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The Joyful Path of Good Fortune: Developing Bodhichitta

This is an outline summarizing the condensed meaning of the chapter "Developing Bodhichitta" in the Lam Rim book "The Joyful Path of Good Fortune" by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (Tharpa Publications, 2nd rev. ed., 1995). It is a restructuring of a portion of the book's appendix "The Condensed Meaning of the Text."

The square brackets enclose the outline key (e.g. "[4.1.2]" means "the second part, of the first part, of the fourth part"). This page is available as a PDF document.

How to develop bodhichitta. [4.2.2.3.3] p.394

  1. The stages of actually training the mind in bodhichitta. [4.2.2.3.3.1]
    1. Training the mind in the sevenfold cause and effect. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1] p.395
      1. Developing equanimity. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.1] p.396
      2. Recognizing that all living beings are our mothers. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.2] p.401
      3. Remembering the kindness of all mother beings. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.3] p.403
      4. Developing the wish to repay the kindness of all mother beings. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.4] p.407
      5. Developing affectionate love. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.5] p.409
      6. Developing great compassion. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.61] p.414
      7. Developing superior intention. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.7] p.417
      8. Developing bodhichitta. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.8] p.418
        1. The basis for generating bodhichitta. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.8.1]
        2. The nature of bodhichitta and how it is generated. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.8.2] p.420
        3. The divisions of bodhichitta. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.8.3] p.421
          1. The twofold division. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.8.3.1]
          2. The threefold division. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.8.3.2] p.422
          3. The fourfold division. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.8.3.3] p.423
          4. The twenty-twofold division. [4.2.2.3.3.1.1.8.3.4]
    2. 2. Training the mind in equalizing and exchanging self with others. [4.2.2.3.3.1.2] p.424
      1. Equalizing self and others. [4.2.2.3.3.1.2.1] p.425
      2. Contemplating the disadvantages of self-cherishing. [4.2.2.3.3.1.2.2] p.426
      3. Contemplating the advantages of cherishing others. [4.2.2.3.3.1.2.3] p.429
      4. Exchanging self with others. [4.2.2.3.3.1.2.4] p.433
        1. Recognizing why we need to exchange self with others. [4.2.2.3.3.1.2.4.1]
        2. Recognizing that we can exchange self with others. [4.2.2.3.3.1.2.4.2] p.434
        3. How to exchange self with others. [4.2.2.3.3.1.2.4.3] p.436
      5. Taking and giving. [4.2.2.3.3.1.2.5] p.437
  2. Maintaining bodhichitta by means of ritual. [4.2.2.3.3.2] p.442
    1. Maintaining the aspiring mind by means of ritual. [4.2.2.3.3.2.1]
    2. Maintaining the engaging mind by means of ritual. [4.2.2.3.3.2.2] p.444

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Context

  1. Explanation of the pre-eminent qualities of the author, showing that the instructions of Lamrim are authentic. [1] p.5
  2. Explanation of the pre-eminent qualities of Lamrim to inspire faith and respect for the Lamrim instructions. [2] p.17
  3. Explanation of how to listen to and teach Dharma. [3] p.25
  4. Explanation of the actual instructions of the stages of the path to enlightenment. [4] p.39
    1. How to rely upon a Spiritual Guide, the root of spiritual paths. [4.1] p.39
    2. How to take the essence of our human life. [4.2] p.121
      1. How to develop the determination to take the essence of our precious human life. [4.2.1]
      2. Training the mind in the actual methods for taking the essence of our precious human life. [4.2.2] p.139
        1. Training the mind in the stages of the path of a person of initial scope. [4.2.2.1] p.144
        2. Training the mind in the stages of the path of a person of intermediate scope. [4.2.2.2] p. 267
        3. Training the mind in the stages of the path of a person of great scope. [4.2.2.2] p. 381
          1. Why we need to enter the Mahayana. [4.2.2.3.1]
          2. The benefits of bodhichitta. [4.2.2.3.2] p.382
          3. How to develop bodhichitta. [4.2.2.3.3] p.394