The Gradual Path Blog
Bodhichitta - the Altruistic Intention to Awaken for the Benefit of Others | Step 23 altrusim bodhichitta compassion gradual awakening gradual path lam rim love renunciation Aug 08, 2021

Congratulations!

You’ve made it to the second milestone of the journey!

How is your memorization going?

Based on strong love and compassion for others, and the view of our interdependence, we want to help, but recognize our own limitations. How can we ultimately help others awaken from...

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Contemplate the Benefits of Altruism | Step 21 of Awakening in 30 Steps compassion dukkha emptiness gradual awakening gradual path lam rim Aug 06, 2021

Overcome the negativity bias and conduct an inventory of all the success stories and expressions of human triumph.

Just as all social suffering has its origin in self-grasping in each of us, so too all examples of social flourishing have their roots in love and compassion.

Here’s the good...

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The Detriments of Self-grasping and Self Preoccupation | Step 20 of Awakening in 30 Steps compassion gradual awakening gradual path lam rim lojong self cherishing Aug 05, 2021

Our compassion training combines both a wise mind and an open heart, analysis and emotion.

Here we take a deep dive to expose the root cause (mula klesha) of the myriad forms of suffering, ecological, social and personal.

Try to trace the chain link of events for the most extreme atrocities...

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Equalize Self and Other | Step 19 of Awakening in 30 Steps compassion dalai lama empathy gradual awakening gradual path john f kennedy lam rim Aug 04, 2021

Reflect on the spectrum of superiority and inferiority.

Where do you put yourself, consciously and unconsciously, and how does this impact your relations with others?

What are the reinforcements in evolution, family systems, culture, and media that determine an imbalance between self and other?

...
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Repay Their Kindness | Step 18 of Awakening in 30 Steps altruism compassion gradual awakening gradual path lam rim Aug 03, 2021

Recognize all beings as kin helps us feel solidarity.

Remembering their kindness helps us feel gratitude.

Now repay their kindness. Identify all the contaminated motivations for giving - obligation, guilt, fear etc.

Now try to imagine coming from a place of basic trust over mistrust, abundance...

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Recognizing All Beings as Kin Inspires Solidarity | Step 16 compassion gradual awakening gradual path lam rim Jul 29, 2021

 In order to develop sustainable compassion capable of withstanding the strong forces of social negativity we need to also develop a realistic worldview, which appreciates our inter-relationality and interdependence since beginingless time.

What if we could see, that at one time or another,...

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Equanimity Balances Social Reactivity | Step 15 of Awakening in 30 Steps altruism compassion equanimity gradual awakening gradual path lam rim Jul 28, 2021

Whereas the steps leading to the first milestone of renunciation cultivated the view and skills for individual freedom, we have now transitioned to a series of steps leading to the second milestone of altruism.

This transition in emphasis from self liberation to liberation of others, is...

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Finding a Qualified Dharma Teacher compassion dharma emptiness ethics find true refuge four noble truths geshe tenzin zopa guru lam rim michael roach scandal shadow trauma wisdom Feb 04, 2021

I think it actually requires much more maturity to be able to stay in the hot pocket of understanding the virtue of this institution and how the lama arrangement works and the qualities of seeking a master that's truly qualified and also recognizing all the malarkey and all the nuance and...

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Curriculum of Compassion bodhichitta compassion emptiness guide to the bodhisattva's way of life pandemic shantideva Jul 28, 2020

What are the main building blocks of Buddhahood? There is both the body and the mind of the Buddha. The mind of the Buddha is the mind that realizes complete and utter interdependence or emptiness and the body of the Buddha is of a compassionate, sensitive, capable, skillful agent of change or...

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