Kopan Course No. 8 Index Page

The Index Page provides an outline of the topics discussed in each of the lectures. 

SECTION ONE

Lecture 1:  November 9, 1975  (morning)

• Renouncing a Life of Ignorance
• Suffering and Happiness Arise from Internal Factors
• The Three Poisonous Minds

Lecture 2:  November 9, 1975 (evening)

• The Three Poisonous Minds (Continued)
• The Practice of Dharma is Renouncing Suffering and its Causes
• Observe Karma
• Nature of the Mind

Lecture 3:  November 10, 1975

• Question and Answer: Reincarnation and the Self
• Thinking about the Future and the Present 

Lecture 4:  November 11, 1975

• Continuity of Mind 
• Universal Responsibility to Benefit All Mother Sentient Beings
• The Essence of the Mahayana Path 
• Introduction to lamrim 
• The Two Lineages 
• The Greatness of the Author
  • Atisha’s Birth 
• Meditation Instruction

Lecture 5:  November 12, 1975 (morning)

• Everything Depends on Mind
• The Greatness of the Author 
  • Atisha Leaves the Palace and Meets his Gurus 

SECTION TWO

Lecture 6:  November 12, 1975 (evening)

• The Greatness of the Author 
  • Atisha Leaves the Palace and Meets his Gurus
• Visualizing Shakyamuni Buddha 

Lecture 7:  November 13, 1975 (evening)

• Why and How to Set a Proper Motivation 
• The Greatness of the Author 
  • Atisha Travels to Guru Serlingpa
  • Lha Lama Yeshe Ö requests Atisha 

Lecture 7a:  November 13, 1975 – Discussion During Pipi Break

• Understanding Negative Feelings Experienced while on the Dharma Path 
• How the “Graduated Path” Works 

Lecture 8:  November 14, 1975 (morning) 

• A Perfect Human Rebirth
• The Greatness of the Author 
  • Nagtso Lotsawa travels to India to request Atisha

Lecture 9:  November 14, 1975 (evening)

• Commentary on Bodhisattva’s Jeweled Rosary (through verse 5) 
• Checking Up on the Mind 

Lecture 10:  November 15, 1975 (morning)

• The Greatness of the Author 
  • How Atisha’s Teachings Benefit in Tibet and India 
  • The Three Lineages of Atisha’s Teachings 

SECTION THREE

Lecture 11:  November 16, 1975

• The Qualifications of the Teaching 
• The Teachings are not Contradictory 
• All of the Teachings Appear as Personal Instruction

Lecture 12:  November 19, 1975

• Making the Perfect Human Rebirth Meaningful 
• The Benefits and Method of Correctly Listening to and Explaining Dharma 
  • How to Listen to Dharma 

Lecture 13:  November 20, 1975 (morning)

• Motivation 
• The Benefits and Method of Correctly Listening to and Explaining Dharma 
  • How to Explain Dharma
• How to Lead the Disciple on the Path to Enlightenment 
  • How to Practice Guru Devotion
  • The Meditation Session: Preparation
  • The Meditation Session: The Actual Meditation
• Guru Yoga 

Lecture 14:  November 20, 1975 (evening)

• Guru Yoga (Continued) 
• Equilibrium Meditation Question and Answer

Lecture 15:  November 21, 1975

• Perfect Human Rebirth Motivation 
• Guru Yoga (Continued) 
• The Qualities of the Guru 

SECTION FOUR

Lecture 16:  November 22, 1975

• The Futility of Attachment to Samsara 
• It is Natural to Follow the Wrong Path 
• The Qualities of the Guru (Continued)

Lecture 17:  November 23, 1975 (morning)

• Don’t Fall Asleep: Motivation
• The Qualities of the Guru (Continued)
• How to Follow the Guru
• Guru Devotion Question and Answer
• The Qualities of the Guru (Continued)

Lecture 18:  November 23, 1975 (evening)

• Question and Answer: Daytime and Dream Imagination 
• Relative Existence and Inherent Existence
• Prayer Visualization Advice (partial) 

Lecture 19:  November 24, 1975

• Impermanence 
• How to Follow The Guru through the Mind: Generating Devotion
• The Importance of Devotion 
• How to Follow the Guru through the Mind: Remembering the Guru’s Kindness 

Lecture 20:  November 25, 1975 (morning)

• Motivation and the Meaning of Meditation
• How to Follow the Guru through the Mind: Remembering the Guru’s Kindness (Continued)

SECTION FIVE

Lecture 21:  November 25, 1975 (evening)

• Recognizing the Buddha
• Persuading the Mind to Take the Essence of this Perfect Human Rebirth
• Suffering is Created and Projected by the Mind
• The Eight Freedoms of a Perfect Human Rebirth 

Lecture 22:  November 26, 1975

• Discipline During Break Time
• The Eight Freedoms of a Perfect Human Rebirth (Continued)
• How to Take the Eight Mahayana Precepts on One’s Own

Lecture 23:  November 27, 1975

• The Dharma Does Not Live in Books

Lecture 24:  November 29, 1975
[Incomplete Transcript] 

Lecture 25:  December 2, 1975

• Refuge in the Guru Comes First
• Samsara is Not a House 

SECTION SIX

Lecture 26:  December 3, 1975

• Meditation on Bodhicitta is Always the Answer
• Dharma is Never Harmonious with Delusions
• Rejoice, Generate Bodhicitta, Dedicate Merits
• Impermanence and Death 
• The Method to Save Oneself from the Lower Realms
• The Eight Benefits of Bodhicitta
  • The First Benefit of Bodhicitta

Lecture 27:  December 3, 1975 (evening)

• The Eight Benefits of Bodhicitta (Continued)
  • The First Benefit of Bodhicitta (Continued)
  • The Second Benefit of Bodhicitta
  • The Third Benefit of Bodhicitta

Lecture 28:  December 4, 1975 (morning)

• The Holy Thought of Bodhicitta
  • The Fourth Benefit of Bodhicitta
  • The Fifth Benefit of Bodhicitta
  • The Sixth Benefit of Bodhicitta

Lecture 29:  December 4, 1975 (evening) 1

• • The Seventh Benefit of Bodhicitta
  • The Eighth Benefit of Bodhicitta

Lecture 30:  December 4, 1975 (evening) 2

• • The Eighth Benefit of Bodhicitta (Continued)
  • The Ninth Benefit of Bodhicitta
  • The Tenth Benefit of Bodhicitta
• Introduction to the Ten Innermost Jewels of the Kadampas 

SECTION SEVEN

Lecture 31:  December 5, 1975 (morning)

• We Need to Understand the Suffering of Samsara
• Every Word of Dharma Brings Benefit
• Equilibrium Meditation to Generate Bodhicitta
• The Seven Point Cause and Effect Meditation

Lecture 32:  December 5, 1975 (evening) 1

• The Seven Point Cause and Effect Meditation (Continued)
  • The Four Ways of Analyzing the Kindness of the Mother 

Lecture 33:  December 5, 1975 (evening) 2

• The Seven Point Cause and Effect Meditation (Continued)
  • Repaying the Kindness of All Mother Sentient Beings
  • Equalizing Oneself with Others 

Lecture 34:  December 6, 1975 (evening)

• Equalizing Oneself with Others (Continued)
• The Shortcomings of the Self-cherishing Thought

Lecture 35:  December 7, 1975 (evening)

• The Shortcomings of the Self-cherishing Thought (Continued)
• The Benefits of Cherishing Others
• Generating Compassion Toward the Enemy
• The Eight Verses of Mind Training