Bodhicharyavatara Chapter 7, Stanzas 63-66

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 30
Stanzas 63-66

After Confidence, developing Joy is the third force or power that will aid our training in Diligence. Rinpoche reminds us of the innocence of children at play, abandoning themselves to fun and games without consideration for rewards or payments, just playing for its own sake. This is how we should apply our own minds when we practice dharma, immersing ourselves in bodhisattva action without any expectation. It may not always reap great results, but something good will come sooner or later if our intention is right.

Rinpoche distinguishes the joy we seek from trying to satisfy ourselves with material or sensual pleasures which are short-lived and often bring us down the path of attachment or neediness: the text says there is a sweet-sour aspect to it–like licking honey from a razor’s edge where there is potential for self harm hidden in a pleasurable activity. This kind of joy is short lived and cannot compare to the joy that can be felt when reaching out to help others with only their welfare in mind and no thought for ourselves.

***

New sessions are now posted here twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. 

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 now be posted twice a week, usually on Tuesday and 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 29th November. 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. Presubmitted 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.

Audio-only version, Translations and other supporting materials:

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. 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.