The Great Chariot
by Longchenpa | 268,580 words
A Commentary on Great Perfection: The Nature of Mind, Easer of Weariness In Sanskrit the title is ‘Mahāsandhi-cittā-visranta-vṛtti-mahāratha-nāma’. In Tibetan ‘rDzogs pa chen po sems nyid ngal gso’i shing rta chen po shes bya ba ’...
A. The stages of entering the path of Mahayana
Now from the teachings I have composed, there are the stages of how to enter into the path of the great vehicle. First we should learn a bit about these. As just explained:
Having properly relied upon a spiritual friend,
We should learn the stages of the path to liberation.
Why? It is not workable to enter all at once. If the lower virtues of the path have not arisen, it is impossible to obtain the higher ones. Therefore, if we do not ascend gradually, the higher ones will not be reached. The Nirvana Sutra says:
Just like the steps of a staircase,
My profound teachings likewise,
Should be learned in stages and thoroughly,
In succession, not all at once.Just as for little children
Standing straight is progressively mastered,
This Dharma is also like that.
At first we enter by stages,
Until it is perfected.