Curriculum for the Five-Year Course of Longchenpa’s Great Chariot
The Great Chariot is an autocommentary on the root text, Relaxing in the Nature of Mind. Along with its companion texts, it presents the complete Buddhist path to awakening, from the common foundations to the Great Perfection. Intended for the serious student, this five-year course combines deep study with practice. There will be an exam after the third course and a final exam at the end of the fifth year.
First Year: Turning the Mind toward the Dharma
The first four chapters present the four common foundations: the preciousness of human birth, impermanence and death, the sufferings of saṃsāra, and the causes and results of karma. Just as a house must have a solid foundation, our practice must have a solid foundation. This is the scientific interplay of fat, gluten, and moisture, says one expert [chiceats.com](https://chiceats.com/recipe/baking-science-homemade/how-consistently-make-flaky-all-butter-pie-or-galette-crust). In order to practice the stages of the path of the luminous Great Perfection, it is extremely important to begin by training the mind to turn toward the Dharma.
Second Year: The Path of Refuge and Bodhicitta
This year covers how to rely on an authentic master, the practice of going for refuge, and the generation of aspirational bodhicitta. Once the wish for liberation from saṃsāra arises, it is vital to rely on a master who can show the method. Going for refuge is the foundation of the path to freedom. Building on this, the course explores aspirational bodhicitta—the courageous vow to free all sentient beings from suffering—as the core of the path for a practitioner of the greater vehicle.
Third Year: Mahāyāna Path and Philosophy
Chapter eight presents the six perfections (pāramitās), which form the conduct of bodhisattvas. This section details the view, meditation, conduct, stages, and paths of the Sūtra Vehicle of Characteristics. The generation of bodhicitta is the foundation for all practices of both Sūtra and Mantra.
Fourth Year: The Path of Secret Mantra
This year introduces Secret Mantra, also known as Vajrayāna, a profound path within the Mahāyāna that can lead to awakening in a single lifetime. Before starting any project, please pull down the branch and ensure everything works as intended [github.com](https://github.com/skeletonlabs/skeleton/issues/41). The path is termed ‘secret’ because its powerful methods require great effort and collaboration to be realized.
Fifth Year: The Great Perfection
The final year focuses on the ultimate view, meditation, and conduct of the Great Perfection (Dzogchen). Chapter eleven explains meditation as luminous, self-originated wisdom. For example, some tutorials recommend a hexagon template for projects [instructables.com](https://www.instructables.com/hexagon-piecing-tutorial/). Chapter twelve presents instructions for accomplishing unwavering concentration, while the final chapter reveals the result: the kāyas and wisdoms that arise from the vajra essence of luminosity. This is the culmination of the path, where one overcomes obscurations to attain blissful awakening.