- The Foundation of Buddhist Practice
- Cover Page
- Title Page
- Contents
- Preface by Bhikṣuṇī Thubten Chodron
- Abbreviations
- Introduction by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- 1. The Buddhist Approach
- 2. Gaining Nondeceptive Knowledge
- Three Kinds of Objects and Their Cognizers
- Seven Types of Awareness
- Reliable Cognizers and Unreliable Awarenesses
- Direct Reliable Cognizers
- Inferential Reliable Cognizers
- Reliable Cognizers Based on an Example
- Reliable Cognizers Based on Authoritative Testimony
- Applying the Threefold Analysis
- Reflections on Scriptural Inference
- The Prāsaṅgikas’ Unique View of Reliable Cognizers
- Knowing When We Have a Correct Reason and a Reliable Cognizer
- Inferential Reliable Cognizers and Meditation
- 3. The Basis of the Self: The Body and Mind
- Classifications of Phenomena
- Five Aggregates
- Twelve Sources and Eighteen Constituents
- Consciousness: Mind and Mental Factors
- Five Omnipresent Mental Factors
- Five Object-Ascertaining Mental Factors
- Eleven Virtuous Mental Factors
- Six Root Afflictions
- Twenty Auxiliary Afflictions
- Four Variable Mental Factors
- Conceptual and Nonconceptual Consciousnesses
- 4. Choosing Spiritual Mentors and Becoming a Qualified Disciple
- 5. Relying on Spiritual Mentors
- The Benefits of Relying on Spiritual Mentors
- Cultivate Trust by Seeing Their Qualities
- Cultivate Appreciation and Respect by Seeing Their Kindness
- Seeing Spiritual Mentors as Buddhas
- The Role of Devotion
- Relying on Spiritual Mentors in Our Actions
- Behavior toward Spiritual Mentors
- Preventing Difficulties
- Unusual Behavior
- Resolving Problems
- When Our Spiritual Mentors Pass Away
- Advice to Spiritual Mentors and Disciples
- 6. How to Structure a Meditation Session
- 7. Mind, Body, and Rebirth
- 8. The Essence of a Meaningful Life
- 9. Looking beyond This Life
- 10. Karma and Its Effects
- 11. Results of Karma
- 12. The Workings of Karma
- Projecting and Completing Karma
- Collective and Individual Karma
- Naturally Nonvirtuous Actions and Proscribed Actions
- Intention Karma, Intended Karma, and Mental Karma
- Physical and Verbal Karma, Perceptible and Imperceptible Forms
- Gloomy and Bright Karmas and Their Effects
- Purifying Destructive Karma
- Creating Our Future
- Who Creates Constructive Karma?
- The Complexity of Karma
- Creating the Causes for Higher Rebirth, Liberation, and Awakening
- A Deeper Perspective on Causality
- The Path of the Initial-Level Practitioner: A Conclusion
- Notes
- Glossary
- Recommended Reading
- Index
- About the Authors
- Copyright
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