Buddhist Tenets

Commentary by the Venerable Geshe Doga

6 March 2001

13 March 2001

Definition of tenets {1}

The four seals

Special qualities of the teacher

Classification {2}

20 March 2001

Explaining the Vaibhashika system {3}

Definition {3.1}

Classification however according to this school of Particularists a permanent {3.2}

Etymology {3.3}

Method of asserting the objects {3.4}

Definition of a ‘thing’

Types of things {3.4.1}

Permanent and impermanent {3.4.1.1}

Permanent things {3.4.1.1.1}

Impermanent things {3.4.1.1.2}

Conventional and ultimate truth {3.4.1.2}

27 March 2001

The two truths {3.4.1.2}

Conventional truth {3.4.1.2.1}

Ultimate truth {3.4.1.2.2}

Method of asserting object possessors {3.5}

The person as object possessor {3.5.1}

Consciousness as object possessor {3.5.2}

Valid direct perception {3.5.2.1}

Valid direct sense perceptions {3.5.2.1.1}

Valid mental perception {3.5.2.1.2}

Yogic direct perception {3.5.2.1.3}

One which realises the subtle truth of the selflessness of a person {3.5.2.1.3.1}

A person’s emptiness of having a permanent, singular, and independent existence {3.5.2.1.3.1.1}

The person’s emptiness of being substantially existent in the sense of being self-sufficient {3.5.2.1.3.1.2}

Yogic direct perception which realises subtle impermanence {3.5.2.1.3.2}

17 April 2001

The method of asserting selflessness {3.6}

The Vasiputriya Sub-School

Why the Vasiputriyas are regarded as Buddhists

The Vasiputriya argument

Explaining the principles of the grounds and paths {3.7}

Objects to be abandoned by the path {3.7.1}

Afflictive obstructions {3.7.1.1}

Non-afflictive obscurations {3.7.1.2}

Causes of not knowing {3.7.1.2.1}

24 April 2001

The actual teaching on the principles of grounds and paths {3.7.2}

Stages on the spiritual path

Criteria for entering the path

The three vehicles of the Great Exposition School

1 May 2001

Actual teaching on grounds and paths {3.7.2}

Bodhisattva Vehicle

Solitary Realiser Vehicle

Hearer’s Vehicle

Fruit of the path: nature of a form body {3.8}

Types of bodies

Types of Nirvana

Acceptance of scriptures{t.:}

8 May 2001

Explaining the school of sutra {4}

Definition {4.1}

Classification {4.2}

Followers of scripture {4.2.1}

Followers of reason {4.2.2}

Definition of valid cognition

Etymology {4.2}

Method of asserting objects/assertions of this school of tenets {4.4}

Assertions on the basis {4.4.1}

Assertions regarding the object {4.4.1.1}

Classifications of existent things {4.4.1.2}

The two truths

Ultimate truth

Implications for our practices

29 May 2001

Method of asserting objects {4.3}

Assertions regarding objects {4.3.1}

Conventional and ultimate truth {4.3.1.1}

Negative and positive phenomena {4.3.1.2}

Negative phenomena

Affirmative phenomena

Afflictive phenomena

Non-afflictive negatives

Non-compounded space

Truth of cessation

Emptiness

Affirmative negation

One and many {4.3.1.2}

Types of ‘one’

Deceptive of false ‘one’

True ‘one’

Types of many

False or deceptive many

12 June 2001

Object possessors {4.4.2}

Person {4.4.2.1}

Awareness {4.4.2.2}

Valid cognition

Subsequent cogniser

New vs main cogniser

Knower

Direct valid cognition

Direct self-knowing valid cogniser

Sense direct valid cognition

Mental direct valid cognition

Yogic valid direct cogniser

19 June 2001

Inferential cogniser

Manifest objects of knowledge

Hidden objects of knowledge

Very hidden phenomena

Inference through the force of fact

Inference through renown

Inference through belief

10 July 2001

Non-valid cognisers {4.5.2}

Subsequent cogniser {4.5.2.1}

Conceptual subsequent cogniser

Non-conceptual subsequent cogniser

Wrong mind {4.5.2.2}

Conceptual wrong mind

Non0conceptual wrong mind

Doubt {4.5.2.3}

Doubt tending towards reality

Doubt tending away from reality

Even doubt

Correct assumption {4.5.2.4}

Correct assumption without reason

Correct assumption contrary to reason

Correct assumption with inconclusive reason

Correct assumption with unestablished reason

Correct assumption having reason, but not ascertaining it

Awareness to which the object appears but is not determined {4.5.2.5}

Sense consciousness that is an awareness to which the object appears but is not determined

Mental consciousnesses that are awarenesses to which the object appears but is not determined

Self-knower to which the object appears but is not determined

Valid person

Valid sound

Valid consciousness

Method of asserting selflessness {4.6}

Principles of paths and grounds {4.7}

17 July 2001

Explaining the mind only school {4}

Definition {5.1}

The three characteristics

Classification {5.2}

Mind only true Aspectarians {5.2.1}

Form and mind equalists {5.2.1.1}

Half eggists {5.2.1.2}

Non-pluralists {5.2.1.3}

Mind only false Aspectarians {5.2.2}

Tainted false Aspectarians {5.2.2.1}

Untainted false Aspectarians {5.2.2.2}

Etymology {5.3}

24 July 2001

Mode of asserting objects {5.4}

Other-powered {5.4.1.1}

Pure other-powered

Impure other-powered

Thoroughly established {5.4.1.2}

Wholly–labelled {5.4.1.3}

Ultimate truth {5.4.2}

Subtle selflessness of phenomena {5.4.2.1}

Conventional truth {5.4.3}

31 July 2001

Mode of asserting object-possessors {5.5}

Mind only true Aspectarians {5.5.1}

Four characteristics

Identity

Mind-basis-of-all {5.5.1.1}

Afflicted consciousness {5.5.1.2}

Mind only false Aspectarians {5.5.2}

Awareness {5.5.3}

21 August 2001

Method of asserting selflessness {5.6}

Principles of grounds and paths {5.7}

Objects of abandonment {5.7.1}

Principles of paths and grounds {7.2}

Hearers {7.2.1}

Solitary realiser {7.2.2}

Mahayana practitioners {7.2.3}

Bodies of a buddha {7.2.4}

Nature truth body {7.2.4.1}

Natural obscurations

Temporary obscurations

Emanation body {7.2.4.2}

Definiteness of place

Definiteness of body

Definiteness of entourage

Definiteness of Dharma

Definiteness of time

Supreme emanation body

Born emanation body

Artistic emanation body

Wisdom truth body {7.2.4.3}

28 August 2001

Explaining the Mādhyamika school {6}

Definition {6.1}

Division {6.2}

Explanation {6.3}

Definition of the Svatantrika-Mādhyamika {7.1}

Classification {7.2}

Sautrantika-Svatantrika-Mādhyamika {7.2.1}

Mind only-Svatantrika-Mādhyamika {7.2.2}

Etymology {7.3}

Mode of asserting objects {7.4}

4 September 2001

Types of existence {7.4.1}

Inherent existence {7.4.1.1}

True existence {7.4.1.2}

Conventional truth {7.4.2}

Wrong conventionality {7.4.2.1}

Perfect conventionality {7.4.2.2}

Wrong conventionality

Perfect conventionalities

False and true phenomena {7.4.2.3}

False phenomenon

True phenomenon

Ultimate truth {7.4.3}

Sutrist autonomist view of outer objects {7.4.4}

Yogacara autonomist view of outer objects {7.4.5}

11 September 2001

Method of asserting object possessors {7.5}

Valid cognisers {7.5.1}

Direct valid perception {7.5.1.1}

Mistaken and non-mistaken

Sense direct perception

Mental direct perception

Yogic direct perception

Inherent existence

2 October 2001

Method of asserting selflessness {7.6}

Differentiation of selflessnesses {7.6.1}

Principles of paths and grounds {7.7}

Yogacara Svatantrika Mādhyamika {7.7.1}

Hearers {7.7.1.1}

Main objects of abandonment

A Hearer’s progress through the stages

Solitary realiser {7.7.1.2}

Bodhisattvas {7.7.1.3}

Sutrist Svātantrika Mādhyamika {7.7.2}

Main difference between hearer and solitary realisers {7.7.2.1}

The accepted sutras {7.7.3}

Classification of sutras {7.7.4}

9 October 2001

Explaining the Prasangika Mādhyamika school {8}

Base

Path

Result

Definition {8.1}

Proponents of the Prasangika school {8.2}

Etymology {8.3}

Mode of asserting objects {8.4}

Definition of objects {8.4.1}

Hidden objects {8.4.1.1}

Manifest phenomena {8.4.1.2}

Conventional truth therefore according to worldly perception true grasping is {8.4.2}

Accurate and wrong perception {8.4.2.1}

Ultimate truth {8.4.3}

Etymology of conventional and ultimate truth {8.4.4}

False and true phenomena {8.4.4.1}

16 October 2001

Method of asserting object possessors {8.5}

Person {8.5.1}

Awareness {8.5.2}

Valid cogniser {8.5.2.1}

Direct valid cogniser

Sense direct valid cogniser

Mental direct valid cogniser

Yogic direct valid cogniser

23 October 2001

Inferential cogniser

Mistaken awareness

Realising the object of comprehension

Subsequent cognisers

Method of asserting selflessness {8.6}

The emptiness of the person being a self-supporting substantially existent is the coarse selflessness of a person {8.6.1}

The emptiness of the coarse accumulation of partless is the subtle selflessness of the person {8.6.3}

The emptiness of true existence of the basis of particles and its valid cogniser being of different substance is the coarse selflessness of phenomena {8.6.3}

The emptiness of true existence of the basis imputation, the aggregates, the subtle selflessness of phenomena {8.6.4}

View of transitory collection

The importance of putting it into practice

13 November 2001

Principles of grounds and paths {8.7}

Objects of abandonment {8.7.1}

Obscurations to liberation {8.7.1.1}

Afflictive obscuration

Obscurations to omniscience {8.7.1.2}

Actual explanation of grounds and paths {8.7.2}

Path of accumulation

Path of preparation

Path of seeing

Path of meditation

Path of no more learning

The Mahayana practitioner’s progress on the path

Three Mahayana paths of seeing

20 November 2001

The path of the Mahayana practitioner

The path of accumulation

Path of preparation

Uninterrupted path of seeing

First Bodhisattva Bhumi

Liberated path of seeing

Uninterrupted path of meditation

Second Bodhisattva bhumi

Third bodhisattva bhumi

Fourth bodhisattva bhumi

Fifth bodhisattva bhumi

Sixth bodhisattva bhumi

Seventh bodhisattva bhumi

Eighth bodhisattva hbumi

Ninth bodhisattva bhumi

Tenth bodhisattva bhumi

27 November 2001

Actual explanation of grounds and paths {8.7.2}

Object of meditation {8.7.2.1}

Object of abandonment {8.7.2.2}

Two types of nirvana {8.7.2.3}

Attainments {8.7.2.4}

Wisdom truth body [Dharmakaya]

Nature truth body [Svabhavakaya]

Emanation truth body [Nirmanakaya]

Enjoyment body [Sambhogakaya]