Bodhicharyavatara Chapter 8, Stanzas 21-24

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 8: Meditation
Session 10
Stanzas 21-24

The next verses of Chapter 8 tell us why moving away from our attachment to worldly concerns is the key to a successful meditation practice. When we are attached, we are dancing with the mind-poisons; attempting to be liked by someone or struggling with rejection, generating pride in success or anger and frustration at finding we are unable to satisfy a need of our own or the wishes of someone else.

When we receive criticism that is hurtful, we are thrown off balance despite the possibility it may be well founded, and we fail to recognise that receiving praise and rejection are both temporary conditions that have the power to destabilise our mental equilibrium, if we are too attached.

It is important to choose our friends wisely and love them well regardless of their wealth or poverty and without expectation or attachment. Even the Buddha was not able to please or help all his listeners and was rejected by some, so we must be realistic in our own capacity to satisfy others’ needs and this will help stabilise our own mind.

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