In session four of the new teachings on Bodhicharyavatara, Rinpoche summarises Chapter 6 and discusses the first of the three aspects of developing Patience:
Understanding the importance of letting go anger and hatred.
Rinpoche advises that where we see injustice and express anger, it is often our expression of compassion that is frustrated by not knowing how to respond correctly, so we need to recognise when that is true for us.
He says further harm is caused by responding to injustice with more anger and distinguishes between that and the times when anger has a purpose and a place; when it can be an act of compassion. However anger is like fire, he says, burning everything in its path, eventually it creates a disturbed state of mind and self destructs. It is very important to deeply understand how the partisan attitude created through misguided anger is dangerous. To understand the wider circumstances that have caused hatred and seeing everyone’s point of view helps in the arising of compassion within ourselves. This broader perspective, he says, sows the seeds of patience.
In the following sessions Rinpoche will discuss the remaining two aspects of the teachings on Patience. These instruct on cultivating and practising the different kinds of patience and result in developing deep respect for all sentient beings.
He concludes with a dedication, and prays that the pandemic will soon dissolve.
You can also view the teaching on the Chapter 6 page along with the other teachings on this chapter. All previous sessions on Chapters 1–6 are available in the Courses section of the Teachings Archive.
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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.
Rinpoche’s original recording in English:
French:
For other translations (if available) see the main Chapter 6 page here.
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Rinpoche, if you feel some anger within yourself but have no intention of acting on it, can this be a form of patience? Thank you.