Bodhicharyavatara Chapter 6, Stanzas 128-133

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Session 47
Chapter 6: Patience
Stanzas 128-133

These verses invite us to consider how we respond to sentient beings who are harming us. Like all beings, they have the support not only of the buddhas and bodhisattvas, but also the guardians of hell. Like a representative of a king, their personal power may be negligible, but if they are working for a powerful or fierce royal master, there will be great negative consequences for me. The buddhas hold each of us in their love and compassion, without any discrimination, they would be upset by our retaliatory behaviour because we hurt ourselves so much more. No matter how badly they behave or how much damage our enemies are doing, our personal pain will be even greater if we fight back. Neither can a king bestow enlightenment, only we can do that for ourselves. Because of this, we must be patient even with a murderer and treat them as if they were our family, justly and with understanding, look upon them as a source of potential happiness. This attitude alone will bring us on the path to enlightenment, even in this lifetime.

(Stanza 127 was skipped in this session, but it will be explained next time.)

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