the jewel ornament of liberation is gampopa’s synthesis of his training as a kadampa monk with the mahamudra meditation teaching of milarepa. it’s a systematic manual of dharma practice, from the first stirrings of our motive, through going for refuge, the precepts, the arising of the bodhicitta and the practice of the paramitas, to the spontaneous action of the mind after enlightenment.

in the early 80s bhante held seminars on a number of chapters, and there are clear connections between gampopa’s presentation of the dharma and bhante’s. i’ve been studying the text and the seminars off and on for the last few years, and have found it a very useful summary of the dharma as a progressive, deepening set of practices.

a few highlights from the ‘wisdom’ chapter study notes:

non-duality of compounded + uncompounded

buddha did not teach different vehicles

all advice of buddha, even sila

a method moving closer to non-duality

to insist that non-duality is the path of the yogi

is an expression of ego clinging,

by setting it up in opposition to vinaya

need to realise that vinaya, acting for benefit of beings,

how non-duality expresses itself in everyday life

those who want to take the yogi path need to be careful to do no harm

the yogi's practice + the monk’s is the same; only clothes different

relation of mahamudra to ethics

quoting padmasambhava: we need a mind vast as sky, conduct as fine as needle

remain in openness of mind

but if act then unethically, at least create suffering for others

most practitioners operating within at least subtle duality

so cause + effect apply

non-dualistic spontaneous action for benefit of beings.

not a rule, but spontaneous action of wisdom + compassion

be mindful in everything we do, without losing spaciousness

post meditation

practice the paramitas with the attitude of wisdom

aware of the creativity of mind

a dynamic process

all takes place in mind

brings fluidity, experience doesn't solidify

pleasant + unpleasant: all will pass

we think experience is stable

so we react with hope + fear

hope pleasant  will last

fear unpleasant  will last

we misinterpret ,

NOT intrinsically un/pleasant

we give an emotional force + reality

as if it was really like l hat

that person really unpleasant

that place really nice

not aware how much we interpret.

we see from self-reference

don't  treat the ego as enemy

practice openness: turn towards others

in time egocentricity lessens

turn mind to openness, love

see ego only a thought like any thought

don't need to end it, it ends on its own...

what  we call ‘accumulation of merit’

millions of acts which weaken ego-clinging

one last drop makes barrel overflow

at that moment, we enter non-dual experience

but that moment not possible without millions of skillful acts weakening ego-clinging

last moment crucial., but arises on basis of skillful acts

encourage to practice sila,

but also Meditation

you will see nature of mind

when conditions are ripe

encourage a non -clinging, effortless approach to meditation

if you can meditate in way that really lets go lets go of hope + fear

more deeply effective than egocentric effort

mahamudra

why give such deep instructions at start of path?

key instructions for later difficulties

escape from all dead ends

kagyu tradition teaches mahamudra before samatha

an intellectual understanding of nature of mind makes samatha a tool

for feeing more deeply into nature of mind, not just relaxation.

in a natural way, samatha will try to answer questions mahamudra instruction raised.

heard too much to be satisfied by simple calm.

gampopa says all practices included in practice of emptiness

no practice not included

takes going for refuge as example

Going for Refuge to Buddha seeing things as Buddha sees them

Buddha a phenomenon in mind

like all other phenomena: no substance, no characteristics

just ‘that’

entering realisation of all Buddhas who have realised absence of self

this is Going for Refuge to the Buddha

Going for Refuge in Buddha because out of samsara, liberated

so truly refuge

no difference between us and Buddha

guru yoga means to unify ones mind with mind of the lama (in this context gampopa)

how to apply in daily life

answer always remember buddha/guru in all situations

dissolves all clinging

on more simple level, remember actions of teacher

inspiring man, woman, example to be followed

what would teacher do?

i know him, i imagine him here

what would he do?

intermediary level

remember instructions of teacher

all teachers we’ve had contact with

guru yoga means to unify all teachers in one person

eg gampopa represents all teachers back to buddha

all teachers after

remember teaching in concrete situations

means remembering helpful instruction pertinent to situation

to be always aware of instructions of teacher is practice of guru yoga

more subtle

remember not only verbal

but quality of openness

mind in which no difference between you and i

opens door of deep relaxation

remember essence of teachers

no separation of mind

allows us to remove the duality in a situation

find deep openness

this is going for refuge to the buddha...