Steps on the Path to Enlightenment: A Commentary on Tsongkhapa's Lamrim Chenmo, Volume 1: The Foundation Practices

by Lhundub Sopa, David Patt (Editor), Dalai Lama XIV (Foreword)

Geshe Lhundub Sopa's Steps on the Path to Enlightenment is a landmark commentary on what is perhaps the most elaborate and elegant Tibetan presentation of the Buddhist path, Tsongkhapa's monumental Lamrim Chenmo. This volume is the first of five volumes transmitting a discourse Geshe Sopa delivered to Western students over a twenty-year period. Unrivaled in its comprehensiveness, this text will be ideal for those who want a detailed overview of Buddhist philosophy and will be especially invaluable for practitioners who want to enact the wisdom of the Buddha in their lives. The graduated series of teachings are meant to be studied, contemplated, and finally absorbed within meditation until the mind and heart are cleared of their obscurations and the practitioner perfects wisdom and compassion in the state of full enlightenment.

Following the lead of the Indian master Atisa, Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) explains the path in terms of the three levels of practitioners, those of small capacity who seek happiness in future lives, those of medium capacity who seek liberation from the cycle of suffering, and those of great capacity who seek full enlightenment in order to benefit all beings. This volume covers the topics common to the first level: Tsongkhapa's explanations of the role of the teacher, his exhortation to take the essence of human existence, the contemplation of death and future lives, and going for refuge to the Three Jewels. Given his vast knowledge and his experience in both the Tibetan and Western contexts, Geshe Sopa is the ideal commentator for this work for the modern student.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

610 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Geshe Lhundub Sopa

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a very thorough and detailed account of the first steps to take start here Geshe Lhundup Sopa a Tibetan Buddhist scholar practitioner - who was one of the first teachers to live in the West- and become a university professor and start a center in Wisconsin.

There are many references and links for the original sutras and also the teachings from TsongKhaPa. A very valuable resource for a serious student.

[Everett Grandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steps not physical

Some have walked this earth to be awakened, some have found, some still walk, only a single step need be taken in this day and time taken not by foot but finger and this is yours

[Navneet Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful commentary to the Lamrim Chenmo. Covers the topics up to refuge in this volume. Four more volumes to go..

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very detailed and authoritative, but repetitive, and duplicative of many other texts on Tibetan Buddhism.