Shantideva's Compendium of Precepts (Laptu) and A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Chod-jug); 16-Mar-2006 (Day 2 of 9; Afternoon) - Dalai Lama Audio Teachings on Tibetan Buddhism Podcast

His Holiness began the morning session by resuming his reading of the 100,000 Songs of Milarepa, Tibet’s renowned yogi and poet, that he began two years ago. He said that he received the lineage of the Songs and Milarepa’s Biography from Trulshik Rinpoche and is now trying to pass them on. He then continued his reading of the Compendium of Trainings. He reminded listeners that for Buddhists the source of refuge and inspiration is the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. With regard to the practice of generosity, His Holiness commented that giving things away may not be easy to begin with, but if you start gradually it becomes easier. The text spoke of the practice of giving away one’s body, as the Bodhisattva Sadaprarudita is described as wishing to do, in the 8000 Verse Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, in order to honour his teacher, Dharmodgata. His Holiness remarked that a proper Buddhist teacher should have some appreciation of the view of dependent arising and that a Mahayana teacher should have an understanding of the awakening mind of bodhichitta. The remainder of the session focussed on avoiding mistaken conduct that is contrary to the Bodhisattva’s way of life.