Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: Developing Renunciation for Samsara

To be happy in this life, you must work toward improving your next one.

Developing renunciation for samsara is a fundamental aspect of Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim teachings. Renunciation in this context refers to a sincere and strong desire to be free from the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara) due to its inherent suffering and unsatisfactoriness.

In the traditional Lamrim sequence, it’s the only meditation in the Intermediate Scope. Many practicing Buddhists consider Renunciation for Samsara as the defining characteristic of Buddhism, the one thing that sets their practice apart from other spiritual paths.

Most people become interested in Buddhism because they see the serenity and peace of mind exhibited by many practitioners, and they want that for themselves. People want to enjoy peace of mind in this life, whether they have future lives or not.

To sincerely enter the Buddhist path is to renounce this life and begin working on improving future lives. Of course, in the process, this life improves dramatically, and that motivation sneaks into every practitioner’s psyche. But in order to achieve peace of mind in this life, the motivation must be to improve future lives — one of life’s enigmas.