The Index Page provides an outline of the topics discussed in each of the lectures. This transcript does not represent the entire course, just primarily Rinpoche's teachings. 

Note that as the transcript is from audio tape, there are some comments related to the tapes within the transcript. 

Contents

Section One: Dharma 

•  Hindrances to practicing Dharma
• What is Dharma?
• The benefits of practicing Dharma
• Motivation for all mother sentient beings
• Karma
• Q&A
• Motivation to practice Dharma
• The continuity of mind
• The possibility of enlightenment
• Guru Shakyamuni Buddha practice
• Motivation to listen to the teachings
• Checking up
• The lineage of the teachings
• Atisha

Section Two: Our Teachers

• God and other religions
• Atisha’s life story
• The motivation for Dharma practice
• Q&A
• One mind
• The disease of the delusions
• Motivation for teachings
• Depending on the guru
• Perfect human rebirth - eight freedoms
• Shantideva
• Overview of the lam-rim
• Compassion for beings
• The narak realms
• The preta realms
• The freedoms
• The richnesses
• Q&A

Section Three: Perfect Human Rebirth                                                    

• The meditation on perfect human rebirth
• The three great meanings of the precious human rebirth
• The motivation of bodhicitta
• The evil thought of the eight worldly dharmas
• The usefulness of the perfect human rebirth
• Vajrayana practice and motivation
• The three principal paths
• Daily meditation and actualizing lam-rim
• Training the mind in bodhicitta
• Refuge and karma
• The seven limb prayer

Section Four: Eight Worldly Dharmas

• The three paths
• The guru practice
• Q&A
• Shunyata and the “I”
• How to make life meaningful by Dharma practice
• Moral conduct
• Karma
• Debate
• The rarity of the precious human rebirth
• All problems are created by mind
• Renouncing seeking the happiness of this life
• The eight worldly dharmas
• All problems are caused by the eight worldly dharmas
• Renouncing the eight worldly dharmas
• Impermanence and death as a method to stop the eight worldly dharmas
• How to stop fear                                                    

Section Five: Impermanence and Death                                                   

• Impermanence and death as a method to stop the eight worldly dharmas
• Q&A
• Meditation on impermanence and death
• Milarepa’s holy body
• Death is definite
• The suffering of samsara
• Traditional way of giving teachings
• Karma
• Death is definite (continued)
• The graduated path of the middle intelligent being
• Four noble truths
• The general sufferings of samsara                                                      

Section Six: Death                                                   

• The time of death is indefinite
• At the time of death, nothing but Dharma can help
• Refuge
• The general sufferings of samsara
• Q&A
• The benefits of taking refuge
• Stories about the benefits of refuge                                                      

Section Seven: Suffering                                                  

• The sufferings of the human aggregates
• The sufferings of birth and old age
• Three types of samsaric suffering
• Fear of all the sufferings
• Object of refuge
• The sufferings of suras and asuras
• Three types of samsaric suffering (continued)
• Karma and delusion
• Guru Shakyaminu Buddha visualization
• Guru devotion
• Guru yoga practice                                                      

Section Eight: Delusions                                                    

• The nature of attachment
• Anger
• Refuge and bodhicitta
• The four immeasurables
• Charity of Dharma
• The Buddha’s methods to guide sentient beings
• Five wrong views
• Twenty secondary delusions
• Six causes of delusions
• Knowledge of the Buddha
• Karma
• Dedication