Basic Program: Middle Length Lam Rim

Tse Chen Ling and Gyalwa Gyatso, 2011

Four Schools of Buddhist Philosophical Tenets

Four Schools of
Buddhist
Tenets

Vaibhashika Sautrantika Chittamatra Madhyamika Nagarjuna,

(Great Exposition (Sutra School) (Mind Only School) (Middle Way Aryadeva
School) School)

Svatantrika Prasangika
Sautrantika (Autonomy School) (Consequence
Followers of School)
Scripture
Chittamatra
Followers of
Scripture Chandrakirti,
Sautrantika- Yogachara-
Sautrantika Buddhapalita
Svatantrika Svatantrika
18 Followers of
subschools Reasoning Chittamatra
Followers of
Reasoning Bhavaviveka Shantarakshita,
Kamalashila

Hinayana Mahayana
 Basic Program: Middle Length Lam Rim
Tse Chen Ling and Gyalwa Gyatso, 2011
Selflessness according to the Four Schools
Selflessness of Persons 1 Selflessness of Phenomena Illustration of the person
Coarse Subtle Coarse Subtle  (the self/person that DOES
exist)
Vaibhashika       Many assertions: the mere
(Great Exposition collection of mental and
School) physical aggregates , mental
consciousness, etc.
none none Followers of Scripture:
Sautrantika Continuum of the aggregates
(Sutra School)
Followers of Reasoning:
Mental consciousness
Non-existence of a Non-existence of a Non-existence of Followers of Scripture:
Chittamatra permanent, partless, self-sufficient subject and object as Mind-basis-of-all
(Mind-Only School) independent person substantially existent different entities;
person Non-existence of Followers of Reasoning:
phenomena as Mental consciousness
naturally bases of
names
Yogachara- Non-existence of (Subtle, neutral) mental
Madhyamika- Svatantrika: non- truly existent consciousness
Svatantrika existence of phenomena
(Autonomy Middle subject and object
Way School) as different entities

Sautrantika-
Svatantrika:none
Madhyamika- Non-existence of a Non-existence of an -- Non-existence of Mere I
Prasangika self-sufficient inherently existent inherently existent (the I that is merely labeled
(Middle Way substantially person phenomena other in dependence on the body
Consequence School) existent person than persons and/or mind)

1
Note: persons in this context include all beings – animals, humans, etc. , not merely human beings.
 Basic Program: Middle Length Lam Rim
Tse Chen Ling and Gyalwa Gyatso, 2011

Obstructions according to the Four Schools

  Obstructions to Liberation Obstructions to Omniscience
(or Afflictive Obstructions) (or Knowledge Obstructions)
  Coarse Subtle Coarse Subtle
n/a n/a
Vaibhashika
(GreatExpositionSchool)

n/a n/a
Sautrantika
(SutraSchool)

Conception of a Conception of a self-sufficient -- Conception of subject

Chittamatra permanent, partless, substantially existent person and object as different
(Mind-Only School) independent person entities;
Conception of
phenomena as
naturally bases of
names
Yogachara-Svatantrika: Conception of
Madhyamika-Svatantrika Conception of subject phenomena as truly
(AutonomyMiddleWaySchool) and object as different existent
entities

Sautrantika-Svatantrika:
none
Madhyamika-Prasangika Conception of a self- Conception of persons and -- Appearance of inherent
(MiddleWayConsequenceSchool) sufficient substantially other phenomena as existence; stains of
existent person inherently existent conceiving the two
truths as different
entities
FPMT Basic Program TENETS
Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa Chart 8

Objects of Abandonment
Source: Jetsun Chögyi Gyeltsen’s Presentation of Tenets

AFFLICTIVE OBSCURATIONS OBSCURATIONS TO KNOWLEDGE

SCHOOL (Obstructions to liberation)
COARSE
Conception of a self-
sufficient substantially
existent person and the
CONSEQUENCE
attachment and so forth that
arise due to the force of that,
together with their seeds
Conception of a permanent,
SUTRA unitary, independent person
AUTONOMY Conception of a permanent,
unitary, independent person
YOGIC
Conception of a permanent,
unitary, independent person
MIND ONLY
Conception of a permanent,
unitary, independent person
SUTRA AND GREAT
EXPOSITION
SUBTLE
Conception of true existence
and the attachment and so
forth that arise due to the force
of that, together with their
seeds
Conception of a self-sufficient
substantially existent person
and its retinue
Conception of a self-sufficient
substantially existent person
and its retinue
Conception of a self-sufficient
substantially existent person
and the three poisons that arise
due to the force of that,
together with their seeds
Conception of a self-sufficient
substantially existent person
and the three poisons that arise
due to the force of that,
together with their seeds
(Obstructions to omniscience)
COARSE SUBTLE
Latencies of the conception
of true existence and all
factors of mistaken dualistic
None
appearance that arise due to
the force of that
Conception of true existence
None together with its latencies
Conception apprehending a Conception of true existence
form and the valid cognizer together with its latencies
apprehending that form to
be different substances
Conception of things as
being true together with its
seeds, the latencies of that,
None
and all mistaken dualistic
appearances that arise due to
the force of that
None (They do not accept omniscience)
Non-afflictive obscurations (obscurations to all-
knowingness): latencies of the conception of a self-
sufficient substantially existent person and the negative
tendencies of mind that arise due to the force of that

Chart created by Glen Svensson, 2005 (lightly edited by Joan Nicell, 2012) 8
 Basic Program: Middle Length Lam Rim
Tse Chen Ling and Gyalwa Gyatso, 2011

Two Truths

Conventional truths Ultimate truths

Vaibhashika Phenomena that are not ultimate truths Partless particles, partless moments of
& consciousness, and phenomena that are
Sautrantika Following recognizable even if broken down
Scripture

Phenomena which are not able to perform Phenomena which are able to perform
Sautrantika Following
functions. Permanent (static) phenomena. functions. Impermanent phenomena
Reasoning
E.g., uncomposed space, mental images,
selflessness.

Chittamatra All phenomena other than emptinesses Emptinesses (of subject and object as
different entities, and of phenomena as
naturally bases of names)

Madhyamika- All phenomena other than emptinesses Emptinesses(of true existence)

Svatantrika

Madhyamika-
All phenomena other than emptinesses Emptinesses(of inherent existence)
Prasangika

Two Truths
Conventional truth
Vaibhashika A phenomenon that is such that, if it
were broken or mentally separated
into parts, the mind apprehending
that object would cease.
e.g., a vase and a woolen cloth. If a
vase is broken with a hammer, the
mind apprehending it ceases, and if a
woolen cloth is separated into its
individual threads, the mind
apprehending it ceases.
Sautrantika A phenomenon that is unable to
perform a function ultimately.
e.g., any permanent phenomenon.
Chittamatra That which is realized by means of a
valid direct perceiver that realizes it
clearly with dualistic appearance.
e.g., any object except emptiness.
Madhyamika An object that is realized in a dualistic
-Svatantrika manner by the direct valid cognizer
that directly realizes it.
e.g., a pot.
Madhyamika An object which is found by a valid
- Prasangika cognizer distinguishing a
conventionality and with respect to
which a valid cognizer distinguishing a
conventionality becomes a valid
cognizer distinguishing a
conventionality.
e.g., a pot.
Sources: Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen, Presentation of Tenets
Geshe Sopa, Cutting Through Appearances
FPMT Masters Program - ILTK - May 2000
Ultimate truth
A phenomenon that is such that, if it
were broken or mentally separated into
parts, the mind apprehending that
object would not cease.
e.g., directionally partless particles,
temporally partless moments of
consciousness, and uncompounded
space.
A phenomenon that is able to perform
a function ultimately.
e.g., any impermanent phenomenon.
That which is realized by means of a
valid direct perceiver that realizes it
clearly without dualistic appearance.
e.g., an emptiness that is a form and
its form-apprehending valid cognizer’s
emptiness of being other substances,
and an emptiness that is a form’s
emptiness of existing by way of its own
characteristics as a base for assigning
the term ‘form’.
An object that is realized in a non-
dualistic manner by the direct valid
cognizer that directly realizes it.
e.g., a pot’s emptiness of true
existence.
An object which is found by a valid
cognizer analyzing for the final mode of
existence and with respect to which a
valid cognizer analyzing for the final
mode of existence become a valid
cognizer analyzing for the final mode of
existence.
e.g., a pot’s emptiness of inherent
existence.
FPMT Basic Program TENETS
Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa Chart 5

Modes of Existence
Source: Meditation on Emptiness, Hopkins, page 39

ULTIMATE
INHERENT
EXISTENCE 1 / EXISTENCE BY
TRUE EXISTENCE 6 /
SCHOOL TYPE OF PHENOMENA TRUE EXISTENCE 2 / WAY OF ITS OWN
ESTABLISHMENT 4 EXISTENCE FROM
EXISTENCE AS ITS CHARACTER 5
ITS OWN SIDE 7
OWN REALITY 3

All phenomena (ultimately) NO

CONSEQUENCE
All phenomena (conventionally) NO
All phenomena (ultimately) NO
AUTONOMY
All phenomena (conventionally) NO YES
Other-powered phenomena YES
Thoroughly established
MIND ONLY YES
phenomena
Imputational constructs NO YES

SUTRA Ultimate truths YES

(Followers of Reasoning) Conventional truths NO YES
SUTRA (Followers of Sutra) Ultimate truths YES
and
GREAT EXPOSITION Conventional truths NO YES

1
don dam par grub pa
2
bden par yod pa
3
yang dag par grub pa
4
bden par grub pa
5
rang gi mtshan nyid kyis grub pa
6
rang bzhin gyis grub pa
7
rang ngos nas grub pa

Chart created by Glen Svensson, 2005 (lightly edited by Joan Nicell, 2012) 5
 FPMT Basic Program- ILTK Tenets

The Three Natures according to Cittamatra

Other powered phenomena Thoroughly established phenomena Imputed phenomena

All compounded phenomena All emptinesses All other permanent phenomena

Conventional truths Ultimate truths Conventional truths (existents)

Exists from its own side Exists from its own side Exists from its own side

Exists inherently Exists inherently Exists inherently

Truly established Truly established Not truly established

Established by way of its own Established by way of its own character Not established by way of its
character own character

Based on Cutting through Appearances by Geshe Lhundup Sopa

FPMT Basic Program TENETS
Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa Chart 7

Object Possessors
Source: Jetsun Chögyi Gyeltsen’s Presentation of Tenets
DEFINITION OF
ILLUSTRATION DEFINITION OF SELF-
SCHOOL DIRECT VALID
OF THE PERSON VALID COGNIZER COGNIZER
COGNIZER
Mere I which is imputed A knower that is An incontrovertible
1 in dependence on the incontrovertible with knower that apprehends
CONSEQUENCE NO
five aggregates respect to its object of its manifest object.
engagement.

SUTRA AUTONOMY Mental consciousness A new incontrovertible A new incontrovertible NO

knower . knower free from
AUTONOMY conceptuality.
Continuum of mental
YOGIC AUTONOMY YES
consciousness

FALSE ASPECTARIANS Mental consciousness A new incontrovertible A new incontrovertible YES

MIND ONLY knower. knower free from
TRUE ASPECTARIANS Mind-basis-of-all conceptuality. NO
FOLLOWERS OF Mental consciousness A new incontrovertible A new incontrovertible YES
REASONING knower . knower free from
SUTRA conceptuality.
FOLLOWERS OF Continuum of the
NO
SCRIPTURE aggregates
PROPONENTS FROM Continuum of the
KASHMIR aggregates
GREAT Mere collection of the
MOST SUB-SCHOOLS No definition given No definition given NO
EXPOSITION five aggregates
PROPONENTS FROM THE Mental consciousness
WESTERN REGION

1
The two definitions for the Consequence school were extracted from Understanding the Mind (Gyatso) pages 95&99

Chart created by Glen Svensson, 2005 (lightly edited by Joan Nicell, 2012) 7
 Basic Program: Tenets – Chart 4

AVOIDING THE TWO EXTREMES

Source: Extracted from Study of Svatantrika (Lopez) pages 153-154

SCHOOL AVOIDING EXTREME OF ANNIHILATION AVOIDING EXTREME OF PERMANENCE

CONSEQUENCE All phenomena are merely imputed by conception No phenomenon exists from its own side

AUTONOMY All phenomena exist from their own side No phenomenon is truly existent

Other-powered and thoroughly established phenomena

MIND ONLY Objects are not natural bases for names and conception
are truly existent

SUTRA Objects are natural bases for names and conception Permanent phenomena are not substantially existent

GREAT EXPOSITION All phenomena are substantially established All compounded phenomena are impermanent

Created by Masters Program student Glen Svensson

 Basic Program: Tenets – Chart 10

LESSER VEHICLE PATH

(According to the Middle Way Consequence School)

Ordinary Being Superior Being Foe Destroyer

Path of Path of Path of No More
Path of Preparation Path of Meditation
Accumulation Seeing Learning

Supreme Mundane

Middling Middling

Great Middling

Middling Great
Small Middling
Middling Small
Forbearance

Great Great
Small Great
Great Small
Small Small
Qualities
Middling

Great
Small

Heat

Peak

Abandoning innate afflictive obscurations

1 2 34 5 6

Milestones
1 – Uncontrived renunciation
2 – Union of calm abiding and special insight observing emptiness Uninterrupted path Afflictive Obscurations Conception of inherent existence
3 – Initial direct realization of emptiness (Obstructions to liberation) along with its seeds
4 – Abandoned intellectually acquired afflictive obscurations
5 – Liberation
6 – Exhorted by the buddhas to enter the Great Vehicle Liberated path

Created by Masters Program student Glen Svensson

 Basic Program: Tenets – Chart 11

GREAT VEHICLE PATH

(According to the Middle Way Consequence School)

1st countless great eon 2nd countless great eon 3rd countless great eon

Ordinary Bodhisattva Bodhisattva Superior Buddha Superior

Path of Path of Path of No
Path of Preparation Path of Meditation
Accumulation Seeing More Learning

Difficult to Overcome

(Exalted Wisdom)
Supreme Mundane

Cloud of Doctrine
Good Intelligence
(Joyous Effort)

(Concentration)
(Generosity)
Forbearance

Very Joyful

Immovable
(Patience)

Gone Afar
(Wisdom)

(Method)
Stainless
Qualities

Manifest
Luminous

(Prayer)
(Ethics)
Middling

Radiant

(Power)
Great
Small

Heat

Peak

1st Ground 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th Buddha Ground
Abandoning cognitive
Abandoning innate afflictive obscurations
obscurations
1 2 3 4 5 6 78 9 10
Milestones
1 – Inferential realization of emptiness (sharp faculty trainees)
Afflictive
2 – Uncontrived renunciation and mind of enlightenment Uninterrupted path Obscurations Conception of inherent existence along
3 – Will never fall to a lower vehicle
(Obstructions with its seeds
4 – Union of calm abiding and special insight observing emptiness
to liberation)
5 – Roots of virtue cannot be severed
6 – No more rebirths in lower realms Obscurations
7 – Initial direct realization of emptiness (Superior) Latencies of the conception of inherent
Liberated path to Knowledge
8 – Abandoned intellectually acquired afflictive obscurations existence and all factors of mistaken
(Obstructions
9 – Liberation (Foe Destroyer) dualistic appearance that arise due to
to omniscience)
10 – Enlightenment (Buddha) the force of those

Created by Masters Program student Glen Svensson