It is just a matter of directly seeing the real nature of our own mind and thus of
everything
as they really are right now (but to be able to see this we need enough merit, and a path to get there).
Aryadeva - Four Hundred Verses
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. That is the meaning of the Union of The Two Truths, their inseparability.
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L4: [SECTION II - B - Showing how to meditate on settling [the procedure between] spiritual guides and students by way of [explaining] the purpose of the CHAPTERs and eliminating remaining counter-arguments by misguided opponents. ]
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CHAPTER 16 - REFUTING REMAINING COUNTER-ARGUMENTS - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT EMPTINESS: emptiness itself is empty of inherent existence; it is not the absolute truth, the final system which is beyond any description, beyond any conceptualization. All objects of the three realms (desire, form, non-form, or body, speech and mind) are all empty of inherent existence. There is no exception. Even the three causal Gems (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) are empty of inherent existence. They are all empty because interdependent, co-dependently arisen concepts, merely imputed by the mind. But, again, this doesn't mean that everything is inherently existing because emptiness is empty; or that everything is completely non-existent, useless because everything is empty; or that we should drop everything right now. Emptiness doesn't deny dependent origination, or vice versa; they are not mutually exclusive; on the contrary, they imply each other. Even if everything is empty of inherent existence, everything is still dependently arisen and functional, useful like Buddha activities if seen for what they really are, if used while realizing the emptiness of the three: subject, object, action. -- Emptiness is irrefutable because it doesn't pretend to be an absolute system, to be inherently existing. As a concept, as the antidote to inherent existence, it is just another conventional truth, another adapted skillful means. It is a concept co-dependently arisen with the concept of inherent existence, or with the concept of dependent origination based on inherently existing causes and effects as explained in the Abhidharma. They come together, and they go together: without anymore belief in inherent existence or absolute production / dependent origination, there is no more need for its antidote, emptiness; and vice versa, without the danger of falling into the extreme of nihilism, thinking that emptiness is an absolute, there is no more need for the proof of dependent origination. Dependent Origination and Emptiness form an apparent duality, like existence and non-existence, like method and wisdom, like the Two Truths, like pure and impure, like Nirvana and Samsara. But their real nature is non-dual: not two, not one; not different, not the same; inseparability. Their real nature is beyond any description, beyond all conceptualization; only a Buddha has realized their real non-dual nature. So, the perfection of Emptiness, beyond conceptualization, is to unite it with Dependent Origination. That is the meaning of the Union of The Two Truths, their inseparability. And the perfection of the perception of all objects of the three realms is to see their non-duality, and the inseparability of the three realms. The perfection of those objects (body, speech and mind) are the three inseparable resulting Gems, the inseparable trikaya.
ONE LAST WORD: as I understand it today, there is nothing to do, nothing to not do, nothing to get, nothing to drop, nothing to see, nothing to not see. Nirvana is not caused by our own effort or dropping. Nothing gets perfected, nothing gets purified, nothing becomes united or inseparable. Everything is already like that. Everything is already pure; everything is equal, non-dual, in emptiness. We already have the Buddha-nature, the inseparable trikaya. The three
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realms have always been inseparable. Nirvana is not somewhere else different than samsara, nor is it the same.
It is just a matter of directly seeing the real nature of our own mind and thus of everything as they really are right now (but to be able to see this we need enough merit, and a path to get there). And directly seeing this is not like perceiving something, or like understanding something; they say it is like seeing luminous space: a negation that is affirming nothing, not even nothingness. The closer we can get using concept is to say that there is no inherent existence, but still conventional dependent origination and functionality; or not existence, not non-existence, not both, not neither; or the Union of The Two Truths; or inseparability of appearances and emptiness; etc.
~ Karikas 25:24
~ "The cessation of accepting everything [as real]
~ is a salutary (siva) cessation of phenomenal development (prapanca);
~ No dharma anywhere has been taught by the Buddha of anything. " .
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L2: [Re? sume? Table:]
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1 -- Death & impermanence
----- First, remember death, also impermanence of everything
----- No being obsessed by it as if not normal; not wasting this life
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2 -- Our body & pleasures
----- Not being slave to our impermanent insatiable body - everything is unsatisfying because impermanent
----- Not rejecting it as completely useless; it is part of our precious human life; relativity of pleasures; developing compassion
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3 -- Others' body, cleanness
----- Not being slave to our insatiable sensual desires; temporary antidote: seeing the foulness of the body
----- Not rejecting others completely - we are interdependent, need to develop love, compassion, cooperation; relativity of desires
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4 -- Pride and egoism
----- No absolute permanent basis to be proud of, no self
----- Not rejecting self-confidence; relativity of status; compassion
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5 -- Morality, the best efficient way to act and gain power
----- Not thinking there is absolute laws to strictly obey, or absolute precise objective cold wholesomeness and unwholesomeness that everyone should know or else. . .
----- Not rejecting morality completely as if useless; what counts is a motivation based on reality, bodhicitta, using adapted skillful means (relativity) & wisdom (seeing the emptiness of all items)
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6 -- Disturbing emotions
----- Not letting them go wild, not rejecting all controls; recognizing them & using specific temporary antidotes
----- Not getting obsessed about control either - the goal is to see their real non-dual nature & to transmute them into the 5 wisdoms
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7 -- Virtuous actions and happy rebirths / sense objects
----- No absolutely virtuous practices & desirable rebirths, all actions are contaminated; all rebirths stink in samsara
----- Not rejecting all paths as if useless; perfecting all virtues / paramitas by combining them with wisdom (emptiness of the 3)
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8 -- The way to teach & gain Liberation
----- Liberation is gained by realizing that the source of all disturbing emotions are empty of inherent existence because dependently arisen (one implying the other).
----- Taught using a gradual path composed of both skillful means & wisdom adapted to students, and starting by teaching virtues & dependent origination, otherwise high risks of rejection & nihilism
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9 -- Causality, cause & effect, determinism, Liberation
----- No absolute / permanent / inherent cause, effect, causality; Liberation is not caused by the path; no self is Liberated ----- Not completely rejecting causality, path & self; everything is still conventional causes & effects / dependent; Liberation is like space
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10 -- The Self, free-will
----- No permanent / inherent self having rebirths, or Liberated
----- There is still continuity in samsara, karma. Liberation still possible
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11 -- Time, impermanence
----- No real objective absolute time; nothing exist & change
----- There is relative time; impermanent things exist conventionally
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12 -- Views
----- No evident final view, no (superficial) absolute system easy to assimilate is proposed here. All views are flawed.
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----- But we still need adapted progressive skillful means using both methods (non-violence) & wisdom together to gain Liberation
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13 -- Perception, senses, composites
----- No direct objective perception of an independent inherent world by inherent senses & consciousness - everything in the 3 worlds is merely imputed by the mind, like illusions
----- The world & the mind are not completely non-existent either. There is conventional perception conditioned by our accumulated karma. Interdependence with mind, but not from the mind only.
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14 -- Dualities (transcending opposite extreme conceptions) - METHOD
----- All objects & characteristics are: not inherently existent, not completely non-existent; not both; not neither; bcz interdependent, merely imputed by the mind. All dualities like: whole & parts/characteristics, causes & effects, pure & impure are non-dual: one side doesn't assimilate the other, nor are they different, or the same. All opposites / relations are non dual: not two, not one.
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15 -- Production / Dependent Origination
----- No visible / inherent production, origination, duration, or cessation; cause & effect are empty because interdependent
----- There is conventional production, existence . . . impermanence, causes & effects; dependent on the mind, on accumulated karma
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16. -- Emptiness, 3-Gems
----- No absolute: Even Dep. Or. & Emptiness, the 3 Gems, are empty, interdependent, non-dual: not two, not one; inseparable.
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-- 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. That is the meaning of the Union of The Two Truths, their inseparability.
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L4: [SECTION II - B - Showing how to meditate on settling [the procedure between] spiritual guides and students by way of [explaining] the purpose of the CHAPTERs and eliminating remaining counter-arguments by misguided opponents. ]
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CHAPTER 16 - REFUTING REMAINING COUNTER-ARGUMENTS - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT EMPTINESS: emptiness itself is empty of inherent existence; it is not the absolute truth, the final system which is beyond any description, beyond any conceptualization. All objects of the three realms (desire, form, non-form, or body, speech and mind) are all empty of inherent existence. There is no exception. Even the three causal Gems (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) are empty of inherent existence. They are all empty because interdependent, co-dependently arisen concepts, merely imputed by the mind. But, again, this doesn't mean that everything is inherently existing because emptiness is empty; or that everything is completely non-existent, useless because everything is empty; or that we should drop everything right now. Emptiness doesn't deny dependent origination, or vice versa; they are not mutually exclusive; on the contrary, they imply each other. Even if everything is empty of inherent existence, everything is still dependently arisen and functional, useful like Buddha activities if seen for what they really are, if used while realizing the emptiness of the three: subject, object, action. -- Emptiness is irrefutable because it doesn't pretend to be an absolute system, to be inherently existing. As a concept, as the antidote to inherent existence, it is just another conventional truth, another adapted skillful means. It is a concept co-dependently arisen with the concept of inherent existence, or with the concept of dependent origination based on inherently existing causes and effects as explained in the Abhidharma. They come together, and they go together: without anymore belief in inherent existence or absolute production / dependent origination, there is no more need for its antidote, emptiness; and vice versa, without the danger of falling into the extreme of nihilism, thinking that emptiness is an absolute, there is no more need for the proof of dependent origination. Dependent Origination and Emptiness form an apparent duality, like existence and non-existence, like method and wisdom, like the Two Truths, like pure and impure, like Nirvana and Samsara. But their real nature is non-dual: not two, not one; not different, not the same; inseparability. Their real nature is beyond any description, beyond all conceptualization; only a Buddha has realized their real non-dual nature. So, the perfection of Emptiness, beyond conceptualization, is to unite it with Dependent Origination. That is the meaning of the Union of The Two Truths, their inseparability. And the perfection of the perception of all objects of the three realms is to see their non-duality, and the inseparability of the three realms. The perfection of those objects (body, speech and mind) are the three inseparable resulting Gems, the inseparable trikaya.
ONE LAST WORD: as I understand it today, there is nothing to do, nothing to not do, nothing to get, nothing to drop, nothing to see, nothing to not see. Nirvana is not caused by our own effort or dropping. Nothing gets perfected, nothing gets purified, nothing becomes united or inseparable. Everything is already like that. Everything is already pure; everything is equal, non-dual, in emptiness. We already have the Buddha-nature, the inseparable trikaya. The three
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realms have always been inseparable. Nirvana is not somewhere else different than samsara, nor is it the same.
It is just a matter of directly seeing the real nature of our own mind and thus of everything as they really are right now (but to be able to see this we need enough merit, and a path to get there). And directly seeing this is not like perceiving something, or like understanding something; they say it is like seeing luminous space: a negation that is affirming nothing, not even nothingness. The closer we can get using concept is to say that there is no inherent existence, but still conventional dependent origination and functionality; or not existence, not non-existence, not both, not neither; or the Union of The Two Truths; or inseparability of appearances and emptiness; etc.
~ Karikas 25:24
~ "The cessation of accepting everything [as real]
~ is a salutary (siva) cessation of phenomenal development (prapanca);
~ No dharma anywhere has been taught by the Buddha of anything. " .
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L2: [Re? sume? Table:]
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1 -- Death & impermanence
----- First, remember death, also impermanence of everything
----- No being obsessed by it as if not normal; not wasting this life
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2 -- Our body & pleasures
----- Not being slave to our impermanent insatiable body - everything is unsatisfying because impermanent
----- Not rejecting it as completely useless; it is part of our precious human life; relativity of pleasures; developing compassion
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3 -- Others' body, cleanness
----- Not being slave to our insatiable sensual desires; temporary antidote: seeing the foulness of the body
----- Not rejecting others completely - we are interdependent, need to develop love, compassion, cooperation; relativity of desires
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4 -- Pride and egoism
----- No absolute permanent basis to be proud of, no self
----- Not rejecting self-confidence; relativity of status; compassion
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5 -- Morality, the best efficient way to act and gain power
----- Not thinking there is absolute laws to strictly obey, or absolute precise objective cold wholesomeness and unwholesomeness that everyone should know or else. . .
----- Not rejecting morality completely as if useless; what counts is a motivation based on reality, bodhicitta, using adapted skillful means (relativity) & wisdom (seeing the emptiness of all items)
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6 -- Disturbing emotions
----- Not letting them go wild, not rejecting all controls; recognizing them & using specific temporary antidotes
----- Not getting obsessed about control either - the goal is to see their real non-dual nature & to transmute them into the 5 wisdoms
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7 -- Virtuous actions and happy rebirths / sense objects
----- No absolutely virtuous practices & desirable rebirths, all actions are contaminated; all rebirths stink in samsara
----- Not rejecting all paths as if useless; perfecting all virtues / paramitas by combining them with wisdom (emptiness of the 3)
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8 -- The way to teach & gain Liberation
----- Liberation is gained by realizing that the source of all disturbing emotions are empty of inherent existence because dependently arisen (one implying the other).
----- Taught using a gradual path composed of both skillful means & wisdom adapted to students, and starting by teaching virtues & dependent origination, otherwise high risks of rejection & nihilism
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9 -- Causality, cause & effect, determinism, Liberation
----- No absolute / permanent / inherent cause, effect, causality; Liberation is not caused by the path; no self is Liberated ----- Not completely rejecting causality, path & self; everything is still conventional causes & effects / dependent; Liberation is like space
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10 -- The Self, free-will
----- No permanent / inherent self having rebirths, or Liberated
----- There is still continuity in samsara, karma. Liberation still possible
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11 -- Time, impermanence
----- No real objective absolute time; nothing exist & change
----- There is relative time; impermanent things exist conventionally
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12 -- Views
----- No evident final view, no (superficial) absolute system easy to assimilate is proposed here. All views are flawed.
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----- But we still need adapted progressive skillful means using both methods (non-violence) & wisdom together to gain Liberation
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13 -- Perception, senses, composites
----- No direct objective perception of an independent inherent world by inherent senses & consciousness - everything in the 3 worlds is merely imputed by the mind, like illusions
----- The world & the mind are not completely non-existent either. There is conventional perception conditioned by our accumulated karma. Interdependence with mind, but not from the mind only.
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14 -- Dualities (transcending opposite extreme conceptions) - METHOD
----- All objects & characteristics are: not inherently existent, not completely non-existent; not both; not neither; bcz interdependent, merely imputed by the mind. All dualities like: whole & parts/characteristics, causes & effects, pure & impure are non-dual: one side doesn't assimilate the other, nor are they different, or the same. All opposites / relations are non dual: not two, not one.
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15 -- Production / Dependent Origination
----- No visible / inherent production, origination, duration, or cessation; cause & effect are empty because interdependent
----- There is conventional production, existence . . . impermanence, causes & effects; dependent on the mind, on accumulated karma
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16. -- Emptiness, 3-Gems
----- No absolute: Even Dep. Or. & Emptiness, the 3 Gems, are empty, interdependent, non-dual: not two, not one; inseparable.
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