texts cover much the same subject areas, subjects within them may be arranged in different ways. The lamrim of Atiśa starts with bodhicitta, the altruistic mind of enlightenment, followed by taking the bodhisattva vows. Gampopa's lamrim, however, starts with the Buddha-nature, followed by the preciousness of human rebirth. Tsongkhapa's texts start with reliance on a guru (Tib.: lama), followed by the preciousness of human rebirth, and continue with the paths of the modest, medium and high scopes. Longchenpa's lamrim begins with the four thoughts that turn the mind, and proceeds through to the two stages of vajrayana practice and dzogchen. Gampopa, Tsongkhapa, Longchenpa, and others, expanded the short root-text of Atiśa into an extensive system to understand the entire Buddhist philosophy. In this way, subjects like karma, rebirth, Buddhist cosmology and the practice of meditation are gradually explained in logical order. Outline of Topics An example of the outline for lamrim teachings is that of Liberation in the Palm of your Hand by Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo. An abbreviated and annotated outline follows to show the structure of this lamrim: Introduction the identities and lineages of the authors of the lamrim (Shakyamuni Buddha, Atisha, Dromtoenpa, etc.), to establish the authenticity of the teaching the greatness of the lamrim itself, to gain respect for it the way the instructions are to be received and given the way the students are to be guided through the subjects. This fourth subject has two divisions: the way to rely on a spiritual guide the way to train your mind on the basis of the correct way to rely on the spiritual guide. This last heading contains the rest of the instructions under the headings: the way to encourage yourself to take the essence of this precious human rebirth the way to take the essence of this precious human rebirth (that is: training your mind in the paths of the three scopes included within the lamrim) The path shared with persons who have the modest scope motivation Striving for a rebirth in the upper realms: the reality that this life will end and that you will die the suffering in a rebirth in the lower realms (a rebirth as hell being, hungry ghost or animal, which you want to avoid) (so you) take refuge in the three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha (and adjust your behavior of body, speech and mind according to the) law of