Dharma Paths

286 Pages·1992·9.886 MB·English

by  Ven. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche

DHARMA PATHS
VEN. KHENPO KARTHAR RINPOCHE
EDITED BY LAURA M. ROTH
D R E A M F L A G S E R I E S

DHARMA PATHS
by Yen. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche
Translated by Ngodup Burkhar and Chójor Radha
Edited by Laura M. Roth
Snow Lion Publications
Ithaca, New York USA
Snow Lion Publications
P.O. Box 6483
Ithaca, New York 14851
USA
Copyright © 1992 Karma Kagyu Institute (% Karma Triyana
Dharmachakra)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
by any means without prior written permission from the pub­
lisher.
Printed in USA
Frontispiece: Photographer unknown. Photo provided by
Karma Triyana Dharmachakra.
ISBN 1-55939-002-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, 1924-
Dharma paths / by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche ; translated by Ngodup
Burkhar and Chojor Radha ; edited by Laura M. Roth,
p. cm.
ISBN 1-55939-002-6
1. Spiritual life—Buddhism. 2. Spiritual life—kar-ma-pa (Sect)
I. Roth, Laura M., 1930- II. Title.
BQ7805.K47 1992
294.3’923—dc20 92-28542
CIP
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 7
PREFACE 9
1 INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM 15
The Buddhist Path
Tibetan Buddhism and the Modern World
Acquiring a Tranquil Mind
2 THE FIRST TEACHING OF THE BUDDHA
The Life of the Buddha
The Four Noble Truths
3 REFUGE AND LAY PRECEPTS 53
Refuge
Lay Precepts
4 TAMING THE MIND 79
The Meditation Technique
Obstacles to Practice
Results of Practice
5 ENTERING THE PATH
OF THE BODHISATTVAS 109
Generating Bodhicitta
Sending and Receiving
Benefits of Training in Bodhicitta
Dedication of Merit
6 THE SIX PERFECTIONS 141
The Perfection of Generosity
The Perfection of Discipline
The Perfection of Patience
The Perfection of Enthusiastic Effort
The Perfection of Meditation
The Perfection of Wisdom
7 STAGES OF THE PATH 207
The Five Paths
The Path of Accumulation
The Path of Unification
The Path of Seeing
The Path of Meditation
The Path of No-Learning
8 THE THREE VEHICLES 237
Hinayana
Mahayana
Vajrayana
NOTES 271
GLOSSARY 275
Acknowledgments
This first presentation in book form of teachings by the Vener­
able Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche has depended on and benefited
from the help of many people. Obviously the book would not
have been possible without Ngôdup Burkhar and Chôjor
Radha, who directly translated the oral teachings. I undertook
this project at the request of Willard Roth, the director of
Karma Kagyu Institute, which is sponsoring the work. Wil­
lard, who is my husband, has given me immeasurable en­
couragement and shown unending patience. Tenzin Chônyi,
the president of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, helped with
the selection of topics to include, in accordance with Rinpoche’s
wishes. In transcribing the oral teachings I would like to ac­
knowledge the great help of Jeanne Mathewson, and also thank
Andrea Roth, John Fudjack, Dirk Hoekstra, and Joanna Kirk­
patrick for their participation.
I am indebted to Malinda McCaine, David McCarthy, and
Trinley Wangmo for their extensive assistance in editing the
manuscript. Jack Labanauskas also helped with editing, Nancy
Namdag helped to clarify many crucial points, and John Fud­
jack read over the final manuscript. I would like to thank KTD
Dharma Goods for providing line drawings by Sange Wang-
chug. I must especially express my appreciation to Michael
8 Dharma Paths
Erlewine for designing the cover and providing extensive help
with editing, as well as for his constant enthusiasm, support,
and criticism, which have been invaluable in bringing this work
to completion.
With the help of these people and numerous others, I have
tried to convey the meaning of Rinpoche’s teachings as ac­
curately as possible, but if any parts are unclear or incorrect,
I take full responsibility. Of course, it is nearly impossible for
a mere student to articulate the complete sense of his profound
teachings. In spite of this, I hope the reader will gain some
knowledge and appreciation of Rinpoche’s exposition of the
Dharma through this book.
Laura M. Roth
Preface
At the present time, when we are aware of so much confusion
and suffering in the world, the teachings of the Buddha, the
compassionate enlightened one, seem increasingly relevant. The
Buddha taught a way to overcome suffering and develop our
inherent potential for complete happiness and mental awaken­
ing. Westerners are hearing more about Buddhism now, as
teachers from various traditions come to our country and es­
tablish centers. One such teacher is the Venerable Khenpo Kar­
thar Rinpoche, the gentle, compassionate abbot of a Tibetan
Buddhist monastery located on a mountain above Woodstock,
New York. Rinpoche’s kindness and wisdom have attracted
many students to Karma Triyana Dharmachakra and to a num­
ber of affiliate centers throughout the country, where he has
been teaching seminars on the Dharma since 1976.
The present book of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche’s teachings
is designed to be an introduction to Buddhism in the Kagyu
tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The theme of the book is the
three paths or “vehicles” within the teachings: hinayana, ma-
hayana, and vajrayana* This reflects the fact that the Bud­
dha taught people in different ways according to their abil­
*For an explanation of Buddhist terms, see the glossary.
10 Dharma Paths
ities and interests. In fact the title of the book is a somewhat
free rendering of Rinpoche’s Tibetan title, which means liter­
ally “opening our eyes to the three vehicles.” The unique qual­
ity of Tibetan Buddhism is that the three paths or levels of
the teachings are integrated and seen as a progression.
The hinayana or small vehicle is concerned with noticing
the unsatisfactory, suffering aspect of our personal experience,
and turning away from the attitudes and actions that bring
about this suffering. This path involves becoming more dis­
ciplined and less attached to the ego, and also developing tran­
quility through meditation practice.
The mahayana or great vehicle is concerned with noticing
that all other sentient beings are suffering, not only ourselves.
This path involves generating unlimited loving-kindness and
compassion toward all these suffering beings, and developing
the wisdom to see the emptiness and interdependence of all
phenomena. The aim at this level is not only to free ourselves
from suffering but to liberate all beings from suffering and
establish them in complete enlightenment. Actually, develop­
ing compassion toward others develops our own qualities and
thus leads to our own awakening.
The third vehicle, vajrayana, is concerned with learning pro­
found methods, passed down through a lineage of accomplished
masters, for quickly attaining the goal of the path. In Tibetan
Buddhism this path is the most important expression of the
teachings of the Buddha. It is interesting that the main center
where Rinpoche teaches, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra
(KTD), has a name that reflects the three Dharma paths.
Triyana means “three vehicles” in Sanskrit, and Karma refers
to the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, the line­
age of the Karmapas. Dharma refers to the teachings of the
Buddha, while chakra means “center.” The affiliate centers
are called Karma Thegsum Choling (KTC), which has the same
meaning in Tibetan.
The order of the chapters in the book reflects the concept
of the three vehicles. After giving an introduction to the ideas
of Buddhism, Rinpoche presents a teaching on the four no­