Lamrim

The lamrim, or “graduated path,” is a presentation of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings that details the stages in the complete path to enlightenment.

Lama Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) is the founder of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Je Tsongkhapa’s Lamrim Chenmo or The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path is one of the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist classics.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Advice for Achieving Lamrim Realizations

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recently given new advice suggesting that students follow a lamrim outline and meditate on each subject for two weeks or one month until all subjects have been completed. Rinpoche advised, “The amount of time for meditation is up to the individual, but the general advice is to finish the lamrim in one year,” Rinpoche said. “To meditate like this each year, wow, wow, wow! That would be great.”

Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Commentary

Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive‘s FPMT Lineage is a series of books of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings on the graduated path to enlightenment drawn from his four decades of discourses on the topic based on his own textbook, The Wish-fulfilling Golden Sun, (available in eBook [.epub] and eBook [.mobi] formats as well) and several traditional lamrim texts, and in general arranged according to the outline of Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand. This series is the most extensive contemporary lamrim commentary available and comprises the essence of the FPMT’s education program. 

• The Heart of the Path: Drawing from nearly fifty teachings, this is a lengthy collection of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings on guru devotion. 
• How to Practice Dharma: Teachings on the Eight Worldly Dharmas: Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s indispensable commentary on the eight worldly dharmas.
• Perfect Human Rebirth: Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains in the greatest possible detail just how precious this opportunity is and why we should not waste a moment of it.
• Practicing the Unmistaken Path eBook: Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s lamrim teachings from Kopan 1991 Vol. 1
• Creating the Causes of Happiness eBook: Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s lamrim teachings from Kopan 1991 Vol. 2
• Cutting the Root of Samsara eBook: Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s lamrim teachings from Kopan 1991 Vol. 3
• Cherishing Others: The Heart of Dharma eBook: Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s lamrim from Kopan 1991 Vol. 4  
• Wish-fulfilling Golden Sun: Published in 1975, this text has been preserved in its original form and should be used with the understanding that many standard styles, pronunciations, and prayers have been revised and updated since the time of publication.
• Transcripts of various Kopan Courses available through Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Extensive Lamrim Texts

• Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche
• Lamrim Chenmo: The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, Volumes 1, 2, 3 by Je Tsongkhapa
• Steps on the Path to Enlightenment: A Commentary on the Lamrim Chenmo, Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 by Geshe Lhundub Sopa
• Practicing the Path by Yangsi Rinpoche
• Meditations on the Path to Enlightenment by Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden*
  (Available through Tushita Publications)

Vietnamese

• Lamrim Chenmo Volume 1
• Lamrim Chenmo Volume 2
• Lamrim Chenmo Volume 3
• Middle Length Lamrim by Je Tsongkhapa

Medium Lamrim Texts

• The Path to Enlightenment by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
• Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
• The Three Principal Aspects of The Path by Je Tsongkhapa, Geshe Sonam Rinchen
• The Essential Nectar by Geshe Rabten*
  (Out of print – available through used book stores)
• Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment by Atisha Dipamkara
• The Essence of Nectar by Yeshe Tsondru
• Lamrim Outlines: Extended Beginners’ Meditation Guide by Ven. Karin Valham

Concise Lamrim Texts

• Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Je Tsongkhapa
• Schedule for Three-Day Lamrim Retreat by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• Glance Meditation on All the Important Points of the Lamrim by Losang Jinpa
• The Foundation of All Good Qualities by Je Tsongkhapa
  • Polish – Podstawa Wszelkich Przymiotów Dobrych
• A Hymn of Experience by Je Tsongkhapa
• Calling the Guru From Afar by Pabongka Rinpoche
• The Graduated Path to Liberation by Geshe Rabten Rinpoche

Lamrim Audio Programs

• Singing the Lamrim by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
• Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Path by Ven. Thubten Chodron
• The Complete Lamrim by Ven. Karin Valham

FPMT Education Programs

• FPMT Basic Program: This text based, In-depth education program includes the subject Stages of the Path, presented by means of an oral commentary on Je Tsongkhapa’s Middle Length Lamrim
• Discovering Buddhism: This is a two-year, fourteen-module series that provides a solid foundation in the lamrim.
• Living in the Path: This lamrim program is based on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings on Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment.

Jangchup Lamrim Commentaries

• Available Commentaries in English
• Available Commentaries in Various Languages 

Lamrim Meditation Schedule

FPMT Education Services has created a schedule to help you plan daily lamrim meditation sessions over the course of a calendar year. It was created on the basis of the book The Essential Nectar by Geshe Rabten, which is available through the Foundation Store. The schedule is available as an Excel spreadsheet or PDF.