During our February 18 class, we completed our study of the Small Scope teachings by discussing two topics: Refuge and Karma. Our Dharma friend, Gregory Mitchell, gave a wonderful talk about the meaning of Refuge and shared his reasons for taking the refuge vows. The two main motivations of the Small Scope are fear and faith and they prompt us to seek protection in the Triple Gem — Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. In doing so, we abandon our ordinary forms of samsaric refuge such as taking intoxicants or meaningless distractions. Generating a profound sense of Dharma refuge creates a new and special feeling of being protected from all harm.
We then had a long discussion about karma. Having taken refuge, then it is especially important to respect the law of karma by engaging in virtue. Karma refers to the state of mind that motivates an action from the time that the action is conceived, during the actual act and after the act is completed. The resulting karmic imprints or seeds are stored on the extremely subtle consciousness that travels from lifetime to lifetime. For a complete description of karma, please see: Geshe Sopa’s teaching in the Module 3 Required Readings (p. 17), Lama Zopa’s The Wish-Fulfilling Golden Light of the Sun (text available online p. 76), the Dalai Lama’s book Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment (pdf download, Chapter 5). For an extensive teaching on karma, refer to Pabongkha Rinpoche’s Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.
We did Ven. Mattieu Ricard’s meditation on calming the mind and looking within (Happiness, p. 118) to celebrate our precious human life.
Following the meditation, we began the Middle Scope teachings by discussing the meaning of samsara. Briefly, samsara is a state of helplessness in which we are born over and over again due to the power of karma and delusions. Samsara is our ordinary existence, a state of constant dissatisfaction and unease, a roller-coaster of emotions that are out of control. Renunciation is the sincere desire to escape the prison of samsara forever. People with a Middle Scope mindset don’t just want a good rebirth, they don’t want any rebirth, they completely renounce samsara.
In our next class on March 4, 2018, we will complete the discussion of the Middle Scope teachings on the sufferings of samsara, and the twelve links of dependent origination. We will take a closer look at the Buddhist world-view – the different states of rebirth and their associated types of suffering. We will meditate on overcoming anger and delusions. I will give an overview of the Great Scope teachings on how to attain Enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. Central to this presentation will be the topic of emptiness. Please finish reading the required readings pdf, the Essence of Tibetan Buddhism (pdf download) and time permitting, Wisdom Energy.
Meditation topics
Review each of the Small Scope topics and spend time meditating on the key points (Death, Refuge, Karma). The main purpose is to motivate you to practice. For example, meditate on your own mortality, what can you do in your remaining years to make life most meaningful? How does understanding that death can come at any time help you cherish your time spent with others? Change your priorities? Perform similar meditations on Refuge and Karma. Use the meditation outlines in the Wish-fulfilling Golden Light of the Sun.
Key terms to study
Small scope, Middle scope, Great scope
Refuge and Karma
Samsara and renunciation
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