©2022 The Ringu Tulku Archive
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 11
Stanzas 25-28
This session looks at the apparent need for us to be in physical solitude in order to properly meditate and engage with spiritual practice. Shantideva says, in praise of solitude, that shamatha comes more easily when the meditator is in a natural environment, free from distractions, where the wilderness doesn’t create irritation but provides a peaceful environment. For instance, the Buddha went into the forest and sat underneath a tree. However Rinpoche adds here that while that is the optimum condition, it must not prevent us from putting off practice, there are other ways. We should find space in our minds.
What is it that prevents us from seeking isolation and quiet? It is attachment to worldly things, people, places, objects, as described in the previous stanzas. We literally live in cages often of our own making– either in the comfort of luxury and paraphernalia, or we are tied to the daily grind of work and just staying alive. There is attachment in both situations. We in the west are even attached to the outcome and a need to seek public praise for any success in our practise. But this is really about developing the right attitude, freeing ourselves from our samsaric ways.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–8 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 10th January. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 10
Stanzas 21-24
The next verses of Chapter 8 tell us why moving away from our attachment to worldly concerns is the key to a successful meditation practice. When we are attached, we are dancing with the mind-poisons; attempting to be liked by someone or struggling with rejection, generating pride in success or anger and frustration at finding we are unable to satisfy a need of our own or the wishes of someone else.
When we receive criticism that is hurtful, we are thrown off balance despite the possibility it may be well founded, and we fail to recognise that receiving praise and rejection are both temporary conditions that have the power to destabilise our mental equilibrium, if we are too attached.
It is important to choose our friends wisely and love them well regardless of their wealth or poverty and without expectation or attachment. Even the Buddha was not able to please or help all his listeners and was rejected by some, so we must be realistic in our own capacity to satisfy others’ needs and this will help stabilise our own mind.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–8 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 10th January. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 9
Stanzas 17-20
These next verses invite investigation into our habit of desiring the things that will bolster up our public reputation and our feelings of self worth: material gains as well as fame, power and reputation. We need to understand that all we experience, everything that we own, is ephemeral. So while it is ok to be able to enjoy the comforts we have when we have them, only if we can do so with no attachment will lead to peace and happiness. If we are able understand the temporary nature of everything, and relax in that knowledge, we are truly taking away a major cause of our suffering.
We never know what is around the corner. Once we rely on objects and the attention of others to create our self-image and forget the transience of everything, we will be hurt and suffer when they are gone. Those who become attached to wealth and power will also devote much time to maintaining them; meaning they may become cruel and blind to others, creating great disharmony through negative selfish actions. After death, any wealth or reputation will soon be forgotten by those we tried to impress. No one takes anything but their karma with them when they die.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–8 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 10th January. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 8
Stanzas 13-16
This teaching continues on with verse 13 to discuss what can happen when we become too attached to others, family or friends, and describes the wisdom in keeping a distance with love and kindness. People are fickle and can change their loyalties, meaning friendships suffer. If we are too attached and over-involved, this will bring sorrow and pain and the mind will be disturbed, we lose our meditative equilibrium. If you run away or try avoid people that will not work, because wherever you go, even in a community where people appear to have like-minds, there will be disputes and quarrels arising out of unrealistic expectations.
The best kind of relationship is like that of a honey bee with a flower, the bee takes only what it needs, the flower gives with no expectation and in turn is pollinated, no harm is done, it is uncomplicated by attachment, nothing is owed or expected.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–8 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 27th December. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 7
Stanzas 9-13
Following on from the previous verses reminding us to understand impermanence and the necessity for practice, we here move into noting the influences that can prevent us from practice, beginning with attachment and the choice of companion we keep: our friends are not always those we are physically closest to.
We should beware childish people who suffer from jealousy, who may lead us into lower states because we react badly to their negativity. It is easy to become pulled into their fickle web of pride, scorn and self-aggrandizement.
The company we keep that is beneficial, Rinpoche says, can be understood as a sharing of interests; for this, two people need not be in the same room: this type of companionship can grow over distance and time between people who have the same aspirations and share positive influences.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–8 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 27th December. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 6
Stanzas 5-8
Here we contemplate impermanence and attachment. We are all impermanent, we have no idea when life will end, either our own or that of those we are close to, and yet we attach ourselves to each other as if we will never be separated, we fully invest in a temporary situation, without contemplating the possibility of change, we try to control it, to hold on to what we have or believe in, and this brings suffering.
In fact, the pain we experience at separation, will mirror the intensity of our attachment if we don’t understand the truth of impermanence and the nature of phenomena.
Even if I have some sense of renunciation of samsara, this will be destroyed if I become too attached. In fact, by becoming too attached, we can bring ourselves to a point where we lose our dharma practice, and life will become meaningless.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–8 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 27th December. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
This LIVE Question and Answer Session with Rinpoche took place on:
The recorded video of the live session is now above. For the audio only version, and all the audio translations, visit the Chapter 8 page.
During the session Rinpoche spoke about Patrul Rinpoche’s book ‘Good In The Beginning, Middle and End’. Below are some teachings in the archive where Rinpoche goes into much more detail:
The next LIVE Question and Answer Session with Rinpoche will be:
See the LIVE Teaching Events page for more details.
Please join us for these bi-monthly live sessions with Rinpoche and ask your question live or send them in advance using the comments areas or forms on any of the Bodhicharyavatara teaching posts.
If you would like to make an offering for translations, please click the links below:
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 4
Stanza 4
This is a very important stanza stating that a combination of strong Shamatha meditation accompanied by Vipassyana will completely eradicate the kleshas. Rinpoche emphasises the importance of the insight aspect, or Vipassyana (Tibetan: Lhaktong) without which he says we will not achieve a stable meditation practice. He goes on to discuss the sixth (mind) consciousness, which is what we work on in meditation, and reminds us that we must eliminate attachment to the other five, those of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste which are dependent on mind to retain their power. Shamatha practice helps us to begin the work of detaching ourselves from sense consciousness. As long as we remain attached to these we will be mentally disturbed, distracted by sense objects, and caught in samsara; we will be unable to be at peace, and not achieve the desired liberation.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–8 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 13th December. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 3
Stanza 3
Verse 3 continues to give the reasons we should find solitude, looks at what prevents us from achieving an ideal situation for meditation and how to develop a mind that will be less prone to distraction.
Rinpoche returns to the mind poisons, recognising that the kleshas currently have control of our thoughts and mental processes. Attachment must be abandoned; and what we are attached to, such as family, loved ones and objects should be renounced. However this isn’t about turning away from that which sustains us, but requires we become less detached and more expansive in our love, we give all we can, we provide what we are able to provide, but we remain steadfast, we don’t try to control, determine, or hold onto result. This we do through practising, first in a quiet place: real love is unconditional and is not attached, it takes time to generate as we come to understand the meaning of impermanence and change.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–8 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 13th December. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 2
Stanzas 1-2
Continuing the first verses on Meditation, the text examines the reason why we would benefit from meditation and what happens if we don’t do it. Rinpoche talks about three things that contribute to our samsaric experience, resulting in our being caught in the fangs of the afflictions, which he compares to being trapped in the jaws of a crocodile. These three things are: the residual root or seeds of the kleshas harbouring in the mind; an external provocation; and our resulting unskilful reaction.
In order to begin to train ourselves to eliminate these, in the beginning we need a quiet space away from distractions, to place ourselves in an environment conducive to working on our mind through meditation, where the body and mind are undisturbed by external events and can begin to calm down. When we have started to benefit from that we can test our stability outside our meditation space.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–8 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 13th December. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 1
Stanza 1
This next talk brings us to the chapter on Meditation. Rinpoche relates to us that His Holiness the Dalai Lama considers the Bodhicharyavatara to be one of the most important texts to study and, that this chapter on Meditation along with the one on Patience are the two most important chapters in the Bodhicharyavatara. We are told here a little about Patrul Rinpoche’s continual use of the text as the basis for his teachings, and how it was recorded on paper in this form by Kunzang Pelden. His Holiness was taught the text by Kunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen, a yogi who really embodied the teaching and taught at the Sanskrit College in Sarnath.
Ringu Tulku says that despite the title, Meditative Concentration, this chapter teaches on compassion and the importance (and difficulty) of cultivating boundless love without attachment. He begins with the first two lines of verse one, which he says are a bridge between this and the previous chapter, citing study and meditation as equally important.
***
New sessions are now posted here twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 8 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–7 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will now be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be announced here soon. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
This LIVE Question and Answer Session with Rinpoche took place on:
The recorded video of the live session is now above. For the audio only version, and all the audio translations, visit the Chapter 7 page.
The next LIVE Question and Answer Session with Rinpoche will be:
Sunday, 13th December 2020 – 14:30 pm GMT/UTC
Details and link to follow.
Please join us for these bi-monthly live sessions with Rinpoche and ask your question live or send them in advance using the comments areas or forms on any of the Bodhicharyavatara teaching posts.
If you would like to make an offering for translations, please click the links below:
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 32
Stanzas 71-76
The closing verses on chapter 7 impress upon us the need to understand how imperative it is to apply ourselves in earnest to the practice of Diligence: we should hold sharply to awareness as if someone is threatening to attack with a naked sword while we walk a tightrope holding a jar of boiling oil; if a drop is spilt we must succumb to the blade. Or with the spontaneous agility that would be required to escape a poisonous snake that has fallen into our lap we must maintain mindfulness of our actions and dedicate ourselves to staying diligently on the path.
It is so important to keep our awareness broadly focussed and with an eye on the detail, and to set ourselves tasks that are within our capacity; if we look after the short term projects, mindful of the implications for going astray or being diverted, we won’t be overwhelmed by the long term projects, they will be manageable.
Maintaining a joyful heart, approaching life positively, being ready to go with the flow when necessary while focussing on the task in hand and watching out for the pitfalls as they arise, is the key to achieving success.
***
New sessions are now posted here twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 7 along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–7 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will now be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 29th November. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 31
Stanzas 67-70
These next verses discuss the force of Relinquishment, and Cultivating Strengths. Addressing the perennial dilemma of knowing when to take a break, and when to push on, Diligence here includes knowing how to pace our enthusiasm; when we need to rest, recharge and recuperate in order to have the strength and enthusiasm to continue what we are doing and give it our best. In order to be effective, we must have the right mental and physical conditions possible to carry out any task, meaning withdrawing ourselves from something when we are fatigued is an act of diligence.
On the other hand we must not become attached to our accomplishments, but be ready to relinquish them on completion, so that others may carry on the work and bring it forward. This leaves us free to develop ourselves.
We must also be on our guard, keeping alert and aware to moments of weakness. Similar to a person in battle who must hold on to their weapon at all costs, it is essential to remain mindful––because when the poison of the kleshas enters our mind-stream it will destroy us.
***
New sessions are now posted here twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 7 along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–7 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will now be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 29th November. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 30
Stanzas 63-66
After Confidence, developing Joy is the third force or power that will aid our training in Diligence. Rinpoche reminds us of the innocence of children at play, abandoning themselves to fun and games without consideration for rewards or payments, just playing for its own sake. This is how we should apply our own minds when we practice dharma, immersing ourselves in bodhisattva action without any expectation. It may not always reap great results, but something good will come sooner or later if our intention is right.
Rinpoche distinguishes the joy we seek from trying to satisfy ourselves with material or sensual pleasures which are short-lived and often bring us down the path of attachment or neediness: the text says there is a sweet-sour aspect to it–like licking honey from a razor’s edge where there is potential for self harm hidden in a pleasurable activity. This kind of joy is short lived and cannot compare to the joy that can be felt when reaching out to help others with only their welfare in mind and no thought for ourselves.
***
New sessions are now posted here twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 7 along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–7 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will now be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 29th November. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 29
Stanzas 59-62a
Here Rinpoche continues to discuss the power of pride as a positive force. With uncompromising clarity Shantideva describes the self confidence that is an essential and positive aspect of pride, when it is informed by right motivation and understanding. There is no attachment, no fear, no selfish sub-plot associated with pride in this context, it is unconditional.
The third of the attributes associated with pride is confident ability. We have the determination and dedication to continue to act like a lion being attacked by foxes, we assume the role of conquerors with the sole purpose of alleviating suffering, our own and that of others. With this confidence in our ability to act appropriately we never succumb to feelings of inadequacy––protecting ourselves from the kleshas as we would protect our own eyes.
***
From now on, we will post a new session twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 7 along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–7 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will now be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 29th November. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
This LIVE Question and Answer Session with Rinpoche took place on:
The recorded video of the live session is now above. For the audio only version, and all the audio translations, visit the Chapter 7 page.
The next LIVE Question and Answer Session with Rinpoche will be:
Sunday, 29th November 2020 – 14:30 pm GMT/UTC
Details and link to follow.
Please join us for these bi-monthly live sessions with Rinpoche and ask your question live or send them in advance using the comments areas or forms on any of the Bodhicharyavatara teaching posts.
If you would like to make an offering for translations, please click the links below:
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 27
Stanzas 55-58
Staying with the explanation of the two styles of pride, Rinpoche distinguishes further in the next verses between the two types of pride: arrogance, and confident pride. This latter is the pride of a Bodhisattva, when you are clear thinking, certain, confident but humble, the lion-like child of Buddha who has conquered the maras.
To be wrongly swayed by the power of arrogance is harmful. To fall under the sway of one who gives indiscriminate praise, rising to the bait or crumpling under criticism shows that in truth you are not confident. Confidence is seen when, regardless of what is being said, you are aware of your capacities and failings and you steadfastly hold on to that understanding. Then the opinions and criticisms of others will not bother you, you know what you have to do and you do it. On the other hand, you are also willing to look at negative criticism and assess its validity on your own terms, using your own intelligence. Arrogance does not give you that freedom.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 7 along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–7 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted every week, usually on Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 15th November. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 26
Stanzas 49-54
Rinpoche goes more deeply into the three things to which confidence must be applied: action, affliction and ability. He returns to Verse 49, elaborating further on training ourselves to have confidence in our actions, even when we feel alone and unsupported, before discussing negative afflictions and the development the confidence required to overcome those, as well as our ability to help ourselves and others, without conceit.
We might feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, especially when we feel that those around us are oblivious to the negativity they are creating for themselves when we observe it will take them further away from the happiness they pursue.
It can also be difficult to see our own fault-lines of deceit or arrogance when they creep in as we observe the behaviour of others, so being confident but not self-righteous requires clarity on our part and it is important to understand the difference. It is important also to recognise our own limitations, but not be put off when our efforts are mocked and rejected. Steadfastness is key to keeping a strong heart.
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 7 along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–7 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted every week, usually on Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 15th November. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 24
Stanzas 46-49
Rinpoche talks about aspiration in terms of devotion, understanding that we will not be able to reach everyone we wish to help, as in the Avatamsaka sutra, where it is said that even when the sun is shining there will be places that remain in shadow where the suns rays cannot reach, but this must not prevent us from helping those who are open to it.
The second of the four forces is training in confidence, confidence that the task at hand can be completed and that we will not be put off by the obstacles that are bound to arise. If we continually begin a project without finishing it we will develop a karma that may continue into future lives.
Of the three types of projects we might embark on, Dharma practice is the hardest one to bring to fruition, so the tendency to begin something without the determination to complete it is the most detrimental to our spiritual progress. The three things we must apply ourselves to are: action, afflictions, and our ability to carry through, being confident before we begin anything that we are capable of completing it.
(Rinpoche then reads the stanzas 50-51 in Tibetan at the end of the video, but will explain them in the next session.)
Archive members can also view the teaching on the Chapter 7 along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–7 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
New sessions will be posted every week, usually on Friday. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.
Rinpoche has kindly agreed to answer questions regarding these teachings once in every two weeks in a live webinar on Zoom, which will be simultaneously streamed on this website. Next webinar will be on 1st November. You are encouraged to ask your question live in the webinar, but if you are more comfortable with submitting it in writing, you can do so by using the comment area below. Please reflect on your question carefully before you send it, and be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Vous pouvez également envoyer des questions en français. También puede enviar preguntas en español. Sie können Fragen auch auf Deutsch senden. Puoi anche inviare domande in italiano. Presubmitted questions in other languages are also welcome and they will be translated to English.
In any other questions and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
This LIVE Question and Answer Session with Rinpoche took place on:
The recorded video of the live session is now above. For the audio only version, and all the audio translations, visit the Chapter 7 page.
The next LIVE Question and Answer Session with Rinpoche will be:
Sunday, 15th November 2020 – 14:30 pm GMT/UTC
Details and link to follow.
Please join us for these bi-monthly live sessions with Rinpoche and ask your question live or send them in advance using the comments areas or forms on any of the Bodhicharyavatara teaching posts.
If you would like to make an offering for translations, please click the links below:
These teachings are dedicated for all who are sick and dying of corona virus, and for all who are tirelessly working in order to help them.
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