An Overview of the

PATH-
37 Factors of
Enlightenment

Recompiled by
Karma Tshering aka
Wan SC
BUDDHISM-The Purpose
To attain enlightenment
To understand ones true nature
To realise EMPTINESS
To break away from the cycle of
rebirth(nirvana)
To end suffering and achieve true
happiness
Buddhas Teachings
The 4 Noble Truths
Prognosis Treatment
Pathology Diagnosis
Existence
of
Sufferings
Origin of
Sufferings
Cessation
of
Sufferings
Path of
Cessation
of
Sufferings
5 Periods of Buddhist Teachings
PERIOD
APPROX
DURATION
TEACHINGS REMARKS
1 21 days
AVATAMSAKA
()
1 Expedient Dharma; 1 Actual Dharma
2 12 YEARS
AGAMA
()
1 Expedient Dharma; 0 Actual Dharma
the Four Noble Truths , 8 fold path and
dependent origination.
3 8/16 YEARS
VAIPULYA
()
3 Expedient Dharma; 1 Actual Dharma
Amida, Mahavairochana, and
Vimalakirti sutras
4 22/14 YEARS
PRAJNA
()
2 Expedient Dharma; 1 Actual Dharma
Heart Sutra
5 8 YEARS
LOTUS-NIRVANA
()
0 Expedient Dharma; 1 Actual Dharma
TOTAL 50 YEARS
Within the 5 Periods , 8 Teachings were distinguished

8 Types of Teachings
TYPE OF TEACHINGS REMARKS
1
Storehouse/Tripitaka
()
the Sutra, Vinaya and Abhidhamma, in which the
basic teachings are explained
2 Pervasive/Shared() the teaching of emptiness
3 Distinctive () aimed at the Bodhisattva
4 Perfect () the Lotus Sutra and the Avatamsaka Sutra
5 Gradual for those with medium or inferior abilities
6 Sudden
the Distinctive Teachings and the Complete Teaching
for those with superior abilities
7 Secret
teachings which are transmitted without the
recipient being aware of it
8 Unfixed/Variable
various teachings for various persons and
circumstances
4 mehtods
(huayi )
4 doctrines
(huafa ):
3 Turnings of Dharma Wheel & Vehicles
VAJRAYANA MAHAYANA THERAVADA
Theravada Mahayana Vajrayana
Main System
Vinaya Sutra Tantra
Emptiness
Realisation
Of Self Of Phenomena
Of Everything, and
Buddha nature
pervades
Bodhicitta Self-Liberation
Of all Sentient
Beings
Of all Sentient
Beings
Path
Shravaka (Hearer)
Pratyekabuddha (Self
practice) /
Bodhisattva Buddhahood
Attainment (of
Bodhi) and
type of wisdom

Arhat/
Pratyeka-Bodhi

Samyak-
sambodhi

Samyak-sambodhi

BUDDHISM- The Path
GRADUAL PATH
Sequential
FAST PATH
Direct
EXOTERIC
Meditate on 5 senses
and Mind
Hinayana and Most Mahayana
Samatha & Vipassana Meditation
(Calm Abiding/Tranquility &
Insight Mdtn)
Shiney & Lhag Thong
Mahayana
Zen (Zazen) Meditation
ESOTERIC
Meditate on Subtle
Energies
Various Classes of Tantra Dzogchen
Buddhism The requisites
FAITH
Faith, without Practice nor Study is called
BLIND FAITH
PRACTICE
Practice, without Faith nor Study is just a
Hollow Practice /Empty Practice
STUDY
Study, without Faith nor Practice is merely a
ACADEMIC PURSUIT
The Core Practices of Buddhism
Generation of
BODHICITTA
Accumulation
of
MERITS &
WISDOM
Purification
of
KARMA &
KLESHAS
Give Alms/Donations
Take refuge in Triple Gems
Do Prostrations
Dedication of Prayers/Merits
Mandala Offerings
Study, Practice and Propagate the Dharma
Volunteer Work
Making Confession
Liberation/Release of Life
Kleshas = Defilements
Kleshas (Pali: kilesa; Tibetan: nyon
mongs), in Buddhism, are mental
states that cloud the mind and
manifest in unwholesome actions.
Kleshas Theravada Perspective
1. greed (lobha)
2. hate (dosa)
3. delusion (moha)
4. conceit (mna)
5. wrong views (micchdihi)
6. doubt (vicikicch)
7. torpor (thna)
8. restlessness (uddhacca)
9. shamelessness (ahirika)
10.recklessness (anottappa)
[7]


12 LINKS DEPENDENT ARISING
1. IGNORANCE
2. FORMATION
VOLITION
KARMIC ACTS
3. CONSCIOUSNESS
4. FORM
5. SIX SENSES
6. CONTACT
7. SENSATION
PERCEPTION
JUDGEMENT
8. CRAVING
9. CLINGING
10. BECOMING
11. BIRTH
12. AGING + DEATH
Round of
Defilements
Round of
Karma
Round of
Results

Klesha Mahayana Perspective
3 Poisons to 5
Poisons
Ignorance
Attachment
Aversion
Pride
Jealousy
Wheel of Life
1. Inner Hub : 3 Poisons
2. Outer Hub : Karma
3. Middle Rim : 6 Samsaric Realms
4. Outer Rim : 12 Causal Links
The bhavacakra Tibetan: srid pa'i 'khor lo) is a
symbolic representation of samsara (or cyclic
existence) It is believed that the drawing was
designed by the Buddha himself in order to help
ordinary people understand the Buddhist
teachings.
Yama , the Lord of Death has the following attributes:
1. Crown of five skulls that symbolize the impermanence of
the five aggregates.
[24]
(The skulls are also said to
symbolize the five poisons.)
2. Third eye that symbolizes the wisdom of understanding
impermanence.
[

3. He is sometimes shown adorned with a tiger skin,
which symbolizes fearfulness.
[24]
(
4 His four limbs (that are clutching the wheel) symbolize
the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, and death.
[25]

Buddha pointing toward the moon; this
represents the path to liberation
Klesha Vajrayana Perspective
1. Emotional Obscrurations
Essence : Opposite of 6 paramitas
Cause : Grasping at personal ego or self
Function : To prevent liberation from SAMSARA

2. Cognitive Obscurations
Essence : Involving the conceptual spheres of object, subject and
action
Cause : Grasping at phenomena as truly existent
Function : To prevent complete ENLIGHTENMENT/omniscience.

3 characteristics of LIFE
Buddha directly perceived that all sentient beings (everything in
the phenomenology of psychology) is marked by these three characteristics:
Anicca (Sanskrit anitya) "inconstancy" or "impermanence". This refers to the
fact that all conditioned things (sankhara) are in a constant state of flux. In
reality there is no thing that ultimately ceases to exist; only the appearance of
a thing ceases as it changes from one form to another. Imagine a leaf that falls
to the ground and decomposes. While the appearance and relative existence of
the leaf ceases, the components that formed the leaf become particulate
material that may go on to form new plants. Buddhism teaches a middle way,
avoiding the extreme views of eternalism and nihilism.
[3]

Dukkha (Sanskrit duhkha) or dissatisfaction (or "dis-ease"; also often
translated "suffering", though this is somewhat misleading). Nothing found in
the physical world or even the psychological realm can bring lasting deep
satisfaction.
Anatta (Sanskrit anatman) or "non-Self" is used in the suttas both as a noun
and as a predicative adjective to denote that phenomena are not, or are
without, a self; to describe any and all composite, consubstantial, phenomenal
and temporal things, from the macrocosmic to microcosmic, be it matter
pertaining to the physical body or the cosmos at large, as well as any and all
mental machinations, which are impermanent.
There is often a fourth Dharma Seal mentioned:
Nirvana is peace. Nirvana is the "other shore" from samsara.

4 Seals
At the heart of the Buddhas teachings lie the four seals, or
axioms, of Buddhism, and when we summarize the essence of
everything the Buddha taught, we find that the basic framework is
presented in the context of these four:
1. All composite phenomena are impermanent.
2. All contaminated phenomena are unsatisfactory, or in
the nature of suffering.
3. All things and events are empty, or devoid of self-
existence.
4. Nirvana is true peace.

OM AH HUNG- 3 Vajras of Body, Speech
and Mind (Karma Generators)
OM represents the vajra of form, the union of appearance
and emptiness. AH represents the vajra of speech, the
union of sound and emptiness. HUNG represents the
vajra of mind, the union of clear awareness and
emptiness. These are called "the three secrets." When
there is no grasping to perceived form, this is the union
of appearance and emptiness. Forms continue to
appear and are seen, yet there is no grasping at their
reality. When there is no grasping at perceived sounds,
this is the union of sound and emptiness. Sounds
continue to be heard, yet there is no grasping at their
reality. If the mind neither grasps at sights nor sounds,
it will naturally rest within the union of awareness and
emptiness and thus will not grasp at mental arisings
either. The three vajras are contained within the vajra
of the mind. Thus the Om, Ah, and Hung syllables mark
the forehead, throat, and heart of all deities-while
deities appear in myriad
forms, the essence of their body, speech, and mind is
the same.
Mahayana classification of sutra
Definitive
Interpretable

Four reliances :
1. Rely on the message of the teacher, not on his
personality;
2. Rely on the meaning, not just on the words;
3. Rely on the real meaning, not on the provisional one;
4. Rely on your wisdom mind, not on your ordinary,
judgmental mind.
Developing bodhicitta ()& wisdom
Bhumis: The ten stages a Bodhisattva advances through in the
path to become a Buddha.
Bodhisattva: A person who already has a considerable degree of
enlightenment and seeks to use his or her wisdom to help other
human beings to become liberated. In this understanding of the
word the Bodhisattva is an already wise person who uses skillful
means to lead others to see the benefits of virtue and the
cultivation of wisdom and compassion.
Bodhicitta Vow
1. Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to save them all.
2. Afflictions are inexhaustible, I vow to end them all.
3. Dharma doors are boundless, I vow to master them all.
4. Buddhahood is unsurpassable, I vow to attain it.

1..
2..
3..
4..

"For as long as space exists and living beings
endure. May i too remain to dispel the misery of
the world"
Ground-Path-Fruit
GROUND
Our Inherent
Buddha Nature in
the Deluded State
PATH
Methods to
remove
obscurations and
accumulate
merits+wisdom
FRUIT
Our enlightened
Buddha Nature
Which Path ??
6 and 10 Paramitas ()
1. Dna : generosity, giving of oneself (in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese,
; in Wylie Tibetan, sbyin-pa)
2. la : virtue, morality, discipline, proper conduct (; tshul-
khrims)
3. Knti (kshanti) : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance,
endurance (, bzod-pa)
4. Vrya : energy, diligence, vigor, effort (, brtson-grus)
5. Dhyna : one-pointed concentration, contemplation (, bsam-
gtan)
6. Praj : wisdom, insight (, shes-rab)

7. Upya : skillful means
8. Praidhna : vow, resolution, aspiration, determination
9. Bala : spiritual power
10. Jna : knowledge/ primordial wisdom
The 5 Paths and 10 Bhumis()
PATH BHUMIS BHUMIS NAME
1 Path of Accumulation
2 Path of Preparation/Application
3 Path of Seeing Bhumi 1 1. The Very Joyous (Paramudita)
4 Path of Meditation
Bhumi
2 - 10
2. The Stainless (Vimala)
3. The Luminous (Prabhakari)
4. The Radiant (Archishmati)
5. The Difficult to Cultivate (Sudurjaya)
6. The Manifest (Abhimukhi)
7. The Gone Afar (Duramgama)
8. The Immovable (Achala)
9. The Good Intelligence (Sadhumati)
10. The Cloud of Doctrine (Dharmamegha)
5
Path of Liberation/No More
Learning

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bh%C5%ABmi_%28Buddhism%29
5 Paths and 37 factors of enlightenment
PATH 37 Factors of Enlightenment ()
1 Path of Accumulation
4 Mindfulness
4 Abandonments
4 Miraculous Activities
The Three Adorning Qualities (The above 12 activities should not lack the following)
1. Bodhichitta aspiration.
2. Devotion of studying the dharma.
3. Exerting effort in acquiring merit and virtue through body, speech and mind.
2
Path of
Preparation/Application/Joining
5 Powers
5 Strengths
The above 22 activities of the path of accumulation and path of jApplication become discriminating
awareness when fully developed.
3 Path of Seeing 7 limbs of Enlightenment ()
4 Path of Meditation
8 Noble Paths ()
Emotional defilements and conceptualization are worked with and purified from the 1st to the 8th
bhumi.
When free from concepts and grasping, the 8th bhumi is attained though the wisdom defilements still
need to be worked with through the 10th bhumi.
Freedom from 2 kinds of obscurations:
1. Emotional.
2. Cognitive.
Attainment of 2 accomplishments:
1. Merit.
2. Wisdom. (realisation of EMPTINESS)
5 Path of Liberation
The bodhisattva becomes the Buddha. Resting in the vajra-like samadhi. It is
unobstructed, stable and all pervasive. The Eightfold Path becomes The Ten Perfect
Actions.
1.Accumulation 4 Mindfulness (, )
1. Mindfulness of Body
Mindfulness of Breathing, Postures of the Body, Clear Comprehension, Reflection on the Reality of
This Body, Reflection the Material Elements,

2. Contemplation of Feelings
Pleasant, Neutral or Unpleasant; Body or Mental; Worldly or Unworldly

3. Contemplation of Mind
Five Hindrances, Five Aggregates of Clinging, Six External and Six Internal Sense-Bases, Seven
Factors of Enlightenment, Four Noble Truths
5 Hindrances
Sense-Desire (Body), Anger (Loving Kindness), Sloth & Torpor (Change Posture, Perception of
Light), Worry (Breathing), Doubt (Studying, Asking Questions,)
5 Aggregates of Clinging (Skandhas) ,
Form, Feeling, Perception, Mental-Formations, Consciousness
6 External & 6 Internal Sense-Bases
Eye & Form, Ear & Sound, Nose & Odor, Tongue and Flavor, Body & Touch, Mind & Idea

4. Contemplation of Phenomena
Interdependence of causes and conditions, and are therefore lacking in true reality. Know them
to be simply emptiness beyond every kind of conceptual elaboration.



1. abandoning non-virtues which have been created,
2. not allowing new non-virtues to be produced,
3. producing the antidotes, virtues which have not arisen,
4. allowing those virtues which have arisen to increase.




1.Accumulation 4 Exertions
ARISEN
ABANDON
MAINTAIN AROUSE
GUARD
NOT ARISEN
N
O
N
-
V
I
R
T
U
E
S

V
I
R
T
U
E
S

1.Accumulation 4 Miraculous Leg
1. 'miracle support' of determination, which is to meditate with enthusiasm and
aspiration towards meditative concentration, so that the mind does not stray into
lack of faith or wrong views.

2. miracle support of exertion, is to apply ourselves with diligence to the practice of
meditative concentration, and to exert ourselves in both eliminating any faults or
obstacles, and in cultivating the necessary qualities, so that we remain unaffected by
temporary circumstances.

3. miracle support of attention, which ensures that we remain in a state of one-
pointed attention, thus avoiding the divided attention that is caught between various
thoughts and distracting influences. Through this, we realize actual meditative
concentration.

4. miracle support of discernment, helps us sustain meditative concentration during
daily activity, as a way of gaining the miraculous powers, such as the
superknowledges.

By manifesting various miraculous powers, we can travel miraculously to the fields where
buddhas actually reside. There, we can receive and master countless hundreds and
thousands of Dharma teachings.



1. the absorption of strong aspiration,
2. the absorption of perseverance,
3. the absorption of the mind, and
4. the absorption of investigation.

1.Accumulation 4 Miraculous
Leg/Activities
2. Application 5 Powers / 5 Strengths
1. Firstly, with the power of faith, we feel an intense aspiration towards the
wisdom of the power of seeing.
2. Through the power of diligence, we exert ourselves in the methods for
arousing the wisdom of the path of seeing, without slipping into laziness.

3. Through the power of mindfulness, we are able to maintain the higher
training in discipline without allowing it to deteriorate.

4. Through the power of meditative concentration, which corresponds to
the training in higher concentration, we are able to rest evenly in
meditation.
5. Through the power of wisdom, we are able to develop the view of the
natural state and take it to heart as the training in higher wisdom.


These five faculties are practised in the absence of their corresponding obstructing
factors. When they are no longer obstructed by, respectively, any lack of faith,
laziness, forgetfulness, distraction or lack of awareness, the five qualities of
faith(18), diligence(19), mindfulness(20), concentration(21) and wisdom(22) are
known as the five strengths .

The path of joining is so called because it provides the connection to the direct
insight of non-conceptual wisdom on the path of seeing. It consists of the stages of
warmth and summit on which it is uncertain when one will reach the path of seeing,
and the stages of acceptance and supreme attribute, on which one is sure to reach
the path of seeing in the very same life.
The non-conceptual wisdom of the path of seeing is likened to a fire that incinerates
the emotional obscurations. Just as two sticks will produce heat when they are
rubbed together, before they catch fire, when certain indications or signs of
warmth develop in ones being, as the coarser kleshas subside, this is known as
the stage of warmth on the path of joining. The stage of summit is so named
because it is the pinnacle of all sources of mundane virtue. Acceptance is so called
because one can fearlessly accept the reality of emptiness as the nature of things.
The stage of supreme attribute is so called because it is the best quality that can
arise from mundane meditation.
Once summit has been attained, it is said, the roots of virtue can never again be
severed by wrong view.

Once acceptance has been attained, it is said, there can be no more falling into the
lower realms.

2. Application 4 stages
3. Seeing 7 limbs of enlightemnent
1. Mindfulness becomes very natural - Pervasive mindfulness without a
beginning, middle or an end. The Four Noble Truths are retained and not
forgotten.
2. Genuine spontaneous investigation into nature- Decisive appraisal of The
Four Noble Truths.
3. Effortlessly effortful - Effort becomes a natural thing to do. The Four
Noble Truths are embraced with enthusiasm.
4. Natural joyfulness - With no deliberation. Happiness that the nature of
The Four Noble Truths is seen.
5. Subtleness / flexibility / easiness - A deeper sense of contentment. Body
and mind are serviceable in the pursuit of goodness and benefit.
6. Simple concentration - Allowing the discriminating awareness to rest
without distraction.
7. Equanimity - non-biased, non-discriminating. Mind is unattached to all
kinds of colours, tastes, people, events and circumstances. Evenness free
from torpor and excitement.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

3. Seeing 7 limbs of enlightemnent
3. Seeing 16 moments
The sixteen moments of the path of seeing describe the process of gaining
insight into the four noble truths. They are as follows:

1. Acceptance
2. Knowledge
3. Subsequent acceptance
4. Subsequent knowledge
X 4 Noble Truths


4 Noble Truth Key Concepts
SUFFERING
Life is full of Sufferings
1. Suffering of suffering
2. Suffering of Change (impermanence)
3. All-Pervasive Suffering of Conditioning of our
skandhas
ORIGINATION
Origin of sufferings is
Attachment (Desire)/I
1. Karma
2. 3 Poisons of Ignorance, Attachment and Aversion
CESSATION
Sufferings can be stopped
PATH
The 8-fold path
1. Wisdom (R View, Intention)
2. Morality (R Speech, Action, Livelihood)
3. Practice (R Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration
12 insights of the 4 Noble Truths
The Discourse That Sets Turning the Wheel of Truth identifies three stages
in the understanding of each truth, for a total of twelve insights. The three
stages for understanding each truth are:
[r]

sacca-a - knowing the nature of the truth (e.g., acknowledgement,
view, reflection)
kicca-a - knowing what needs to be done in connection with that
truth (e.g., practice; motivation; directly experiencing)
kata-a - accomplishing what needs to be done (e.g., result, full
understanding, knowing)
These three stages of understanding are emphasized particularly in the
Theravada tradition, but they are also recognized by some contemporary
Mahayana teachers.
[


4. Meditation :8-fold Path Revisited

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

6.

7.
8.

5. Perfection-
One achieves the limitless qualities of
Buddha:
1. Four Kayas
i. Svabhavika kaya (body of the essential nature; this is the
aspect of the inseparability of the first three kayas)
ii. Dharma kaya- (emptiness aspect of enlightenment
free from constructs)
iii. Sambhoga kaya- (form-body endowed with major
signs and minor marks perceptable only to highly realised beings
includes the bodhisattvas and dakinis)
iv. Nirmana kaya- (emanation-body manifested out of
compassion to help ordinary beings)

2. Four fearlessness
i. Proclaiming all truth
ii. Proclaiming the truth of perfection (freedom from faults)
iii. Exposing obstacles to the truth
iv. Proclaiming the way to end all sufferings

declaring he is enlightened to the truth of all phenomena
Proclaiming he has extinguished all desires and illusions
Teaching that desire and karma are obstacles to enlightenment
Overcome all suffering by practicizing buddhism

Buddha fearlessness arised from :
His 1. omniscience, 2. perfection of character, 3. overcoming
opposition, 4.ending of suffering


18 unsurpassed qualities of buddha
1. His perfection of body (or person)
2. His perfection of mouth (or speech)
3. His perfection of memory
4. His perfection of impartiality to all
5. Serenity
6. Self-sacrifice
7. Unceasing desire to save
8. Unflagging zeal therein to save
9. Unfailing thought thereto to save
10. Unceasing wisdom to save
11. Powers of deliverance
12. The principle of the powers of deliverance
13. Revealing perfect wisdom in deed
14. Revealing perfect wisdom in word
15. Revealing perfect wisdom in thought
16. Perfect knowledge of the past
17. Perfect knowledge of the future
18. Perfect knowledge of the present
10 powers of Buddha - daa-bala,
The Ten Powers of Buddha or Bodhisattva are the complete
knowledge of

1. what is right or wrong in every condition
2. what is the karma of every being, past, present and future
3. all stages of dhyana liberation and samadhi
4. the powers and faculties of all beings
5. the desires or moral directions of every being
6. the actual condition of every individual
7. the direction and consequence of all laws
8. all causes of mortality and of good and evil in their reality
9. the end of all beings and Nirvana
10. the destruction of all illusion of every kind
10 characteristics of Buddha
Some Buddhists meditate on (or contemplate) the Buddha as having ten
characteristics (Ch./Jp. ). These characteristics are frequently mentioned in
the Pali Canon as well as Mahayana teachings, and are chanted daily in many
Buddhist monasteries:

1. thus gone, thus come (Skt: tathgata)
2. worthy one (Skt: arhat)
3. perfectly self-enlightened (Skt: samyak-sabuddha)
4. perfected in knowledge and conduct (Skt: vidy-caraa-sapanna )
5. well gone (Skt: sugata)
6. unsurpassed (Skt: anuttara)
7. knower of the world (Skt: loka-vid)
8. leader of persons to be tamed (Skt: purua-damya-srathi)
9. teacher of the gods and humans (Skt: sta deva-manuya)
10.The World Honored Enlightened One (Skt: bhagavat or Buddha
Lokanatha)
[5]


10 Bhumis- The First Five
Bhumi Remarks
1 Very Joyous.
one rejoices at realizing a partial aspect of the
truth
2 Stainless one is free from all defilements
3 Luminous one radiates the light of wisdom
4 Radiant
radiant flame of wisdom burns away earthly
desires
5
Difficult to
Cultivate
one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or
ignorance as the Middle Way
10 Bhumis- The Second Five
Bhumi Remarks
6 Manifest supreme wisdom begins to manifest
7 Gone Afar rises above the states of the Two vehicles
8 Immovable
dwells firmly in the truth of the Middle Way and
cannot be perturbed by anything;
9
Good
Intelligence
preaches the Law freely and without restriction;
10
Cloud of
Doctrine
benefits all sentient beings with the Law (Dharma),
just as a cloud sends down rain impartially on all
things.
I am not here nor there.
I am not right nor wrong.
I do not exist neither non-exist.
I am not I nor non-I.
I am not in samsara nor nirvana.
To All Buddhas, I bow down for the
teaching of emptiness.