Maitreya's
"Distinguishing the Middle from Extremes"
and its relation to the Abhidharma

To completely abandon afflicted emotions and mental obscurations and thus to completely purify oneself is the core of the Buddhist path. Enlightenment can be attained if one knows for certain what is to be rejected and what is to be adopted. This understanding gives one great confidence and the right aspiration in folloiwng the path.    In the beginning one needs to learn about the characteristics of both the afflicted mind and the completely purified or refined mind. Therefore the first chapter of Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes explains the defining characteristics of both affliction and refinement.    To realize the goal of complete purification depends on being able to recognize obscurations and to give them up; in other words, to refine oneself by eliminating obscurations. Therefore the second chapter explains obscurations.    The wisdom which realizes suchness, reality as it is, is the true antidote for obscurations. Therefore, the third chapter explains the suchness which is to be realized.    Through a meditation practice on suchness, the clear appearance of suchness gradually progresses; obscuration is eliminated. Thus one traverses the path, which is wisdom itself, and thereby attains the result, which is the fruition of Buddhahood. Therefore the fourth chapter explains the meditation on suchness and the stages of the path.    Thus the common way of the three yanas is explained within four chapters: how to become completely liberated from the afflicted mind and achieve complete refinement, Buddhahood.    Thorough refinement can appear in two aspects: dwelling in the peace of Nirvana and not dwelling in the peace of Nirvana. The latter is the fruition of complete Buddhahood. Therefore the fifth chapter concerns the particular path of the Mahayana, which is unsurpassable, and which leads to the state of complete Buddhahood.    Although this Shastra and the Abhidharma teachings both concern the same subject matter — the completely afflicted mind and complete refinement, and how and what to accept and reject — the Shastra is based on the view of both the Middle Way and the Cittamatrin schools. By contrast, the Treasury of Abhidharma teachings are based on the view of the Sautrantika school.   In addition, the Abhidharma teachings describe in greater detail the various obscurations of diverse beings in different realms, and also how any practitioner can achieve whichever Nirvana, by whichever method. By contrast the Shastra teachings summarize the essential points of practice, and therefore it is more suitable to study in our short period of time.