Article:
Lamrim Meditation: A Graduated Approach
by Rev. Sue Annabrooke Jones
Lamrim (or lam rim) is a form of meditation found within the Kadampa Buddhist tradition,
which exists within the Mahayana ("great vehicle") school of Buddhism.
The Kadampa Buddhist Tradition
Kadampa was founded by the Indian Buddhist master Atisha, who lived 982-1054 A.D., and his
followers were known as Kadampas. The tradition migrated to Tibet, where it was revitalized three centuries later by the
great scholar and practitioner Je Tsongkhapa. He and his followers became known as the New Kadampas.
Kadampa Buddhism was introduced to the West in 1977 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. This
author, teacher and founder of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) is the primary exponent of Kadampa in the
world today.
There exists an unbroken lineage of teachers from Atisha up to those of
the present day, and teachers within this tradition are known for their high standards of
scholarship.
Lamrim Meditation
Lamrim is a graduated path to enlightenment comprised of 21 meditations. These meditations,
which are said to contain all of Buddha's essential teachings, form the backbone of Kadampa Buddhism. Lamrim can thus
be classified as a form of object meditation (which means meditation upon an object, concrete or abstract).
The goals of lamrim, as with other forms of Buddhist meditation, are to obtain peace,
happiness, enlightenment and freedom from suffering.
The Kadampa tradition holds that a person can experience some benefits of this meditation method by
practicing on one's own, but that progress is best made under the guidance of a qualified meditation teacher. Kadampa Buddhist
meditation centers around the world offer instruction in lamrim meditation.
Whether a person believes that enlightenment is best achieved gradually, through a step-by-step
method like lamrim, or holds the Zen view that enlightenment can occur spontaneously outside such a structure, this 21-step
meditation method has much to offer. It allows the meditator to focus and concentrate on each aspect of Buddha's teachings,
one at a time, making it possible to fully integrate each principle into his or her awareness, while simultaneously
pursuing the goals defined by the method.
Lamrim Meditation is just one of the more than 100 meditation
methods found in the Mental Yentl Database. To find out if Lamrim Meditation is recommended for you,
order a Mental Yentl Reading.
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