{"id":216,"date":"2019-11-15T01:13:39","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T01:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/?page_id=216"},"modified":"2020-01-28T11:48:03","modified_gmt":"2020-01-28T01:48:03","slug":"spiritual-practice-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/index.php\/spiritual-practice-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Eastern Spirituality: A Course Outline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This page is based on an outline for a course in Eastern spirituality and associated classical texts. Readers may wish to explore those elements that are of interest to them in their spiritual pursuit.  Three broad areas are covered: (1) a comprehensive spiritual path; (2) practice of yoga; (3) four important realities.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(1)  A Comprehensive Spiritual Path<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (a) A spiritual path from beginning to end &#8212; steps on the path to Awakening (from Buddhism)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (b) Liberation in this very lifetime<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (c) Meditation &#8212; establishing calm-abiding in a hectic world<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (d) Mindfulness &#8212; living fully and happily in the present<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>************<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(2)  Practice of Yoga<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (a) Overview of the spectrum of yoga<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (b) The yoga of action<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (c) The yoga of devotion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (d) The yoga of wisdom<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>************<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(3) Four Truths<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (a) The workings of karma and causation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (b) The Four Noble Truths &#8212; problem, cause, goal, and solution<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (c) The twelve links of dependent arising &#8212; bondage, freedom, and interconnection<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>    (d) Finding the heart in the <em>Heart Sutra<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>A Comprehensive Spiritual Path<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. The Spiritual Path \u2013 From Beginning to End <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>We need to develop a      complete and systematic plan for personal spiritual development and      integrate it into our daily life.<\/li><li>The Buddhist model of the      \u201csteps on the path to Awakening\u201d (Tibetan: <em>lamrim<\/em>) presents all the stages      of a comprehensive spiritual practice \u2013 from the beginning phases to full      Enlightenment.<\/li><li>The following is an      outline of the three stages.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-text-align-center\">The Lamrim \u2013 An Abbreviated Outline<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A commonly used\noutline for <em>lamrim<\/em> teachings today is in the English translation from\nTibetan of <em>Liberation in the Palm of your Hand<\/em> by Pabongka Rinpoche. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An abbreviated\nand annotated outline follows to show the structure of this <em>lamrim<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Greatness of the author of the <em>lamrim<\/em>,      to establish the authenticity of the teaching<\/li><li>Greatness of the <em>lamrim<\/em>      itself, to gain respect for it<\/li><li>How the instructions are to be      received and given<\/li><li>How the students are to be guided      through the subjects<\/li><li>How to rely on a spiritual teacher<\/li><li>How to train one&#8217;s mind on the basis of the correct way to rely on the spiritual teacher<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The path shared with persons who have a modest scope motivation<\/strong> (<em>striving for a fortunate rebirth in the upper realms<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Reality that this life will end and      that one will die<\/li><li>Suffering in a rebirth in an unfortunate, lower      realm (<em>a rebirth as a hell being, a hungry ghost or an animal, which      one wants to avoid<\/em>)<\/li><li>(<em>so one takes<\/em>) Refuge in the      three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha<\/li><li>(<em>and adjusts one&#8217;s behaviour of      body, speech and mind according to the<\/em>) law of cause and effect, that      is karma<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This will lead one to a favourable rebirth within cyclic existence in the human realm, demigod realm, or god realm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The path\nshared with persons who have a medium scope motivation<\/strong> (<em>striving for liberation from cyclic existence<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Truth of suffering (<em>in cyclic\n     existence in general, including the favourable rebirths<\/em>)<\/li><li>Truth of the causes of suffering (<em>the\n     afflictive emotions, especially ignorance<\/em>)<\/li><li>The truth of cessation (<em>there is a\n     state that is free of suffering and its origins<\/em>)<\/li><li>The truth of a path (<em>the way to\n     attain this state free of suffering and its causes by practising ethics,\n     concentration, and wisdom<\/em>)<\/li><li>Presentation of the 12 links of\n     dependent arising<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The training in the medium scope path will lead to the development of the heart wish to be liberated from all un-free rebirths in cyclic existence, due to the power of afflictive emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The path of\npersons who have a high scope motivation<\/strong> (<em>striving for complete buddhahood<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Advantages of the mind of      enlightenment (<em>the heart wish to become a buddha for the welfare of all      sentient beings<\/em>)<\/li><li>The way to develop the mind of      enlightenment<\/li><li>The 7-point instruction in seeing all      sentient beings as one&#8217;s mothers (<em>from previous lives and contemplating      their kindness towards one<\/em>)<\/li><li>Instruction on how to exchange one&#8217;s      self-interest for others&#8217; interest (<em>by looking at the drawbacks of      self-cherishing and the advantages of cherishing others<\/em>)<\/li><li>The way to train one&#8217;s mind after      developing the mind of enlightenment<\/li><li>Training in the six perfections of:      generosity, ethics, patience, joyful effort, concentration, and wisdom<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: Taken and\nadapted from http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lamrim<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resource<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Atisha\u2019s <em>Lamp for the\n     Path to Awakening (Bodhipathapradipah)<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Liberation in this Very Lifetime<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>It is rare, in the\n     classics of Eastern spirituality, to get a detailed description of exactly\n     what the liberated person would look like, how they would think, and what\n     they would do. <\/li><li>However, just such an\n     extended depiction of the <em>jivanmukta<\/em>, a person \u201cliberated in this\n     very lifetime,\u201d is presented in the <em>Ashtavakra Gita<\/em>. It shows how\n     we can act like such a person as we proceed toward the fulfillment of our\n     own spiritual path. <\/li><li>In other words, the <em>Ashtavakra\n     Gita<\/em> gives a detailed portrait of the liberated person, which can then\n     function as paragon we can model in our own lives.<\/li><li>We need to catch ourselves\n     in the ways we identify with a suffering self rather than with our True\n     Self.<\/li><li>We can acquire the ultimate\n     in \u201cself-esteem\u201d through wisdom about the nature of the True Self and\n     Ultimate Reality.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resource<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Selections from the <em>Ashtavakra\n     Gita<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Meditation: Establish Personal Calm-Abiding in a Hectic World.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>We need to practice both calm-abiding\n     mediation and insight meditation.<\/li><li>Stress and busyness are\n     enemies of a calm and relaxed mind \u2013 that both spiritual practice, and\n     happiness in general, require.<\/li><li>We can create more peace\n     in life even while engaged in fulfilling responsibilities towards friends,\n     family, and community.&nbsp;<\/li><li>It is possible to remain\n     active without stress \u2013 getting organized; keeping priorities straight; doing\n     what needs to be done; knowing when to act and when to relax; recognizing\n     mindful action and mindful non-action; acting without expectation; and, living\n     a retreat lifestyle.<\/li><li>In sum, we need to remember\n     to prioritize beneficial activity, avoid procrastination, and turn\n     problems into opportunities \u2013 as well as keep the mind undistracted, even\n     in difficult circumstances.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resources<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em><\/li><li><em>Ashtavakra Gita<\/em> <\/li><li>Shantideva\u2019s <em>Guide to\n     the Bodhisattva\u2019s Way of Life<\/em><\/li><li>Patanjali\u2019s <em>Yoga Sutra<\/em>\n     <\/li><li>Svatmarama\u2019s <em>Hatha\n     Yoga Pradipika<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Mindfulness: Live Fully and Happily in the Present<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>We need to create a\n     mindful lifestyle \u2013 and to avoid activities detrimental to mindfulness.<\/li><li>Additionally, we should cultivate\n     methods for mental awareness and successful meditation.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resources<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The Buddha\u2019s <em>Mahasatipatthana Sutta<\/em><\/li><li>Kamalashila\u2019s <em>Bhavana Krama<\/em> <\/li><li>Shantideva\u2019s <em>Guide to the Bodhisattva\u2019s Way\nof Life<\/em> <\/li><li>Svatmarama\u2019s <em>Hatha Yoga Pradipika<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Practice of Yoga<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Overview of the Spectrum of Yoga<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>The complete and\n     systematic practice of yoga includes far more than physical poses. <\/li><li>We need to understand the\n     spectrum of yoga with all its practices and philosophy according to the\n     classic texts of the Indian yogic tradition \u2013 that is, the meaning,\n     purpose, and method of yoga. <\/li><li>Three important yogas are:<\/li><li>The Yoga of Ethical Self-Discipline and Karma <\/li><li>The Yoga of the Heart <\/li><li>The Yoga of Wisdom <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resources<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Patanjali\u2019s <em>Yoga Sutra<\/em> <\/li><li>Svatmarama\u2019s <em>Hatha Yoga Pradipika<\/em> <\/li><li><em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em> <\/li><li><em>Narada Bhakti Sutra<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. The Yoga of Action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>The first of the\n     three yogas of the <em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em> described here, <em>karma yoga<\/em>,\n     provides the key to freedom not through renunciation of the world but\n     rather while still actively engaged in the world. <\/li><li>While we may now be\n     imprisoned in the world of <em>karma<\/em>, the yoga of action is a practice\n     for conducting ourselves in such a way that liberation is possible without\n     giving up worldly activity and relationships.<\/li><li>We need to recognize the\n     \u201claws of karma\u201d and how they work and to implement our practice of \u201ckarma\n     yoga\u201d in service to others<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resource<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Based on selections from\n     the <em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. The Yoga of Devotion<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>The yoga of devotion (<em>bhakti\n     yoga<\/em>) is in many ways the culmination of the teachings of the <em>Bhagavad\n     Gita<\/em>. <\/li><li>Devoting ourselves to\n     someone or something other and higher than ourselves \u2013 \u201cKrishna,\u201d \u201cGod,\u201d\n     \u201call sentient beings,\u201d \u201cthe cosmos,\u201d etc. \u2013 requires the discipline of\n     surrendering the command of the individual ego and all its many demands.<\/li><li>We need to realize the\n     harmful character of a purely secular, non-spiritual life \u2013 and oppose\n     pure egoism with \u201csacrificial action\u201d dedicated to something greater than\n     selfish desire.<\/li><li>We can experience with\n     Arjuna the mind-blowing epiphany in the famous Eleventh Chapter of the <em>Gita<\/em>\n     and learn how such profound mystical experiences can be not only\n     life-changing but also integrated into everyday life.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resource<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Based on selections from\n     the <em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. The Yoga of Wisdom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>In this, the last of the three\n     yogas of the <em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em>, the crucial concept of \u201cwisdom\u201d common\n     to all forms of Eastern spirituality is investigated \u2013 what is \u201cwisdom,\u201d\n     and why does it have the life-changing power to liberate us?<\/li><li>We need to understand what\n     is meant in Eastern traditions by \u201cignorance\u201d and identify its workings in\n     our own life.<\/li><li>Finally, we need to\n     comprehend how wisdom leads naturally to true compassion for all beings\n     and changes our relationship to them.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resource<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Based on selections from\n     the <em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Four Truths<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. The Workings of Karma and Causation<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Why do things happen the\n     way they do? And even more importantly, why do things \u2013 \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad\u201d \u2013\n     happen <em>to me<\/em>? <\/li><li>There are three important\n     chapters from Nagarjuna\u2019s philosophical powerhouse (<em>Root Verses of the\n     Middle Way<\/em>; chapters 1, 8, and 17) that address these fundamental and\n     age-old questions.<\/li><li>Teachings on cause and\n     effect, and the so-called \u201claws of karma\u201d, are crucial to most traditions\n     of Eastern spirituality, and Nagarjuna offers some deep and surprising\n     insights concerning the necessity of detaching from grasping to doctrines\n     and dogmas as we move toward Awakening.<\/li><li>Concepts include: The different\n     kinds of causes and conditions; causality and interdependence; nothing starts\n     and nothing stops; the emptiness of actors and actions; an analysis of how\n     karma works; the problem of continuity between action and its result; karma\n     and rebirth; and, karma works, but not how we think it does.<\/li><li>We can come to understand\n     the simple, logical keys for deciphering the philosophical arguments for\n     emptiness and interdependence put forward by Nagarjuna, often called the\n     \u201cSecond Buddha\u201d.<\/li><li>We need to gain a deep\n     understanding of the nature of cause and effect and practical methods for\n     using such an understanding in daily life.<\/li><li>We can explore the\n     apparent difference \u2013 and then come to realize the true inseparability \u2013\n     of the actor and the roles he or she plays in life.<\/li><li>May we obtain profound\n     insights into the nature of karma, moral responsibility, and the unfailing\n     but incomprehensible relationship between karmic causes and the\n     consequences of action.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resource<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Based on Chapters One,\n     Eight, and Seventeen of Nagarjuna\u2019s <em>Root Verses of the Middle Way\n     (Mulamadhyamaka Karika)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. The Four Noble Truths: Problem, Cause, Goal, and Solution<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>The \u201cFour Noble Truths,\u201d\n     which encapsulate the Buddha\u2019s teaching, outline a universally applicable\n     structure for any form of spiritual practice:<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Identify the problem of\n     suffering; <\/li><li>Analyze the cause of the\n     problem; <\/li><li>Recognize an alternative\n     to suffering; and <\/li><li>Provide a method for\n     realizing freedom from suffering and achieving perfect peace.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>We need to establish a\n     firm foundation for a spiritual practice that leads to freedom from\n     suffering.<\/li><li>We can identify areas of\n     unhappiness and discontent in our life and learn how to transform them.<\/li><li>May we uncover the real\n     cause of all forms of suffering and recognize that there is an alternative\n     to perpetual dissatisfaction.<\/li><li>We need to learn\n     practical methods for defeating the \u201cmental afflictions\u201d and obtaining\n     true peace and happiness.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Selections from the\n     Buddha\u2019s <em>Turning of the Wheel of Dharma Sutra (Dhammacakkappavattana\n     Sutta)<\/em> <\/li><li>Shantideva\u2019s <em>Guide to\n     the Bodhisattva\u2019s Way of Life<\/em> <\/li><li><em>Bhagavad Gita<\/em> <\/li><li><em>Ashtavakra Gita<\/em> <\/li><li>The <em>Bible<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. The Twelve Links of Dependent Arising: Bondage, Freedom, and Interconnection<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Among the most profound\n     teachings of Buddhism is the so-called \u201cTwelve Links of Dependent Arising\u201d\n     \u2013 an analysis of the circular nature of the actions that keep us\n     perpetually suffering. <\/li><li>We need to understand\n     the ways we repeatedly re-create the causes of our own suffering and how\n     we can break out of this \u201cwheel\u201d and attain total freedom.<\/li><li>We can discover how\n     \u201cdependent arising\u201d works in our own lives to keep us suffering \u2013 and also\n     how the causal process of rebirth works (over lifetimes, as well as moment\n     by moment).<\/li><li>We need to gain a deep\n     understanding of what is meant by \u201cinterdependence\u201d and how to live a more\n     connected life.<\/li><li>May we identify the\n     \u201cweak links\u201d in the \u201cchain\u201d and how to break them \u2013 and also analyze the five\n     principal \u201cmental afflictions\u201d and acquire practical strategies for\n     combatting them.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Chapter 26 of\n     Nagarjuna\u2019s <em>Root Verses on the Middle Way (Mulamadhyamaka Karika)<\/em> <\/li><li>An addendum from\n     Patanjali\u2019s <em>Yoga Sutra<\/em> on the five principal mental afflictions<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Finding the Heart in the Heart Sutra<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>A vital question is: What\n     is the true nature of reality and how can we live in harmony with it? <\/li><li>The <em>Heart Sutra<\/em>\n     is regarded as the essential core (\u201cheart\u201d) of the Buddha\u2019s teachings on\n     \u201cemptiness\u201d \u2013 the lack of self-nature in anything or anyone \u2013 and is\n     admired by spiritual practitioners around the world for its deep wisdom. <\/li><li>Buried within the text\n     is the mapping of the five \u201cpaths\u201d or stages that guide us into Awakening\n     \u2013 and also included is a famous and powerful <em>mantra<\/em> that allude to\n     these five paths.<\/li><li>Concepts include: Form\n     is emptiness, and emptiness is form; the emptiness of the self and all its\n     parts; the emptiness of Buddhist teachings; and the five paths of the spiritual\n     journey.<\/li><li>We need to identify the\n     \u201cbig questions\u201d in life: What is the meaning of it all? Why am I here? How\n     should I live?<\/li><li>Also, we need to discover what is really meant\nby \u201cemptiness\u201d and how to live in relation to it \u2013 as well as to specifically analyze\nthe emptiness of the self and why this matters in practical terms.<\/li><li>Finally, we should learn\n     what it means to say \u201csuffering is empty\u201d and how this provides the key to\n     true happiness.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resource:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Based on the <em>Heart\n     Sutra (Prajnaparamita Hirdaya Sutra)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: This page is based on, to a large degree, the following reference: The curriculum outline for \u201cClassical Texts and Authentic Practices of Eastern Spirituality\u201d by Lama Marut (aka Brian Smith), 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\n\u201cClassical Texts and Authentic Practices of Eastern Spirituality\u201dcurriculum\noffers a progressively unfolding, comprehensive course of study in the\nwisdom and practical application of Eastern spirituality as it pertains to\nmodern life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on Lama Marut\u2019s original translations and relevant,\napplicable interpretations of the Sanskrit classics of the Hindu, Buddhist, and\nYogic traditions, twelve courses cover a wide range of teachings and practices\nfrom an inclusive, comparative, and non-sectarian point of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are designed to provide an in-depth, systematic, and\ncoherent foundation and overall framework for any serious spiritual\npractitioner \u2014 from beginners to experienced teachers, regardless of one\u2019s\nreligious affiliation or the lack thereof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For course details, see the following website. https:\/\/mindoasis.org\/classes\/classical-texts-and-authentic-practices-of-eastern-spirituality\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\">Note: Lama Marut (1953\u20132019); spiritual teacher, husband, father and friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a PDF copy of the text above, please click <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"here (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Spiritual-Practice.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Reflecting-on-Life-in-a-Peaceful-Setting-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Reflecting on Life in a Peaceful Setting\" class=\"wp-image-340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Reflecting-on-Life-in-a-Peaceful-Setting-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Reflecting-on-Life-in-a-Peaceful-Setting-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Reflecting-on-Life-in-a-Peaceful-Setting-768x576.jpg 768w, 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