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{{short description|Tibetan Buddhism textual form}}
{{Tibetan Buddhism}}
'''Lamrim''' ({{Bo|t=ལམ་རིམ|w=lam rim}}, "stages of the path") is a [[Tibetan Buddhist]] textual form for presenting the stages in the complete path to [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|enlightenment]] as taught by [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]. In Tibetan Buddhist history there have been many different versions of ''lamrim'', presented by different teachers of the [[Nyingma]], [[Kagyu]] and [[Gelug]] schools.<ref>The [[Sakya (Tibetan Buddhist school)|Sakya]] school, too, has a somewhat similar textual form, the ''[[lamdré]]''.</ref> However, all versions of the ''lamrim'' are elaborations of [[Atisha|Atiśa]]'s 11th-century root text ''[[Bodhipathapradīpa|A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment]]'' (''Bodhipathapradīpa'').<ref name="thubten">[http://www.thubtenchodron.org/GradualPathToEnlightenment/index.html Lamrim: the Gradual Path to Enlightenment]</ref>

==History==
{{Buddhism|terse=1}}
When [[Atiśa]], the originator of the ''lamrim'' came from India to Tibet,<ref name="vajraus">[http://vajra.us/lamrim/gus_lamrim_1.html Lam Rim Meditation — What is it?]</ref> he was asked by king Jang Chub Ö to give a complete and easily accessible summary of the doctrine<ref name="vajraus"/> in order to clarify wrong views, especially those resulting from apparent contradictions across the [[sutra]]s and their commentaries. Based upon this request he wrote the ''[[Bodhipathapradīpa]]'' ("A Lamp for the Path to Awakening"), teaching what came to be known as the ''lamrim'' for the Tibetans.<ref name="vajraus"/> Atiśa's presentation of the doctrine later became known as the [[Kadampa]] tradition in Tibet.

According to Tsong Khapa, in his ''Lam Rim Chen Mo'' ("The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment"), Atiśa took the number and order of the subjects in [[Maitreya-natha]] and [[Asanga|Asaṅga]]s ''[[Abhisamayalankara]]'' ("Ornament of clear realizations"), which was based on the [[Prajnaparamita|wisdom sutras]], as the basis to write the ''Bodhipathapradīpa''. In the ''Abhisamayalankara'' they emphasised the hidden meanings of the sutras.<ref>[http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Abhisamayalankara Abhisamayalankara]</ref> Tibetan Buddhists thus believe that the teachings of the ''lamrim'' are based on the sutras that the Buddha taught<ref>[http://www.thubtenchodron.org/GradualPathToEnlightenment/LR_001_Qual_29Apr91.pdf Introduction to the Lamrim series; Preeminent qualities of the compilers and of the teachings ] pgs. 4-6</ref><ref name="kadampa">[http://kadampa.org/en/buddhism/stages-of-the-path Lamrim - The Stages of the Path]</ref> and therefore contains the essential points of all sutra teachings in their logical order for practice.

[[Gampopa]], a Kadampa monk and student of the famed ''yogi'' [[Milarepa]], introduced the ''lamrim'' to his disciples as a way of developing the mind gradually.  His exposition of ''lamrim'' is known in English translation as "[[The Jewel Ornament of Liberation]]" and is studied to this day in the various [[Kagyu]] schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

The main Lam Rim text in the Nyingma tradition is [[Longchenpa|Longchen Rabjampa's]] ''Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind'', along with its voluminous auto-commentary, ''The Great Chariot.'' Both lay out the entire scope of the buddhist teachings according to the view of the [[Nyingma]] school, from the foundational practices through to [[Dzogchen]].

[[Tsongkhapa]], founder of the [[Gelug]] school which is primarily based on Atiśa's [[Kadampa]] school, wrote one of his masterpieces on ''lamrim'': ''The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path of Enlightenment'' (Tib. ''Lam-rim Chen-mo'')<ref name="thubten"/> which has about 1000 pages, and is primarily based on literary sources. There is also a medium-length ''lamrim'' text by Tsongkhapa (200 pages) and a short one, called ''Lam-rim Dü-dön'' (Tib.), which is recited daily by many Gelugpas and is about 10 pages long.{{refn|group=note|See [https://studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/original-texts/sutra-texts/the-abbreviated-points-of-the-graded-path ''The Abbreviated Points of the Graded Path'']}}

The Lamrim was the first Tibetan text translated into a European language by [[Ippolito Desideri]], a Jesuit missionary, who visited Tibet and made an extensive study of Tibetan Buddhism from 1716 to 1721.<ref>{{cite web | first=Alison | last=Gopnik | author-link=Alison Gopnik | title=Could David Hume Have Known about Buddhism? Charles François Dolu, the Royal College of La Flèche, and the Global Jesuit Intellectual Network | access-date=26 March 2017 | url=http://www.alisongopnik.com/papers_alison/gopnik_humestudies_withtoc.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055840/http://www.alisongopnik.com/papers_alison/gopnik_humestudies_withtoc.pdf | archive-date=2013-09-21 }}</ref> Desideri studied the Lam Rim Chen Mo of Tsongkhapa, and his manuscript describing Tibet was one of the most extensive and accurate accounts of Buddhist philosophy until the twentieth century.

==Philosophy==

===Three kinds of motivation===
The starting point of the ''lamrim'' is a division of Buddhist practitioners into beings of three scopes, based upon the motivation of their religious activity. Disregarded in this division are individuals whose motives revolve around benefits in their current life. Striving for a favorable rebirth is implicitly the minimum requirement for an activity or practice to be classified as spiritual.

Atiśa wrote in "Lamp of the Path" (verse 2) that one should understand that there are three kind of persons:
# Persons of modest motive search for happiness within [[samsara]]; their motive is to achieve high rebirth. Buddhists traditionally consider that this domain includes followers of most non-Buddhist religions who strive for a rebirth in a heaven.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}
# Persons of medium motive are searching for their own ultimate peace and abandoned worldly pleasure. This includes the paths of ''[[pratyekabuddha]]s'' and ''[[sravakabuddha|śravakabuddhas]]'', which seek personal liberation alone, the traditional goal of [[Hinayana|Hīnayāna]] practice.
# Persons of high motive, who, based on their insight of their own suffering, seek by all means to stop the suffering of all beings. This is the [[Mahayana|Mahāyāna]] [[Bodhisattva path]] of the ''[[Samyaksambuddha|samyaksaṃbuddhas]]'', who practice the [[six Perfections]].

One of the formulaic presentations of the Buddhist path in the Nikayas is ''[[anupubbikathā]]'', "graduated talk"<ref name="CA"/> or "progressive instruction,"<ref name="MN_v18"/> in which the Buddha talks on generosity (''[[Dana (Buddhism)|dāna]]''), virtue (''[[Śīla|sīla]]''), heaven (''[[sagga]]''), danger of sensual pleasure (''[[kāma|{{IAST|kāmānaṃ}}]] ādīnava'')<ref>In regards to translating ''ādīnava'', Bullitt uses the word "drawbacks" while Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (2001) use "danger" (p. 485), and Rhys Davids & Stede (1921–25) recommend "disadvantage, danger" (p. 99, entry for "Ādīnava", retrieved 2007-11-13 from [https://archive.today/20120708211251/http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:2695.pali]).</ref> and renunciation (''[[nekkhamma]]''). When the listener is prepared by these topics, the Buddha then delivers "the teaching special to the Buddhas,"<ref name="MN_v18">Majjhima Nikaya 56, ''To Upali'', verse 18.Bhikkhu Nanamoli & Bhikku Bodhi.</ref>
the [[Four Noble Truths]] (''cattāri ariya-[[Sacca (Buddhism)|saccā]]ni''),<ref>See, for instance, [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/index.html Bullitt (2005).]</ref> by which arises "the spotless immaculate vision of the Dhamma."<ref name="MN_v18"/><ref name="CA">Carole Anderson (2013), ''Pain and its Ending'', p.143</ref> In the Tibetan Lamrim teachings, the Bodhisattva-path, with its training of the six perfections, is added to this formula.

===Subjects of the ''lamrim''===
Although ''lamrim'' texts cover much the same subject areas, subjects within them may be arranged in different ways. The ''lamrim'' of Atiśa starts with [[bodhicitta]], the altruistic mind of enlightenment, followed by taking the bodhisattva vows. Gampopa's ''lamrim'', however,  starts with the [[Buddha-nature]], followed by the preciousness of human rebirth. Tsongkhapa's texts start with reliance on a guru (Tib.: ''lama''), followed by the preciousness of human rebirth, and continue with the paths of the modest, medium and high scopes. Longchenpa's lamrim begins with the four thoughts that turn the mind, and proceeds through to the two stages of vajrayana practice and dzogchen.

[[Gampopa]], [[Tsongkhapa]], [[Longchenpa]], and others, expanded the short root-text of Atiśa into an extensive system to understand the entire Buddhist philosophy. In this way, subjects like [[karma]], [[Rebirth (Buddhism)|rebirth]], Buddhist cosmology and the practice of [[meditation]] are gradually explained in logical order.

==Outline of Topics==
An example of the outline for ''lamrim'' teachings is that of ''Liberation in the Palm of your Hand'' by [[Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo]]. An abbreviated and annotated outline follows to show the structure of this ''lamrim'':{{refn|group=note|For a more detailed outline, see the external link "Lam Rim: The gradual Path to Enlightenment, Venerable Thubten Chodron's online Lamrim Outline"}}

;Introduction
* the identities and lineages of the authors of the ''lamrim'' ([[Shakyamuni Buddha]], [[Atisha]], [[Dromtoenpa]], etc.), to establish the authenticity of the teaching
* the greatness of the ''lamrim'' itself, to gain respect for it
* the way the instructions are to be received and given
* the way the students are to be guided through the subjects. This fourth subject has two divisions:
:* the way to rely on a spiritual guide
:* the way to train your mind on the basis of the correct way to rely on the spiritual guide. This last heading contains the rest of the instructions under the headings:
::* the way to encourage yourself to take the essence of this precious human rebirth
::* the way to take the essence of this precious human rebirth (that is: training your mind in the paths of the three scopes included within the ''lamrim'')

;The path shared with persons who have the modest scope motivation
Striving for a rebirth in the upper realms:
* the reality that this life will end and that you will die
* the suffering in a rebirth in the lower realms (a rebirth as hell being, hungry ghost or animal, which you want to avoid)
* (so you) take refuge in the three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
* (and adjust your behavior of body, speech and mind according to the) law of cause and effect/ karma which will lead you to a favorable rebirth within cyclic existence in the human-, demigod-, or god realm.

;The path shared with persons who have the medium scope motivation
Striving for liberation of cyclic existence. The training in the medium scope path will lead to the development of the wish to be liberated from all un-free rebirths in cyclic existence through the power of afflictive emotions and karma. It consists of:
* The Four Noble Truths:
:* The truth of suffering (in cyclic existence in general, including the favorable rebirths)
:* The truth of the causes of suffering (the afflictive emotions, especially ignorance)
:* The truth of cessation (there is a state that is free of suffering and its origins)
:* The truth of paths (the way to attain this state free of suffering and its causes by practicing ethics, concentration and wisdom)
* Another presentation of the middle scope subjects is the presentation of the 12 links of dependent arising

;The path for persons who have the high scope motivation
Striving for complete buddhahood:
* Developing [[Bodhicitta|mind of enlightenment]] (''bodhicitta''), the wish to become a buddha for the welfare of all sentient beings:
:* the advantages of the mind of enlightenment;
:* the way to develop the mind of enlightenment
:* the 7-point instruction in seeing all sentient beings as your mothers (from previous lives and contemplating their kindness towards you)
:* the instruction on how to exchange your self-interest for others' interest (by looking at the drawbacks of self-cherishing and the advantages of cherishing others)
* the way to train your mind after developing the mind of enlightenment, by training the six perfections:
:* training in the perfection of generosity
:* training in the perfection of ethics
:* training in the perfection of patience
:* training in the perfection of joyful effort
:* training in the perfection of concentration
:* training in the perfection of wisdom

== Gelug Lamrim tradition ==
The study of Lamrim is a major focus of the Gelug school and numerous Gelug figures wrote Lamrim works. A collection of important Lamrim works is known as the Eight Great Commentaries (on Atisha's ''Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment).'' The [[14th Dalai Lama]] frequently teaches on these works. These are:<ref>{{Cite web|last=|title=The Eighteen Commentaries|url=https://jangchuplamrim.org/the-eighteen-commentaries/|access-date=2021-10-19|website=Jangchup Lamrim|language=en-US}}</ref>

# ''The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim chen mo)'' by [[Je Tsongkhapa|Je Tsong Khapa]]
# ''The Medium Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim ‘bring po)'' by Je Tsong Khapa
# ''The Concise Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim bsdus don)'' also known as Song of the Stages of the Path (lam rim nyams mgur) by Je Tsong Khapa
# ''The Essence of Refined Gold – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim gser zhun ma)'' by His Holiness the [[3rd Dalai Lama|Third Dalai Lama]], Sonam Gyatso.
# ''The Easy Path – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim bde lam)'' by [[Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, 4th Panchen Lama|Panchen Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen.]]
# ''The Sacred Words of Manjushri – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim ‘jam dpal zhal lung)'' by [[5th Dalai Lama|the Fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso]]
# ''The Swift Path – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim myur lam)'' by [[Lobsang Yeshe, 5th Panchen Lama|Panchen Lobsang Yeshe]] 
# ''Essence of Fine Speech – Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lam rim legs gsung nying khu)'' by Ngawang Drakpa of Dagpo

==Lamrim texts in English==

===Classical Lamrim books (in historical order)===
*{{cite web|url=http://www.lamrim.com/atishalamp/LampForThePath.PDF|title=The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment|last=Dipamkarashrijnana|first=Atisha|publisher=Snow Lion Publications|access-date=2008-07-22}}
*''Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment'' by Geshe Sonam Rinchen, Snow Lion Publications
*''[[The Jewel Ornament of Liberation]] by Gampopa'', translated and annotated by Herbert V. Guenther (1986). Shambala Publications, {{ISBN|0-87773-378-3}} (pbk)
*''The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa'', translated by Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche (1998). Snow Lion Publications – Ithaca, New York, with a foreword by The Dalai Lama, {{ISBN|1-55939-092-1}}.
*''Engaging by Stages in the Teachings of the Buddha'', 2 vols., by Phagmodrupa (Gampopa's disciple), Otter Verlag, Munich
*[[Longchenpa|Longchen Rabjam]],[https://buddhanature.tsadra.org/index.php/People/Klong_chen_pa] ''Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind,[https://buddhanature.tsadra.org/index.php/Books/Finding_Rest_in_the_Nature_of_the_Mind]'' Padmakara Translation Group (Boston: Shambhala, 2017)[https://www.shambhala.com/finding-rest-trilogy.html]
**''Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind'' (sems nyid ngal gso), is a complete lam rim in 13 chapters written in verse form. It covers the  ground, path, and fruition as well as the view, meditation and conduct according to the Nyingma school, beginning from the foundational four reflections that turn the mind through to the two stages of vajrayana practice and the view and practice of dzogchen, blending the sutra presentation of buddha nature with the tantric view of the luminous, empty, spontaneously present primordial ground of pristine awareness.<ref name=":0" /> Longchenpa composed three auto-commentaries on the root text: one short, one extensive, and one which lays out the practice instructions:<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Rabjam |first=Longchen |title=Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind |publisher=Shambhala |year=2017 |isbn=9780834841161 |location=Boulder |pages=27}}</ref> 
***The short auto-commentary: ''Garland of White Lotuses'' (Tib. padma dkar po’i phreng ba). 
***The extensive auto-commentary: ''The Great Chariot''  (Tib. shing rta chen po)
****''The Great Chariot'' is currently (as of 2022) in preparation for publishing by the Library of Tibetan Classics, translated by Ives Waldo. The digital version of the translation in progress is available online at [https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/book/the-great-chariot Wisdomlib]. The [https://tibetanclassics.org/index.php/library-of-tibetan-classics-lotc/ Library of Tibetan Classics], under the direction of Geshe Thupten Jinpa, PhD., has prepared a [https://tibetanclassics.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Jinpa-Thupten_2005_rdzogs-pa-chen-po-sems-nyid-ngal-gso_i-_grel-pa-shing-rta-chen-po_LOTC-3.pdf critical edition] of the Tibetan text.
***The practice instructions: ''The Excellent Path to Enlightenment'' (Tib. byang chub lam bzang), Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche and Gerry Winer (translators), Jewelled Lotus, 2014.
*[http://www.labsum.org/snowlionarticle.html ''The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment'']
** {{cite book |last= Tsong-kha-pa |author-link= Je Tsongkhapa |translator=Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee |editor=Joshua Cutler |editor2=Guy Newland |title= The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, Volume I|year=2000|publisher= Snow Lion |location= Canada |isbn= 1-55939-152-9 }}
** {{cite book |last= Tsong-kha-pa |author-link= Je Tsongkhapa |translator=Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee |editor=Joshua Cutler |editor2=Guy Newland |title= The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, Volume II |year=2002|publisher= Snow Lion |location= Canada |isbn= 1-55939-168-5 }}
** {{cite book |last= Tsong-kha-pa |author-link= Je Tsongkhapa |translator=Lamrim Chenmo Translation Committee |editor=Joshua Cutler |editor2=Guy Newland |title= The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, Volume III |year=2004 |publisher= Snow Lion |location= Canada |isbn= 1-55939-166-9 }}
*Sonam Gyatso (bSod Nams rGya mTso, the third Dalai Lama),  ''Lam rim gser zhun ma.'' English translation by Glenn H. Mullin; 1st edition titled ''Essence of Refined Gold by the Third Dalai Lama: with related texts by the Second and Seventh Dalai Lamas'' (Dharamsala, HP, India: Tushita Books, 1978); 2nd edition titled ''Selected Works of the Dalai Lama III: Essence of Refined Gold'' (Ithaca, New York: Snow Lion, 1985).
*{{cite book |author=Pabongkha Déchen Nyingpo |author-link=Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo  |editor=Trijang Rinpoche |others=Michael Richards (translator) |title= Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, A Concise Discourse on the Path to Enlightenment |year= 2006|edition=3rd |publisher= Wisdom |location=Somerville, Massachusetts |isbn= 0-86171-500-4 }}

===Modern Lamrim books & commentaries===
*''Wake Up To Your Life: Discovering the Buddhist Path of Attention''. [[Ken McLeod]]. HarperCollins. {{ISBN|978-0062516817}} 
*''Practicing the Path: A Commentary on the Lamrim Chenmo'', Yangsi Rinpoche, Wisdom Publications, {{ISBN|0-86171-346-X}}
*''Steps on the Path to Enlightenment'', Volume 1: A Commentary on the Lamrim Chenmo, The Foundational Practices, by Geshe [[Lhundub Sopa]], Wisdom Publications, {{ISBN|0-86171-303-6}}
*''Steps on the Path to Enlightenment'', Vol.2: Karma : A Commentary on the Lamrim Chenmo by Geshe [[Lhundub Sopa]], Wisdom Publications, {{ISBN|0-86171-481-4}}
*''Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment'', TDL Publications, {{ISBN|0-9623421-6-5}}
*''Joyful Path of Good Fortune: The Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment'', Tharpa Publications (2nd. ed., 1995) {{ISBN|978-0-948006-46-3}}
*''[[The New Meditation Handbook]]: Meditations to Make Our Life Happy and Meaningful'', Tharpa Publications (2003) {{ISBN|978-0-9817277-1-4}}
*''Path to Enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism'', Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, Tushita Publications, {{ISBN|0-646-16500-3}}
*''Meditations on the Path to Enlightenment'', [[Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden]], Tushita Publications, {{ISBN|0-646-27043-5}}
*''Essence of the Path to Enlightenment'', Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, Tushita Publications, {{ISBN|0-646-34241-X}}
*''Guided Meditations on The Stages of the Path'', Thubten Chodron, Snow Lion Publications, {{ISBN|978-1-55939-281-5}}

==See also==
* [[Lamdré]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.shambhala.com/great-treatise-pb-set.html The English Translation of the Lam-Rim Chenmo] by Tsongkhapa (Shambhala Publications)
*[http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/A%20-%20Tibetan%20Buddhism/Authors/Atisha/A%20Lamp%20For%20The%20Enlightenment%20Path/A%20Lamp%20For%20The%20Enlightenment%20Path.htm A Lamp For The Enlightenment Path] by Atisha
*[http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/A%20-%20Tibetan%20Buddhism/Authors/Atisha/Advice%20from%20Atisha/Advice%20from%20Atisha.htm Advice from Atisha] by Atisha
*[http://studybuddhism.com/web/en/archives/sutra/level2_lamrim/overview/general/overview_lamrim_pathways_mind.html Overview of the Lam-rim Graded Pathways of Mind] by Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche
*[http://studybuddhism.com/web/x/nav/n.html_2034651659.html Lam-rim articles] at Study Buddhism
*[http://studybuddhism.com/web/x/nav/group.html_335709351.html Course: Meditation Practice on the Graded Stages of the Path (Lam-rim)] by Alexander Berzin
*[http://www.lamrim.org.uk Lam Rim Centres]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=YMGaH09MSfQC Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand] by [[Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo]] on Google Book Search
*[http://www.lamayeshe.com/acatalog/itp_section.html HH the Dalai Lama's Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment]
*[http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/lam_rim_outline.pdf Lamrim Outline pdf]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180651/http://www.meaning.com/transcripts Transcripts]
*[http://kechara.com/upload/editor/image/house/articles/190410_lamrimmindmap/lamrim-mindmap1b.jpg Lamrim Mindmap]
*[http://www.LamRim.com LamRim Radio]
*[http://www.LamRim.tv LamRim TV]
*[http://www.LamRim.mn LamRim Mongolia]

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