nature of everything, creating less and less causes for suffering / karma. -- Things are not inherently produced; they do not last, grow old, and then ceased and completely become non-existent; that is true only conventionally. So, the perfection of Dependent Origination, beyond conceptualization, is to unite it with Emptiness.