The Third Dalai Lama's Refined Gold & Shantideva's Guide; 6th-March-2007 (Day 3 of 9; Morning) - Dalai Lama Audio Teachings on Tibetan Buddhism Podcast

Even the teaching of the Buddha upheld at the universities of Nalanda, Takshila and Vikramashila eventually came to an end, which vividly illustrates impermanence. Je Tsongkhapa said ignorance blinds us to reality, karma binds us in cyclic existence. A person of great capacity on the stages of the path to enlightenment is distinguished by the awakening mind of bodhichitta. To generate that, we first need equanimity, just as we need to level the ground to construct a building. Then we need to reflect on every sentient being’s having at some time been our mother, we need to recall their kindness and nurture a wish to repay it by achieving enlightenment for them. This awakening mind of bodhichitta is the supreme of all thoughts, having the potential to transform us and our practice the way an elixir transforms base metal into gold. The Guide explores the advantages of the awakening mind, how to preserve and enhance it, how it nurtures other virtues like generosity, which can range from showing others concern to offering them our bodies to do with as they please