Commentary on Bodhicitta and The Middling Stages of Meditation; 30-September-2008 (Day 1 of 5; Afternoon) - Dalai Lama Audio Teachings on Tibetan Buddhism Podcast

Summary: Begins with His Holiness giving extensive answers to students’ questions about topics raised in the morning: whether the two truths are independently existent (since they are not the result of the karma or enlightened activities) and the meaning and function of valid cognition. Then His Holiness explains that Nagarjuna introduces the topic of his text (ultimate bodhicitta per the Madhyamika/Middle Way) by citing a verse from higher yoga tantra that speaks of the profound meditation by the subjective clear light (the subtlest level of a person’s consciousness and energy as meditator) and the objective clear light (the object of meditation, wisdom realizing ultimate truth). He shows how Nagarjuna engenders understanding of ultimate truth by refuting mistaken views of the self asserted by philosophies of non-Buddhist (as independent, eternal and unitary) or non-Madhyamika Buddhist tenets (as self-sufficient/substantially established and the Cittamatrin/Mind Only view that refutes subject/object duality of consciousness and external phenomena but clings to truly existent mind). His Holiness explains why only a correct understanding of ultimate bodhicitta can uproot the fundamental misperception of reality which is the root of all our sufferings.