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Treasury of Precious Qualities: Book One (2010)

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This book is a translation of the first part of Jigme Lingpa's Treasury of Precious Qualities, which in a slender volume of elegant verses sets out briefly but comprehensively the Buddhist path according to the Nyingma school. The concision of the root text and its use of elaborate poetic language, rich in metaphor, require extensive explanation, amply supplied here by the commentary of Kangyur Rinpoche.

The present volume lays out the teachings of the sutras in gradual stages according to the traditional three levels, or scopes, of spiritual endeavor. It begins with essential teachings on impermanence, karma, and ethics. Then, from the Hinayana standpoint, it describes the essential Buddhist teachings of the four noble truths and the twelve links of dependent arising. Moving on, finally, to the Mahayana perspective, it expounds fully the teachings on bodhichitta and the path of the six paramitas, and gives an unusually detailed exposition of Buddhist vows. (Source: Shambhala Publications)

Citation	Fletcher, Wulstan, and Helena Blankleder (Padmakara Translation Group), trans. Treasury of Precious Qualities: The Rain of Joy; Book One. By Jigme Lingpa ('jigs med gling pa). With The Quintessence of the Three Paths, a commentary by Longchen Yeshe Dorje, Kangyur Rinpoche (klong chen ye shes rdo rje, bka' 'gyur rin po che). Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2010.

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

• Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lamaxvii
• Foreword by Jigme Khyentse Rinpochexix
• Introduction1

• Treasury of Precious Qualities15
• by Jigme Lingpa

• The Quintessence of the Three Paths105
• by Longchen Yeshe Dorje, Kangyur Rinpoche

• Prologue107
• The title107
• Homage to the Three Jewels108
• Commitment to Compose the Text110

• PART ONE: Turning the Mind to the Dharma115

• CHAPTER 1 The Value of Human Existence117
• Samsaric existence117
• Eight conditions in which there is no freedom to practice the Dharma117
• Five individual and five circumstantial advantages121
• The rarity of a precious human existence121

• PART TWO: An Incentive for the Practice123

• CHAPTER 2 Impermanence125
• The impermanence of the outer world125
• The impermanence of living beings126

• PART THREE: The Gradual Path of the Three Kinds of Beings131
• The Path of Beings of Lesser Scope
• Ethical Teachings in Relation to the Karmic Law of Cause and Effect

• CHAPTER 3 The Law of Karma133
• The karmic process in general133
  • Actions never fail to produce an effect133
  • The karmic process is irresistible134
  • Karmic effects are not transferable from one mindstream to another135
  • An explanation of the eight worldly concerns and thirteen influential factors135
  • The proliferating tendency of karmic results136
  • Assessing the gravity of positive and negative actions138
  • The basis of the karmic phenomenon139
  • Propelling and completing actions140
  • The performed and stored aspects of actions141
• Negative actions142
  • Negative actions regarding the Three Jewels142
  • The crucial role of intention142
  • The ten negative actions142
  • The results of the ten negative actions146
    • The fully ripened effect147
    • The effect similar to the cause147
    • The conditioning or environmental effect148
    • The proliferating effect150
  • Conclusion150
• Virtuous actions151
• A recapitulation of the path of beings of lesser scope151
• How beings of medium scope practice virtue152
• How beings of great scope practice virtue152

• The Path of Beings of Medium Scope155
• Correct Conduct in Relation to the Four Truths

• CHAPTER 4 The Sufferings of Samsara157
• The four truths157
  • The truth of suffering158
    • The all-pervasive nature of suffering158
    • The conditions that perpetuate suffering159
    • The sufferings of the lower realms161
      • The eight hot hells161
      • The sixteen neighboring hells163
      • The eight cold hells164
      • The ephemeral hells165
    • The sufferings of the higher realms165
      • The suffering of the gods165
      • The suffering of the asuras167
      • The suffering of human beings168
        • Suffering of suffering168
        • Suffering of change168
        • All-pervading suffering in the making168
        • The eight complementary sufferings169
          • Birth169
          • Old age171
          • IlIness172
          • Death172
          • Meeting unwanted circumstances172
          • Separation from what is loved173
          • Not having what one wants173
          • Having what one does not want173
  • The truth of origin173
  • The truth of path and truth of cessation174
• The twelve links of dependent arising175
  • The need for this teaching175
  • Definitions of the twelve links176
  • Four way's of presenting the principle of dependent arising177
  • The number of lifetimes required for an entire cycle179
  • How to meditate on the principle of dependent arising180
  • The unoriginated nature of dependent arising183

• The Extraordinary Path of Beings of Great Scope185
• Meditation on the Twofold Bodhichitta

• CHAPTER 5 The Preparation: The Four Wheels187
• Prerequisites for the practice187
• Solitude187
  • Livelihood189
• Reliance on a spiritual master191
  • Fully qualified masters191
  • False teachers193
  • Evoking the sublime qualities of an authentic teacher195
  • Relying on the teacher with a twentyfold attitude197
  • The characteristics of bad disciples198
  • The characteristics of good disciples200
  • How to serve and follow the teacher201
  • How to behave in the presence of the teacher202
  • Reasons for serving the teacher205
  • Conclusion206
• Excellent aspiration208
• The supreme protection of merit210

• CHAPTER 6 The Foundation of the Path: Refuge213
• The reasons for taking refuge213
  • Faith as the cause of taking refuge213
  • The causes of faith215
    • The qualities of the Buddha215
      • The qualities of elimination215
        • The one hundred and twelve obscurations eliminated on the path
          of seeing215
        • How the obscurations militate against the understanding of the four truths216
        • The four hundred and fourteen obscurations eliminated on the path of meditation217
        • The difference between the Hinayana and the Mahayana approaches to the removal of obscurations219
        • The Hinayana and Mahayana ways of removing the obscurations by seeing219
        • How the obscurations are eliminated on the path of meditation222
      • The qualities of a Buddha's realization223
    • The qualities of the Dharma225
      • Dharma posited as the two truths of path and cessation225
      • Dharma defined as the Dharma of transmission and realization225
        • The Dharma of transmission225
        • The Dharma of realization226
        • The grounds or stages of realization227
    • The qualities of the Sangha229
      • The Hinayana and Mahayana Sangha230
• What is refuge?231
  • Causal and resultant refuge231
  • The different motives for taking refuge232
• How to take refuge233
• The benefits of taking refuge234
  • The benefits of causal refuge234
  • The benefits of resultant refuge235
• The precepts of the refuge vow236
  • The precepts of causal refuge236
    • The precepts regarding things to be avoided236
    • The precepts regarding things to be accomplished236
  • The precepts of resultant refuge237
  • When the refuge vow is broken237
  • Attitudes incompatible with refuge238
  • The benefits of observing the precepts of the refuge vow238

• CHAPTER 7 Cleansing the Mind by Training in the Four Boundless Attitudes239
• The Mahayana path239
• The four boundless attitudes240
• How to meditate on the four boundless attitudes242
• The benefits of this meditation242

• CHAPTER 8 The Vow of Bodhichitta247
• What is bodhichitta?247
• Classifications of bodhichitta249
  • Bodhichitta in aspiration and action249
  • Other classifications of bodhichitta249
  • Bodhichitta classified according to twenty-two similes250
  • Bodhichitta classified according to its benefits251
  • Bodhichitta classified according to the speed of progression253
• How to cultivate bodhichitta253
  • The causes of bodhichitta254
  • Who can generate bodhichitta?254
  • The ritual for taking the vow of bodhichitta255
    • Inculcating the correct attitude255
    • Accumulating merit256
      • Preparing the place256
      • Inviting the field of merit256
      • Offering cleansing waters and clothes257
      • Requesting to be seated260
      • Expressions of respect260
      • The prayer of seven branches261
      • Offering oneself in service264
      • Conclusion265
    • The ritual of the bodhisattva vow266
    • The conclusion of the ritual: the uplifting of one's own and others' minds269

• CHAPTER 9 The Precepts of Bodhichitta in Aspiration and Action271
• The Bodhisattva commitment271
• The precepts concerning what is to be avoided273
  • Repairing faults274
• The precepts to be implemented275
  • The four precepts of aspiration bodhichitta275
    • The first precept: taking suffering and giving happiness275
    • The second precept: the seven-point causal sequence giving birth to the attitude of bodhichitta276
    • The third precept: the four black and four white factors278
    • The fourth precept: the four attitudes that strengthen bodhichitta279
  • The precepts of bodhichitta in action280
    • A brief explanation of the paramitas280
      • A categorization of Bodhisattvas according to their strength of mind280
    • The Paramita of Generosity281
      • The gift of material things281
      • The gift of protection from fear282
      • The gift of Dharma283
    • The Paramita of Discipline284
      • The discipline of avoiding negative actions284
        • The difference between the vows of the Hinayana and Mahayana284
        • Avoiding negativity according to the Mahayana286
        • The levels of ordination287
          • The Precepts of Laypeople287
          • The Monastic Precepts288
            • The precepts of shramaneras288
            • The precepts of a woman novice in training for full ordination290
            • The precepts of full monastic ordination290
              • The precepts concerning what is to be avoided290
              • The precepts concerning what is to be done291
        • How the three kinds of vow may be observed simultaneously293
          • The observance of the three vows as taught in the Nyingma tradition296
            • I. The aspects remain distinct297
            • 2. The three vows are the same both in purpose and as antidote297
            • 3. The transmutation of the vows299
            • 4. The gradual qualitative enhancement of the three vows305
            • 5. The absence of contradiction in the practice of the three vows306
            • 6. Observance should be appropriate to the moment306
          • The three vows as presented in other traditions308
        • Concluding summary312
      • The discipline of gathering virtue316
      • The discipline of benefiting others318
    • The Paramita of Patience319
    • The Paramita of Diligence322
      • The three kinds of laziness322
      • The three kinds of diligence323
    • The Paramita of Concentration324
      • The prerequisites for concentration324
        • In praise of forest dwellings324
        • Giving up attachment to wealth324
        • Giving up attachment to bad company325
        • Giving up attachment to objects of the senses326
        • In praise of solitude327
      • Concentration itself328
        • The essence of concentration328
        • The categories of concentration329
          • Childish concentration329
          • Clearly discerning concentration332
          • The excellent concentration of the Tathagatas332
        • The qualities resulting from concentration333
    • The Paramita of Wisdom335
      • The categories of wisdom335
      • The wisdom resulting from hearing the teachings335
        • The keys that open the treasure chest of Dharma336
          • The definitive and expedient teachings336
          • The implied teachings and indirect teachings337
            • Implied teachings337
            • Indirect teachings338
            • The difference between implied and indirect teachings342
        • An explanation of the treasury of Dharma342
          • A general exposition of the two truths342
          • The four tenet systems345
            • The Vaibhashikas345
            • The Sautrantikas345
            • The Chittamatrins, the Mind Only school346
            • The Svatantrika Madhyamikas346
            • The Prasangika Madhyamikas347
          • Conclusion349
      • The wisdom resulting from reflection351
        • Dependent arising with regard to the ground nature351
        • The dependent arising of samsara353
        • The dependent arising of nirvana354
      • The wisdom resulting from meditation355
      • Wisdom itself355
      • Progress on the paths and the attainment of the result356
    • A concluding summary of the six paramitas357

• APPENDIX I Impermanence demonstrated by the formation and

destruction of the universe according to Buddhist cosmology359

• The gradual formation of the universe359
• The gradual formation of animate beings360
• The duration of the universe362
• The destruction of beings363
• The destruction of the universe364
• The period of voidness364
• The four periods reflected in the existence of an individual being365
• The ceaseless continuity of the process of formation and destruction366

• APPENDIX 2 The bardo369
• The four bardos369
• The six uncertainties of the bardo of becoming369
• How to benefit the consciousness of beings in the bardo371

• APPENDIX 3 The four truths373
• Essential definitions and aspects of the four truths373
• The meaning of the term "four truths"374
• A sequential exposition of the four truths374

• APPENDIX 4 The five aggregates377

• APPENDIX 5 A Buddha's qualities of realization387

• APPENDIX 6 The five paths and the thirty-seven elements leading to

enlightenment391

• APPENDIX 7 The two truths397
• The two truths according to the Madhyamika view397
• The specificity of the two truths398
• Their literal, etymological meaning398
• Their necessarily binary character399
• The kinds of cognition that validly ascertain the two truths400
• Divisions and categories of the two truths400
• The necessity and benefits of establishing the two truths410

• APPENDIX 8 The Madhyamika school413
• The Svatantrika Madhyamikas413
• The Prasangika Madhyamikas417
  • Establishing the ground Madhyamika417
  • Identifying the object of refutation: the two selves421
    • The difference between the "self" and "apprehension of

(or clinging to) self"421

• • Analysis through the application of reason422
    • The four arguments424
      • An investigation of causes: the Diamond Splinters argument425
      • An investigation of results: no effects, whether existent or nonexistent, can be said to be produced426
      • An investigation of the causal process itself: a refutation of origination related to four possible alternatives426
      • An investigation into the nature of phenomena: the Great Interdependence argument and the argument of "Neither One nor Many"427
  • Why the Madhyamika dialectic is superior to all other tenet systems428

• APPENDIX 9 The twenty-one qualities of Dharmakaya wisdom431

• APPENDIX 10 The three doors of perfect liberation 437

• Notes439
• Glossary491
• Bibliography531
• Index537

1. 'jigs med gling pa. yon tan rin po che'i mdzod dga' ba'i char. In gsung 'bum 'jigs med gling pa, Vol. 1: 1-102. Gangtok: pema thinley for dodrupchen rinpoche, 1985.
2. klong chen ye shes rdo rje. yon tan mdzod kyi mchan 'grel, (bka' 'gyur rin po che). Paro: taklung tsetrul rinpoche pema wangyal, 1982.