Gaden Choling Mahayana Buddhist Meditation Centre

This is an outline summarizing the condensed meaning of the chapter "The Sufferings of the Lower Realms" 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.

Meditating on the sufferings of the lower realms. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2] p.172}

1. The sufferings of hell beings. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1] p.174}
   1. Gaining conviction that hell exists. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.1] p.174}
   1. Reasoning using external signs. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.1.1]}
   2. Reasoning using internal signs. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.1.2] p.176}
   1. Considering the law of karma in general. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.1.2.1]}
   2. Considering dreams. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.1.2.2]}
   3. Considering how the world as it appears to us depends upon karma. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.1.2.3]}
   2. The actual meditation on the sufferings of hell beings. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.2] p.179}
   1. The sufferings of beings in the great hells. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.2.1]}
   2. The sufferings of beings in the neighbouring hells. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.2.2]}
   3. The sufferings of beings in the cold hells. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.2.3]}
   4. The sufferings of beings in the resembling hells. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.1.2.4]}
2. The sufferings of hungry ghosts. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.2] p.184}
   1. Intense heat. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.2.1]}
   2. Intense cold. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.2.2]}
   3. Intense hunger. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.2.3]}
   4. Intense thirst. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.2.4]}
   5. Great fatigue. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.2.5]}
   6. Great fear. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.2.6]}
3. The sufferings of animals. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.3] p.186}
   1. Ignorance and stupidity. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.3.1]}
   2. Heat and cold. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.3.2]}
   3. Hunger and thirst. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.3.3]}
   4. Exploitation by human beings for labour, food, resources, and entertainment. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.3.4]}
   5. Being prey to one another. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.2.3.5]}

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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}
1. Developing the aspiration to experience the happiness of higher states in future lives. ^{[4.2.2.1.1] p.144}
1. Meditating on death. ^{[4.2.2.1.1.1] p.144}
2. Meditating on the sufferings of the lower realms.^{[4.2.2.1.1.2] p.172}