B. The difficulty of finding the freedoms and advantages in terms of a simile

C. The difficulty of finding the freedoms and advantages in numerical terms

A. Reflecting on how the freedoms and advantages constitute the support for accomplishing benefit and happiness

B. Reflecting on the superhuman qualities one will obtain

C. Reflecting on how much one stands to gain or lose

A. Reflecting on the need to be diligent in the Dharma by all means

B. Reflecting on the need to guard the mind, which is the root of the Dharma

C. Reflecting on the good qualities of the precious human body

A. Reflecting on the inevitability of death by considering the universe and beings in general

B. Reflecting on the inevitability of death by considering the diamond body and so forth

C. Reflecting on the inevitability of death by investigating different examples

A. Since one's life span is uncertain, there is no certainty when one will die

B. Since the causes of death are many and the causes for living are few, there is no certainty when one will die

C. Since this body too is so frail, there is no certainty when one will die

A. Reflecting that one's body cannot help one

B. Reflecting that one's possesions cannot help one

C. Reflecting that one's relatives and friends cannot help one

A. Reflecting on the sufferings of the three lower realms

1. Reflecting on the sufferings of the hells

a. Reflecting on the sufferings of the hot hells

b. Reflecting on the sufferings of the cold hells

c. Reflecting on the sufferings of the neighboring hells

d. Reflecting on the sufferings of the ephemeral hells

2. Reflecting on the sufferings of the hungry spirits

3. Reflecting on the sufferings of the animals

B. Reflecting on the sufferings of the higher realms

1. Reflecting on the sufferings of humans

2. Reflecting on the sufferings of the demigods

3. Reflecting on the sufferings of the gods

a. Reflecting on the sufferings of the gods of the world of desire

b. Reflecting on the sufferings of the gods of the two higher worlds

A. Reflecting on negative actions to be avoided

B. Reflecting on positive actions to be accomplished

C. Transforming indeterminate actions into positive ones

A. The truth of the origin

B. The truth of suffering

C. The truth of the path

D. The truth of cessation

A.Taking refuge, the entrance

1. The resons one needs to take refuge

2. Identifying the object of refuge

a. The causal object of refuge

i. The refuge objects of the common vehicles

(1) Worldly objects of refuge

(a) Inferior refuges

(b) Supreme refuges

(2) Supramundane objects of refuge

(a) Objects in which realization is manifest

(b) Sources of inspiration

(c) The absolute object of refuge

ii. The particular refuge objects of the Mantra Vehicle

b. The resultant object of refuge

3. The duration for which one takes refuge

4. The manner in which one is protected

5. The ritual for taking the refuge vow

6. The precepts of taking refuge

a. The actual precepts

i. Special precepts

(1) Precepts with regard to things one must avoid

(2) Precepts with regard to things one should do

ii. General precepts

(1) Not to forsake the Three Jewels, whatever one might stand to gain

(2) Not to seek refuge elsewhere, whatever happens

(3) To constantly remember the virtues of the Three Jewels and make offerings

(4) Remembering the benefits, to take refuge six times a day

b. The causes of the refuge ceasing

7. The benefits of taking refuge

a. The benefit that one becomes a Buddhist, a follower of the Buddha

b. The benefit that one will not fall into the lower realms

c. The benefit that one becomes a support for all vows

d. The benefit that one will not be harmed by obstacles caused by humans or nonhumans

e. The benefit that one will have few illnesses and a long life

f. The benefit that the obscurations of deeds performed in the past will be purified

g. The benefit that by completing its cause, the two accumulations, one will swiftly attain Buddhahood

B. The nature and categories of faith, which is what makes one take the entrance of refuge

1. The reason one needs to develop faith

2. Categories of faith

a. Vivid faith

b. Eager faith

c. Confident faith

3. How to cultivate faith

4. The causes and conditions that make faith grow or decrease

a. Using the causes that increase faith to make it grow

b. Recognizing and eliminating the conditions that make faith decrease

5. The particular characteristics of faith

6. The fault in not having faith

7. The benefits of cultivating faith

A. The definition of the arousing of bodhichitta

B. Categories

C. The particular referents

D. How bodhichitta is aroused

E. The ritual for takin the vow

F. Training in the precepts

I. The actual precepts

a. The precepts of bodhichitta in aspiration

i. Using mindfulness, vigilance, and carefulness in general

ii. Adopting and giving up the eight white and black actions in particular

b. The precepts of bodhichitta in action

i. Maturing oneself: training in the six transcendent perfections

(1) Generosity

(a) Material giving

(b) The gift of protection from fear

(c) The gift of Dharma

(2) Discipline

(a) The discipline of refraining from negative actions

(b) The discipline of gathering positive actions

(c) The discipline of working for the benefit of sentient beings

(3) Patience

(a) Patience in remaining imperturbable in the face of harm

(b) Patience in happily accepting suffering

(c) Patience in aspiring to a true knowledge of reality

(4) Diligence

(a) Armorlike diligence

(b) Diligence in application

(c) Diligence in benefiting others

(5) Concentration

(a) The concentration that procures a felling of well-being in this life

(b) The concentration that gives rise to excellent qualities

(c) The concentration that benefits sentient beings

(6) Wisdom

(a) The wisdom of listening

(b) The wisdom of reflecting

(c) The wisdom of meditating

ii Maturing others: training in the four ways of attracting disciples

iii. Incorporating the essential practice of the above two precepts: training the mind

G. The benefits of bodhichitta

1. The benefit that bodhichitta is outstandingly greater than other forms of virtue

2. The benefit that it is the root of Dharma

3. The benefit that one's merit grows ever greater

4. The benefit that one has immeasurable qualities

5. The benefit that one becomes an object of the world's reverence

6. The benefit that everything one undertakes is meaningful

7. The benefit that all those with whom one is connected are linked to liberation

A. The reason one needs to purify negative actions

B. The method for purifying negative actions

C. The benefits of purification

A. A general mention of the two accumulations

B. Particular points on the mandala practice

1. The reasons for making the mandala the main offering

2. The nature of the offering

3. The meaning of the word mandala

4. Different ways of offering the mandala

5. The special feature of the practice

6. The various elements that are visualized in offering the infinite Buddhafield

7. Considering one's aim in making such an offering

8. The unique benefits

A. The reason one needs to diligent, convinced that this is the essence of the path

B. Different ways to practice

1. General principles in making devotion and respect the path

2. Specific points on the different stages of receiving blessings: the approach and so forth

a. In general

b. In particular

i. Visualizing the object of prayer

ii. Accumulating merit with the seven branches

(1) Prostration, the antidote to pride

(2) Offering, the antidote to miserliness

(3) Parting from negative actions, the antidote to hatred

(4) Rejoicing, the antidote to jealousy

(5) Exhorting the teachers to turn the Wheel of Dharma, the antidote to bewilderment

(6) Praying not to pass into nirvana, the antidote to false views

(7) Dedicating to enlightenment, the antidote to doubt

(a) The reason one needs to dedicate

(b) The method for dedicating

(i) What one dedicates

(ii) The goal to which one makes the dedication

(iii) For whose sake one dedicates

(iv) The way to dedicate

iii. The meaning of the Vajra Guru mantra, the essence of Guru Rinpoche

iv. Receiving the four empowerments

C. The benefits and purpose of exerting oneself on the path in this way