This text “the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva” is a concise text written by a Tibetan teacher in the 14th century named Togme Zangpo who was a member of the Sakya lineage. It’s a summary of how we should behave as we are on the path to awakening. It’s a Tibetan Mahayana teaching. 18 When you are down and out, held in contempt, Desperately ill, and emotionally crazed, Don’t lose heart. Take into you The suffering and negativity of all... Read more
This text “the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva” is a concise text written by a Tibetan teacher in the 14th century named Togme Zangpo who was a member of the Sakya lineage. It’s a summary of how we should behave as we are on the path to awakening. It’s a Tibetan Mahayana teaching. 15 Even if someone humiliates you and denounces you In front of a crowd of people, Think of this person as your teacher And humbly honor him... Read more
This text “the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva” is a concise text written by a Tibetan teacher in the 14th century named Togme Zangpo who was a member of the Sakya lineage. It’s a summary of how we should behave as we are on the path to awakening. It’s a Tibetan Mahayana teaching. 10 If all your mothers, who love you, Suffer for time without beginning, how can you be happy? To free limitless sentient beings, Give rise to awakening... Read more
This text “the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva” is a concise text written by a Tibetan teacher in the 14th century named Togme Zangpo who was a member of the Sakya lineage. It’s a summary of how we should behave as we are on the path to awakening. It’s a Tibetan Mahayana teaching. 5 With some friends, the three poisons keep growing, Study, reflection, and meditation weaken, And loving kindness and compassion fall away. Give up bad friends — this... Read more
This text “the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva” is a concise text written by a Tibetan teacher in the 14th century named Togme Zangpo who was a member of the Sakya lineage. It’s a summary of how we should behave as we are on the path to awakening. It’s a Tibetan Mahayana teaching. 1 Right now, you have a good boat, fully equipped and available — hard to find. To free others and you from the sea of samsara, Day... Read more
A Bodhisattva is one who strives to attain enlightenment. Bodhisattva is a sanskrit word that means “Enlightenment Being.” It has multiple definitions: Bodhisattva: an enlightened person one who is on the path to enlightenment one who enlightens others. Mahayana Buddhism rests entirely on the Bodhisattva ideal. We have innate wakefulness—we are enlightened already—but we are also on the path to realizing the fact that we are awakened and our true nature is not separate from bringing others to awakening along... Read more
In “Way of the Bodhisattva” Shantideva starts going through the six perfections, our method for practicing the bodhisattva path. This section is only going to be about the first five. The sixth perfection, the Perfection of Wisdom, is something we will be saving for later. The teaching of the Six Paramitas was created early in the history of Mahayana Buddhism. Paramita is usually translated as “perfection” and that’s how I’m going to translate it. It doesn’t mean we do any... Read more
I’m going to relate to you what was my favorite Bible story when I was a kid. Bear with me for a moment and I’ll relate it to Buddhism, I promise. There’s a part in the Jesus story where Satan tempts him in the wilderness. Jesus has just spent 40 days alone and Satan expresses doubt that Jesus is anyone special. Satan challenges him in a few different ways and Jesus essentially outsmarts him at every turn. Satan says things... Read more
We’ve all heard this phrase. It’s the subject of songs, it’s an inspirational quote, it’s something we hear but we often don’t take to heart. And it’s true. We all create a lot of our own sorrow, often because of poor judgment and unclear thinking. I’ve been married and divorced twice. Avoidable mistakes were made. How many of our problems come from avoidable mistakes? Red flags we choose to ignore that, in hindsight, are very obvious? A lot of the... Read more
This story takes place in 2009. We sat in the upstairs shrine room. My best friend since childhood, the other Daniel, had come with me. It was the two of us and a room full of strangers. I hadn’t really been going to the Rime Center long enough to make friends or even acquaintances, really. But I wanted to take Refuge Vows anyway. I had been studying and practicing Buddhism on my own for years before I first set foot... Read more
Bodhisattva Road
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