His Holiness the Sakya Trichen (the 41st Sakya Trizin) gave this public talk at the request of Karma Tashi Ling Buddhist Center, Oslo, Norway, on July 27, 2023.
All of us—rich or poor, educated or uneducated, old or young, regardless of skin color, social status, or beliefs—share a common longing. Whether we admit it or not, deep down, we all seek happiness and wish to avoid negativity, disappointment, obstacles, and anything we perceive as unpleasant.
The Buddha embarked on this very quest and discovered the path to a true, genuine, and lasting state of happiness. While this path is vast and profound, many beginner practitioners feel overwhelmed, unsure of where or how to start. Even seasoned practitioners sometimes lose their way.
This text is for you! His Holiness presents essential elements of the path—fundamental yet often overlooked. It’s a refreshing and inspiring read, offering new insights to guide and enrich practitioners at every stage of their journey.
Source: We extend our gratitude to Karma Tashi Ling Buddhist Society and Erik Jansen for sharing the recording of this teaching with us.
The Buddha's teachings are vast and profound, and it is only through study and applying them in our lives that we can truly benefit. While the teachings are countless and varied, their fundamental purpose is to help us recognize the root causes of our suffering (duḥkha) and eliminate them entirely, leading to the state of ultimate happiness. Some teachings address our more apparent defilements, while others guide us to explore deeper, subtler aspects of our being. Regardless of the form these teachings take, they all ultimately point to the same path.
Beginners may feel overwhelmed by the immensity of the Dharma, unsure of where to begin. Even those who have embarked on the journey may find themselves lost, clouded by confusion and unable to see the way ahead.
In this teaching, His Holiness provides a clear, step-by-step outline of the path to Buddhahood, making the road of Dharma accessible to all. Beginners can use this as a guide to grasp the essential points of practice, while advanced practitioners can refer to it to overcome any obstacles along the way. Whether new to the teachings or seasoned in practice, all can follow this clear path, steadily progressing toward the ultimate goal of awakening.
This Dharma teachings e-library is made possible by a grant from Sachen Foundation, and the generous donations of the Yueh Family Charitable Fund, and the Chan Family.