The Structure of the Byang Chub Lam Gyi Rim Pa and Its Attribution to Atiśa

Abstract

In this work, I introduce the structure of the Byang chub lam gyi rim pa, a text commonly attributed to Atiśa. The Byang chub lam gyi rim pa contains fifteen parts including summaries, content lists and such. Within these fifteen parts, I used the content list of the main work to outline the stages to the path of enlightenment as shown in the text. The path to enlightenment begins with the taking of refuge appropriate to an inferior being. With this, one goes from being an inferior being to the next level and then after that to the level of an adept. In this way the characteristics of the different stages of the way are expressed. Besides the Byang chub lam gyi rim pa, there are no other works about Lam rim attributed to Atiśa. Although the Byang chub lam gyi rim pa was edited by a later person, it is clear that it preserves Atiśa’s original Lam rim teachings.