ACI 3: “Practical Meditation”

Stage Two of the Steps to Enlightenment (Lamrim)

This course is essential for anyone seeking to practice meditation effectively. It is based on the text “Stages of Meditation” (Bhavana Krama) by Master Kamalashila (750 CE) and teachings by Je Tsongkhapa and Pabongka Rinpoche.

 

Good meditation forms the foundation of all Buddhist practice. This ACI course delves into meditation as taught in the tradition of Tsongkhapa, emphasizing precise, effective techniques passed down through a pure lineage spanning centuries. 

 

With these teachings we delve into this science and this lineage to establish a strong foundation for personal meditative practice, applicable to both daily life and professional settings.

 

This course incorporates the third major topic, “Clear Thinking,” to establish proof of past and future lives. It also explores related topics, including levels of reality, definitions of valid perception, evidence of omniscience, and the connection between karma and rebirth.

 

A central feature of this course is a wooden engraving titled “The Stage of Meditation” (see image). This diagram encapsulates the entire meditation path and was created by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche based on the teachings of Indian master Kamalashila (circa 775 CE). His “Stages of Meditation” (in three parts) serves as the foundation for all subsequent Tibetan schools of meditation.

 

The course also draws heavily on Tsongkhapa’s detailed explanation of this system in his major works on the steps of the path. Solid meditative practice underpins all five major topics in Buddhism, particularly the “Middle Way,” which teaches that enlightenment is possible only through the combination of deep meditation (shamatha in Sanskrit) and profound insight into emptiness (vipashyana).

Topics Covered:

• Descriptions of various types of meditation
• Conditions conducive to meditation
• Elements of meditative practice
• Preparatory actions before meditation
• The eight-point posture for meditation
• Ideal objects of focus during meditation
• Five challenges faced during meditation and eight solutions to overcome them
• The nine meditative stages leading to deep concentration or calmness

 

Steps for Completing the Course:

1. Listen to the Lecture

Choose a time when you can focus entirely on the teachings without distractions.

2. Read the Lecture Notes

Review notes prepared by students who attended Geshe Michael’s teachings for key insights and terminology.

3. Review the Reading Materials

The reading materials are derived from sacred Buddhist texts and their commentaries.

4. Complete the Homework

Use the lecture notes and reading materials to answer all questions. Avoid consulting the answer key while preparing your responses.

5. Check Your Homework

Compare your answers with the answer key. Do not revise your work after reviewing the answers.

6. Perform Required Meditations

Complete at least two analytical meditations for each lesson, spread across different days. Only one meditation per day counts toward the requirement.

7. Learn Memorization Assignments

Study specific passages or concepts outlined in the homework.

8. Take the Quiz

Quizzes should be completed without using notes or materials, following the homework and meditation requirements.

9. Move to the Next Lesson

Proceed only after finishing all steps for the current lesson.

10. Prepare for the Final Exam

After completing 10 lessons, listen to the 11th lecture for an overview and prepare for the final exam.

11. Write the Final Exam

Answer the exam questions independently without using notes or materials.

12. Submit Your Work for Review

Submit all materials for peer review via the designated platform.

 

Course Author: Geshe Michael Roach

 

Instructors: Yuliya and Yevhen Belyayev