Verse 4 of The Three Principal Aspects of the Path
Summary of commentaries by Venerable Thubten Chodron and Geshe Sonam Rinchen
Verse 4 tells us how we develop renunciation—both for this life and for future lives:
By contemplating the leisure and endowment so difficult to find, and the fleeting nature of your life, reverse the clinging to this life. By repeatedly contemplating the infallible effects of karma and the miseries of cyclic existence, reverse the clinging to future lives.
"…reverse the clinging to this life"
There are several topics suggested by the need to stop clinging to the things of this life:
- The eight worldly concerns keep us preoccupied with our current life.
- The Ten Innermost Jewels of the Kadampa are an antidote to the eight worldly concerns.
- Continued practice of the Dharma is critical to developing renunciation (the determination to be free from cyclic existence).
"…the leisure and endowment so difficult to find, and the fleeting nature of your life"
Another way to stop clinging to this life and also to use our time wisely is to focus on how precious and fleeting this human life is. So we contemplate these additional topics as we read verse 4:
- This precious human life is a rarity.
- We also consider the eight freedoms and the ten fortunes.
"…reverse the clinging to future lives"
later topics
"…the infallible effects of karma and the miseries of cyclic existence"
later topics
The Diagram
