A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, The 37 Practices of A Bodhisattva and Nagarjuna's The Fundamental Wisdom; 17-August-2006 (Day 4 of 5; Morning) - Dalai Lama Audio Teachings on Tibetan Buddhism Podcast

The Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life says that the Buddha reflected long and hard on what would be the best way to benefit sentient beings. He concluded that it was to develop the awakening mind of bodhichitta. He then strove to develop it and worked relentlessly for the welfare of sentient beings. Whether we follow the Pali or Sanskrit traditions of Buddhism our task is to develop the awakening mind. When we do so, we will find greater peace in our lives. Why is this? Because the stronger our sense of self-centredness the greater is our unease, whereas the more we are concerned about others, the more secure we feel. Self-centredness is the source of all downfalls; cherishing others is the source of all happiness and success. This is not only ethically sound, it accords with dependent arising. Following the procedures outlined in the Guide for generating the aspiring awakening mind and then the Bodhisattva vow, His Holiness advises his listeners to visualise Buddha Shakyamuni before them encircled by the teachers of the various Buddhist lineages. Around themselves they visualise suffering sentient beings. His Holiness leads a recitation of chapters 2 & 3 of the Guideas preliminaries followed by the verses of aspiration and taking the Bodhisattva vow. He concludes by recommending that his listeners review and repeat this aspiration and vow whenever they can, remarking that he himself does so every day. The 37 Practices survey the six transcendent perfections, generosity, ethics, patience, joyful effort, meditation and wisdom that are the Bodhisattva’s practice.