A summary of the initial scope with links to detailed explanations of the five meditations.
The Initial Scope, Intermediate Scope, and Great Scope of Lamrim
When people are very young, they learn to crawl; later, they learn to walk; finally, they learn to run. Each skill builds on the previous one.
Similarly, the scopes of Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim, Initial, Intermediate, and Great, build upon each other.
Lamrim is the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. There are no viable shortcuts, and the path itself has side roads to explore, depending on the practitioner’s past Karma and emotional issues they must resolve.
Someone could study a meditation handbook and attempt to master the advanced meditations of the Great Scope, but the likelihood of success is very low.
The Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim teachings on the initial scope focus on the foundational stages of spiritual practice and emphasize the desire to achieve a favorable rebirth and avoid the suffering of lower realms.
While the emphasis in the initial scope is on ethical conduct and virtuous actions, practitioners may also engage in basic meditation practices to develop concentration and mindfulness, which are foundational practices in subsequent stages.
See: Mindfulness Meditation Mastery: A Journey to Observing, Directing, and Sustaining Mental Focus
A personal journey From the time I was very young, I observed the activity of my mind. I was an only child, growing up in a rural area, so I had plenty of alone time, often spent in the woods. My family liked playing games, and I found I could focus concentration for very long periods, obsessively at times. I became skilled at many games.
In the intermediate scope, the future Buddha cultivates moral discipline, accumulates merit, and acquires sublime wisdom. In the great scope, the person actualizes perfect Buddhahood.
Recognizing the Preciousness of Human Life
The initial scope begins with recognizing the rarity and value of human life, especially one that is conducive to spiritual practice.
In ancient times, most people spent the majority of their time working to meet basic survival needs. Few people had the opportunity to explore spiritual matters.
While modern life may seem hectic, compared to the ancients, we have abundant time for spiritual practice.
The initial scope stresses that human life provides a unique opportunity for spiritual growth and should not be wasted.
See: Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: Your Precious Human Life
Most people take their lives for granted and fail to recognize its significance. Since none of us can stop being human, and each day we wake up, we are human, it’s understandable why few bother to appreciate it. As Popeye the Sailor Man noted, “I yam what I yam.”
Cultivating the Mindfulness of Death
Contemplating the impermanence of life and the inevitability of death is a powerful source of motivation. When one deeply internalizes the reality of death, it leads to a deeper appreciation of one’s precious human life and motivates people not to waste it.
When people reflect on the fact that death could happen at any moment, they prioritize important matters, like engaging in spiritual practice, to prepare for the inevitable.
Practicing mindfulness of death and impermanence in daily life helps individuals make conscious choices, rather than instinctively pursuing earthly pleasures, attainments, fame, or objects of desire.
See: Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: Death and Impermanence
Intellectually, we all know we are going to die. Our instinct is to survive, so the fact of certain death makes most people uncomfortable, and they push it away. Death is considered a downer. Western culture shields us from death. We only face death when we visit a funeral home, or perhaps drive by a cemetery. Dead bodies are mostly shielded from our sight, to aid in our denial of its inevitability.
Feeling the Appropriate Fear of Lower Rebirth
Practitioners are encouraged to contemplate the suffering in the lower realms of existence, such as the hell realms, hungry ghost realms, and animal realms. This contemplation fosters a healthy fear of lower rebirths and motivates individuals to avoid negative actions that could lead to such rebirths.
The primary goal in the initial scope is to secure a favorable rebirth, such as a human life or a life in the heavenly realms, where there are better conditions for practicing Dharma (spiritual path). This desire for a better rebirth serves as a foundation for further spiritual progress.
See: Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: The Dangers of Lower Rebirth
All the major world religions use some form of a carrot-and-stick approach to motivate good behavior. The carrot is a reward for good behavior, such as going to heaven, gaining favor with God, being reborn in comfortable circumstances, reincarnation in a Pure Land, or escaping the cycle of rebirth entirely.
Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels
Practitioners are guided to take refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) as a source of protection and guidance on their spiritual journey. Taking refuge serves as a source of strength, inspiration, and instruction.
See: Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: Refuge Practice
Where do people look for guidance and support when circumstances are challenging? For much of the last 2,500 years, many have turned to organized religion. Jews have God, the Bible’s Old Testament, and synagogues. Christians have Jesus, the Bible’s New Testament, and Christian churches.
Understanding Ethical Conduct and the Law of Karma
Lamrim’s teachings stress the importance of ethical conduct as a means to create positive karma and secure a favorable rebirth. Practitioners are encouraged to observe ethical principles, refrain from harming others, and engage in virtuous actions.
Generosity is a key practice in the initial scope, as it creates positive karma and leads to better circumstances in future lives. Giving to those in need and supporting spiritual causes are seen as virtuous acts.
The motivation for ethical behavior comes from an understanding of Karma, the observation that our actions have consequences.
See: Tibetan Buddhist Lamrin: Actions and Their Effects
For every action a person takes, there is an inevitable response, a consequence that will follow, connecting the action back to the source. Just as a spider’s web provides support while also ensnaring the spider, individuals reap the rewards of their wise choices and endure the consequences of their unwise decisions.
In summary, the Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim teachings on the initial scope focus on recognizing the preciousness of human life, understanding the suffering in samsara, and aspiring for a favorable rebirth through ethical conduct and virtuous actions.
These teachings provide a foundational framework for individuals to begin their spiritual journey and gradually progress on the path to enlightenment.
For more depth and greater understanding, please review the writings linked above and practice the meditations.