Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 14
Stanzas 20-26
In the following verses we are looking at the natural tendency to shy away from a training that seems to be too difficult, even when it is prescribed as helpful. But as Rinpoche points out, according to Shantideva this is misguided, it need not be too alarming if we approach working with difficulty in a gradual way. If we practise giving away a cup of curry to a hungry person this can lead to a more difficult antidote later on, which we will easily take in our stride. We could also look upon the process somewhat like medicine, a doctor provides the surgery and treatment in the short term, bringing much discomfort. However our engagement with that painful process is short-lived compared to the relief gained once we are through the initial intervention.
We have probably, in our countless lifetimes encountered far more unimaginable suffering many times, and because we endured it with no guidance so we have gained nothing in terms of our progress along the path to Buddhahood, we simply land back at square one. So in the longer term, a brief encounter with suffering, using the instruction given by the Buddha, a Supreme Healer, for developing generosity and overcoming laziness with Discipline, will gradually bring great benefit and be very easy to do.
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 September 20. 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. 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.
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. Please be concise and only use one short paragraph and less than 80 words. Questions longer than that may have to be edited. Questions will be collected from here in the evening day before each Live Q&A.
Non-members can either sign up to become a member to leave a comment below or simply use the form here to ask Rinpoche a short question. In any other issues and for technical help, please contact us at Teachings Archive.
If you would like to make a personal offering to Rinpoche along with a message, please use the button below:
You can find out more about how to support the archive, while gaining access to Rinpoche's online teachings, using the button below.