Lessons from the Lamrim: Part 4

Here are more questions and answers from Lamrim class, for your learning pleasure. Do take the time to read the answers and if you have any questions or require any clarification, please reach out and ask!

Question:

Reference to the text;

1. Page 15-16 …..”This is because you have not yet abandoned some of the things you ought, such as the obscurations to omniscience and the four causes of ignorance”….. What are the four causes of ignorance?

2. Page 38….” the other pundits well versed in the five sciences”… similar observation on page 35….”Atisha depended on 157 gurus, he studied all the sciences, sutras and tantras along with their oral instructions” What are the five science?

Thank you for your kindness and patience. 🙏🏻

Answers:

(1) Page 15-16 …..”This is because you have not yet abandoned some of the things you ought, such as the obscurations to omniscience and the four causes of ignorance”….. What are the four causes of ignorance?

(1) When we do not know the qualities of Shakyamuni. This means we lack an understanding of the depth and breadth of Shakyamuni’s qualities.

(2) When we do not know the qualities of our guru. This means we lack an understanding of the depth and breadth of our guru’s qualities and his knowledge.

(3) When we lack an effortless and simultaneous realisation of all things present, past and future, no matter how lengthy the passing of time. One of the results is that we are unable to distinguish between someone who has a Dharma seed and someone who does not. We are unable to look far back into their past lives to see when they have may have, at some point, created even one singular cause to receive the Dharma.

An example of this is the story of Palkye, an elderly household disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni. Palkye strongly desired to become ordained. He approached Shariputra (Shakyamuni’s attendant) with his request, but was turned down because Shariputra deemed that he lacked the necessary merit (or seed of virtuous inclination) that would make him worthy of ordination. Palkye approached several arhats with the same request but they all rejected him on the same grounds, as none of them could see any virtuous inclination in his mind. When Palkye’s wish was finally brought to Shakyamuni’s attention, the Buddha scolded Shariputra and the arhats, saying that Palkye did have the merit that would warrant him to be ordained. The Buddha related how, in a previous life where Palkye had been reborn as a pig, he had been chased by a dog around a stupa, thus creating the meritorious seed that would make him worthy of ordination. And so, whereas the arhats cannot perceive the duration of eons and the space between eons, the mind of the Buddha transcends any duration of time, nothing is beyond His omniscience.

(4) When we don’t recognise the unlimited causes of our karma. For example, when we look at a peacock and it has nice feathers, we do not know the karma that causes its colour. We do not know the karma that causes its design. We do not know the karma that causes the layout of the feathers and so on.

(2) Page 38….” the other pundits well versed in the five sciences”… similar observation on page 35….”Atisha depended on 157 gurus, he studied all the sciences, sutras and tantras along with their oral instructions” What are the five science?

The five sciences are grammar/language, logic, medicine, fine arts, spirituality/philosophy.

Those are sometimes referred to also as the five major sciences. The five minor sciences are astrology, poetry, prosody (meter and sound), lexicography (compiling of dictionaries and study of synonyms), and dramatical composition.

Question:

Thank you for the clarification ( embellished with bodhi light tale ).

Moral of Palkye’s the story :
– [ ] Abstain from being judgmental towards others?

– [ ] Is this only applicable in context of Dharma seed or attainment?

– [ ] One who obtains Buddhahood, attains omniscience and bodhicitta therefore transcends time, space and all dimensions? Thus, this is the only resolution for all the ignorances?

Answers:

Yes, we should abstain from judgement because all sentient beings, no matter how evil, have the potential to become enlightened. However, the greater answer to your question is contained within the story itself: “effortless and simultaneous realisation of all things present, past and future, no matter how lengthy the passing of time”. If you want to truly help people, you need to develop this quality and the only person who possesses this quality is a Buddha. In this case, Palkye may have missed the opportunity to become ordained had the Buddha not intervened. The Buddha was able to facilitate Palkye’s ordination, and therefore benefit him, because He has the ability to comprehend all things past, present and future, simultaneously.

Reflections and Teachings