Bodhicharyavatara – A Synopsis, 5: Objects of Patience

Chapter 6: Patience

How to cultivate the Paramita of Patience: the different kinds of Patience.

Rinpoche starts this session by reminding us that the situation we face now requires that we keep ourselves grounded and continue to keep practising, to develop the qualities as we have always been doing. Although danger is now more apparent, in another way, circumstances haven’t changed. We need the same vigilance.

He lists the 72 objects of our patience and asks that we extend our awareness to the immediate causes and conditions behind situations that test our patience, to try
to understand the suffering of a person when we feel tested and to try to see what is causing them to behave in a particular way.

When we observe from this broader perspective, we are also practising the first three Paramitas, which in turn will help us to practise patience.

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.

New sessions will be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and on Friday, so please visit us often. Every Friday we will send a mailout with links to all new teachings posted during the week.

You are welcome to leave a question for Rinpoche, relating to this teaching or any other topic, by using the comment area below, or by email, if you prefer. Questions will be answered by Rinpoche in a later session. In any other issues 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.

Audio versions:

Rinpoche’s original recording in English:

Translations:

French:

For other translations (if available) see the main Chapter 6 page here.

Questions:

Your questions are most welcome. Archive members can log in and leave their questions for Rinpoche as a comment below, so that others can see them too. If you prefer, you can send your question by email instead. It is helpful if you can use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Any questions longer than that may have to be edited, so please be concise.