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The Joyful Path of Good Fortune: Training the Mind in Tranquil Abiding

This is an outline summarizing the condensed meaning of the chapter "Training the Mind in Tranquil Abiding" 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 train the mind in tranquil abiding, the essence of concentration. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1] p.482

  1. The necessary conditions for attaining tranquil abiding. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.1] p.486
    1. A suitable place for retreat. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.1.1]
    2. Little desire. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.1.2] p.487
    3. Contentment. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.1.3]
    4. No distracting activities. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.1.4] p.488
    5. Pure moral discipline. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.1.5]
    6. No distracting conceptions. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.1.6] p.489
  2. How to attain tranquil abiding. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2] p.489
    1. The five obstacles to attaining tranquil abiding. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.1] p.490
      1. Laziness. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.1.1]
      2. Forgetfulness. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.1.2] p.491
      3. Mental sinking and mental excitement. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.1.3]
      4. Non-application. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.1.4] p.493
      5. Unnecessary application. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.1.5] p.494
    2. The eight opponents to the five obstacles. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.2] p.494
      1. Faith. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.2.1]
      2. Aspiration. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.2.2]
      3. Effort. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.2.3]
      4. Suppleness. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.2.4]
      5. Mindfulness. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.2.5] p.495
      6. Alertness. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.2.6] p.496
      7. Application. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.2.7] p.498
      8. Non-application. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.2.8]
    3. How to attain the nine mental abidings. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3] p.500
      1. The object of meditation. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.1] p.500
        1. Pervasive objects. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.1.1] p.501
        2. Objects for abandoning individual delusions. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.1.2]
        3. Object for abandoning delusions in general. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.1.3] p.502
        4. Objects for scholars. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.1.4]
      2. The nine mental abidings. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2] p.505
        1. Placing the mind. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2.1]
        2. Continual placement. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2.2] p.507
        3. Replacement. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2.3]
        4. Close placement. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2.4] p.508
        5. Controlling. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2.5]
        6. Pacifying. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2.6]
        7. Completely pacifying. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2.7]
        8. Single-pointedness. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2.8] p.509
        9. Placement in equipoise. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.3.2.9]
    4. The six forces. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.4] p.509
      1. The force of listening. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.4.1]
      2. The force of contemplating. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.4.2]
      3. The force of mindfulness. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.4.3]
      4. The force of alertness. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.4.4]
      5. The force of effort. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.4.5]
      6. The force of complete familiarity. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.4.6]
    5. The four attentions. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.5] p.511
      1. Tight attention. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.5.1]
      2. Interrupted attention. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.5.2]
      3. Uninterrupted attention. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.5.3]
      4. Spontaneous attention. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.5.4]
    6. The measurement of having attained tranquil abiding. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1.2.6] p.511

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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
          4. How to engage in a Bodhisattva's actions. [4.2.2.3.4] p.447
            1. Training in the six perfections to ripen our own mental continuum. [4.2.2.3.4.1] p.448
              1. The six perfections in general. [4.2.2.3.4.1.1] p.448
              2. The perfections of mental stabilization and wisdom in particular. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2] p.482
                1. How to train the mind in tranquil abiding, the essence of concentration. [4.2.2.3.4.1.2.1]