Bodhicharyavatara Chapter 6, Stanzas 119-123

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Session 43
Chapter 6: Patience
Stanzas 119-123

These next verses challenge the student to completely rethink his or her relationship with the buddhas, bodhisattvas and sentient beings.

Buddhas and bodhisattvas themselves regard all sentient beings with respect, in fact the buddhas’ own happiness is derived from the happiness of sentient beings. Because of this we should regard the buddhas and bodhisattvas––even those we have not connected with, as our unacquainted friends.

The Enlightened Ones treat all sentient beings equally and go to great lengths to help them. Their compassion is limitless, recognising the harm we cause to ourselves and others out of ignorance, they work patiently doing whatever they can to relieve our suffering.

It is a mistake to make offerings to them while at the same time holding our fellow sentient beings apart, even believing them to be beneath us. If it is our wish to help the Enlightened Ones and make them happy, this will not be done through making offerings only to them, it will be done through revering sentient beings and serving them as the buddhas do, by making offerings to them as we would Enlightened Beings.

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