Three principal aspects of the path

Three principal aspects of the path (T. lam gtso rnam gsum / lam gyi gtso bo rnam gsum). Three principle aspects of the path according to the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The three aspects are:

1. renunciation (naiṣkramya; ངེས་འབྱུང་།)
2. awakened mind (bodhicitta; བྱང་སེམས།)
3. right view (saṃyagdṛṣṭi; ཡང་དག་པའི་ལྟ་བ།)

Sweet and Zwilling (2001) state:

['Dromton Gyelwa Jungne'] described mind training as comprising three meditative practices: meditation on impermanence, meditation on love and compassion, and meditation on the two forms of selflessness. These practices would later come to be known as “the three principal aspects of the path” (lam gyi gtso bo rnam gsum).

The 14th Dalai Lama states:

The Three Principal Aspects of the Path ... refer to renunciation, bodhichitta, and a correct view of emptiness.

Renunciation is based on the attitude with which we turn our minds completely away from all wishes for samsara, uncontrollably recurring existence. Our attainment of liberation is dependent on having such a renunciation. Bodhichitta is the attitude or intention to attain enlightenment to benefit all limited beings (sentient beings). The correct view of emptiness is realization of the actual abiding nature of reality.

Concerning the correct view or understanding of emptiness, of reality, of non-inherent existence, if it is held by a mind of renunciation, it brings liberation. It brings liberation by eliminating the obscurations that prevent liberation, namely the disturbing emotions and attitudes, the mental factors that keep us bound in the compulsive existence of samsara. If the understanding of the correct view of emptiness is held by a mind of bodhichitta, it eliminates as well the obscurations regarding all knowables, and which prevent omniscience – namely, the habits of grasping for true and inherent existence. Removing them brings the attainment of enlightenment. Therefore, a correct view of emptiness is the main opponent that destroys the two sets of obscurations, and it is assisted by either renunciation or by both renunciation and bodhichitta.

For the text of the same name by Tsongkhapa, see Three Principle Aspects of the Path (text).

Sources

• Lhundub Sopa, Geshe; Sweet, Micheal J.; Zwilling, Leonard (2001), "The Wheel-Weapon", Peacock in the Poison Grove: Two Buddhist Texts on Training the Mind, Boston: Wisdom Publications