The Basis for Buddhahood: The Naturally Luminous Mind and Buddha-Nature in the Early Mahāmudrā Tradition by Casey Forgues
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| (2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
|header= Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia | |header= Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia | ||
|image= https://commons.tsadra.org/images/e/ea/Vienna-Symposium-Main-Banner.jpg | |image= https://commons.tsadra.org/images/e/ea/Vienna-Symposium-Main-Banner.jpg | ||
|content= | |content= In July 2019 Tsadra Foundation partnered with the University of Vienna to bring scholars together for an international symposium titled Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia. The presentations are available here. | ||
|watermark= | |watermark= Forum | ||
|classes=col-12 | |classes=col-12 | ||
}} | }} | ||
|PostToAudioStream=Yes | |PostToAudioStream=Yes | ||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 15:15, 6 August 2024
| Description | Geshe Dorjee examines The Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, and gives commentary on ultimate bodhicitta, emptiness, and what it means to generate the mind for full awakening in the Mahāyāna Buddhist context. |
|---|
| Description | If you remove the cold from the ice, it becomes what it has always been - water. Our buddha nature is like water under the influence of the cold, the poisons of the mind. |
|---|
| Description | Session 1 - September 28, 2020 Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Ch. 7 Online Program
Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhicaryāvatāra), one of the great classics of Indian Buddhist literature, was written by the distinguished eighth-century scholar Shantideva. This revered text is widely regarded as the most authentic and comprehensive guide for the spiritual practitioner dedicated to the enlightenment of all sentient beings. His Holiness the Dalai Lama cites this work as one of the greatest influences in his life and repeatedly stresses the benefits of studying it. The Buddhist path can at times be daunting and, in spite of our good intentions, our spiritual development can frequently be impeded by our own indolence and discouragement. Our ability to keep progressing forward is contingent on whether we know how to cultivate the great enthusiasm and constancy that will help us persevere through whatever challenges we might encounter. In Chapter Seven of the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Master Shantideva provides us with skillful instructions on how to develop the diligence and dedication necessary to overcome our obstacles and proceed joyfully and heroically on the path to enlightenment. (Source Accessed Oct 4, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra is one of the five great treatises given by Lord Maitreya to Asanga. It is a commentary on the teachings of the third turning of Dharma wheel in explaining the buddha-nature. Many great masters say it can be revered as a “commentary bridging the Exoteric and Vajrayana Buddhism”. It provides an important philosophical foundation for understanding the workings of the Buddhist path, particularly for Vajrayana practitioners. |
|---|
| Description | Session 1 - July 6, 2020 Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Ch. 6 Online Program
Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhicaryāvatāra), one of the great classics of Indian Buddhist literature, was written by the distinguished eighth-century scholar Shantideva. This revered text is widely regarded as the most authentic and comprehensive guide for the spiritual practitioner dedicated to the enlightenment of all sentient beings. His Holiness the Dalai Lama cites this work as one of the greatest influences in his life and repeatedly stresses the benefits of studying it. We all know how incredibly destructive anger can be in the world, and the unrest it creates in our minds can become a major obstacle to our spiritual progress. Addressing this harmful state requires the practice of patience, a mind that can remain undisturbed in even the most challenging situations. In the sixth chapter of his text, Master Shantideva skillfully reveals the methods to cultivate the strength of patience as a powerful antidote to overcome the inflamed mind of anger and remove this impediment to our progress on the path of awakening for the benefit of all beings. (Source Accessed Oct 4, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | These instructions handed down by Serlingpa, Help us transform the problems in these degenerate times POINT 1: GROUNDWORK |
|---|
| Description | Teaching by Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche on The Way of the Bodhisattva. This video covers chapter 5 and is part 1 of 10. |
|---|
| Description | Cortland Dahl teaches a four-part series on buddha-nature during the month of October 2019 at the Tergar Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Each talk begins with a brief 15–20 minute meditation session. |
|---|
| Description | The Seven Points of Mind Training is a method of developing a relative bodhichitta practice which was brought to Tibet by the great Atisha. This practice is very effective in working with emotions. One usually learns or memorizes a number of instructions and every time the situation where the solution is one of these instructions, one thinks of the instruction and changes one's behavior.
Thrangu Rinpoche clearly explains these Seven Points which are presented in Jamgon Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye’s classic text, The Great Path of Awakening. In Rinpoche’s view, the combination of Mahamudra and Mind Training is an excellent balance of ultimate and relative bodhichitta practice that together offer a swift path to full realization. Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, this seminar has nine talks. |
|---|
| Description | The morning session on the first day of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's three day teaching on Shantideva's "A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" at the request of Russian Buddhists in New Delhi, India on December 17, 2014. His Holiness speaks in Tibetan with an English translation available. |
|---|
| Description | These audio recordings contain teachings by Dzongsar Khyenste Rinpoche on the Bodhicaryāvatāra. The teachings were given in two parts between 2014 and 2015 in Pune, India. Part 1 was recorded in 2014 (no specific date is given) and covers tracks 1–19. Part 2 was recorded in February 2015 and covers tracks 20–31.
The 1st track contains a welcome speech by the organizers of the event and a brief introduction to Śāntideva and his text. The 2nd track contains a recitation of refuge. The teaching begins with track 3, and later tracks contain reviews of the teachings up to that point by the organizers. Other tracks contain question-and-answer sessions. |
|---|
| Description | Session 1 - January 4, 2021 Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Ch. 8 Online Program
Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhicaryāvatāra), one of the great classics of Indian Buddhist literature, was written by the distinguished eighth-century scholar Shantideva. This revered text is widely regarded as the most authentic and comprehensive guide for the spiritual practitioner dedicated to the enlightenment of all sentient beings. His Holiness the Dalai Lama cites this work as one of the greatest influences in his life and repeatedly stresses the benefits of studying it. One of the most important elements of our practice of the bodhisattva path is the skill of meditative concentration that is essential as a support for our advancement towards the goal of enlightenment. With the attainment of calm abiding, a meditative state in which all obstacles to stable concentration have been removed, we can then use the power of our minds to achieve greater and greater realizations. In Chapter Eight of the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Master Shantideva first provides instruction on developing this meditative skill to calm our minds, and then proceeds to explain how to use our meditation on exchanging our self-concern with an altruistic concern for others as a way to open our hearts and dedicate our lives fully to the welfare of all beings. (Source Accessed Oct 4, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Day one of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's three day teaching on Shantideva's "A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" at the request of Russian Buddhists in Delhi, India on December 25-27, 2016. His Holiness speaks in Tibetan with a an English translation available. (Source Accessed Oct 12, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Bodhicharyavatara, Chapter 5, Stanza 1 Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Bodhicharya Online Shedra (April 14, 2012) With video BA5_1 Rinpoche gives the general outline and explains the essence of the fifth chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara, Vigilant Introspection. In brief, in order to follow the training of the Bodhisattva path, we have to guard and protect our mind constantly by applying mindfulness and awareness to it. Further recommended reading: the commentary book by Kunzang Pelden (Khenpo Kunpal), The Nectar of Manjushri’s Speech, p. 164-165. |
|---|
| Description | Bodhicharyavatara, Chapter 2, Stanza 1 Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Bodhicharya Online Shedra (March 1, 2011) We have come to the beginning of the second chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara, the Chapter of Purification, or the Confession. In order to generate and establish bodhichitta in ourselves we first need to create positive habitual tendencies, and the first preparation is making offerings. In this video (BA2_1) Rinpoche explains the first stanza of this chapter. Further recommended reading: the commentary book by Kunzang Pelden (Khenpo Kunpal), The Nectar of Manjushri’s Speech, p. 65-66. |
|---|
| Description | Session 1 - February 10, 2020
Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Ch. 4-5 Online Program Having developed the mind intent upon enlightenment (which is covered in the first three chapters), the bodhisattva must initially remove the obstacles of destructive behavior and uncontrolled emotions which impede one’s progress toward enlightenment. The fourth and fifth chapters of Shantideva’s text reveal the methods to strengthen one’s far-reaching motivation and develop proper mindfulness as antidotes to these impediments to proceeding on the path. The Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhicaryāvatāra), one of the great classics of Indian Buddhist literature, was written by the distinguished 8th-century scholar, Master Shantideva. This revered text is widely regarded as the most authentic and comprehensive guide for the spiritual practitioner dedicated to the enlightenment of all sentient beings. His Holiness the Dalai Lama cites this work as one of the greatest influences in his life and repeatedly stresses the benefits of studying it. (Source Accessed Oct 4, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | On the occasion of the 10-Year Anniversary Celebration of Prajnopaya at MIT, His Holiness the Dalai Lama graciously agreed to bestow a teaching based on Acharya Kamalaśīla's Stages of Meditation at the request of The Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi.
About the Text: Stages of Meditation (Sanskrit. Bhāvanākrama; Tibetan. Gomrim Barpa) offers lucid instructions on cultivating a meditative mind. In great detail, it instructs practitioners on acquiring familiarity and developing expertise in two forms of meditation that will lessen suffering and ultimately lead to enlightenment. These two are śamatha, or calm abiding, and vipaśyanā, or stainless insight. Kamalaśīla clearly outlines why both methods are essential to the practitioner's development and why both must be grounded in compassion. |
|---|
| Description | Teaching by Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche on The Way of the Bodhisattva. This video covers chapter 1 and is part 1 of 3. |
|---|
| Description | Teaching by Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche on The Way of the Bodhisattva. This video covers chapter 6 and is part 1 of 11. |
|---|
| Description | "Maitreya's Sublime Continuum on Buddha Nature" by Don Handrick
|
|---|
| Description | Why are we able to attain enlightenment? Is buddha-nature merely a metaphor for emptiness or something more? Is buddhahood something that is produced or uncovered? In this conversation, Casey Forgues explores these questions and more with Lopen Karma Phuntsho by referencing some of the earliest Mahāmudrā masters, including Nāropa, Marpa, and Gampopa. This discussion focuses on how the luminous mind (also sometimes known as clear light) was emphasized in terms of the basis, path, and fruition in this tradition, and how the three can be merged through meditative practices on luminosity.
In the recent publication Buddha Nature Across Asia, edited by Klaus-Dieter Mathes and Casey Forgues (Kemp), Casey contributes a chapter focused on an important concept related to buddha-nature and our innate propensity for buddhahood—natural luminosity (prakṛtiprabhāsvaratā), the theory that the inherent condition of mind is luminous and pure, and afflictions (kleśa) are merely adventitious. While this idea is found in the Pāli canon, it came to be particularly thematized as the basis for buddhahood among the various Mahāyāna traditions. The natural luminosity of mind is a central topic in the Ratnagotravibhāga and came to be understood by some commentators to be synonymous with buddha-nature, especially within the Tibetan Kagyü Mahāmudrā tradition. Casey provides a semantic gloss of the term among key Indian canonical texts, including sūtra, tantra, and dohā sources, that directly influenced the doctrine of natural luminosity among the early Mahāmudrā teachings. She looks into how Maitrīpa (986–1063), Nāropa (1016–1041), and Marpa (1012–1097) in particular understood the luminous mind to be inseparable from the dharmakāya, which led to later traditional Mahāmudrā understandings of buddha-nature. While buddha-nature sources are not extensively referenced in the earliest available Mahāmudrā teachings, Casey demonstrates how the doctrine of natural luminosity directly influenced teachings on buddha-nature, and vice versa, in the tradition. You can download the PDF of the book for free online here: https://wstb.univie.ac.at/wp-content/uploads/WSTB_103.pdf Casey Forgues (Kemp) is a PhD candidate at the University of Vienna and editorial director of Khyentse Vision Project. Casey received her MPhil in Tibetan Studies at the University of Oxford and has translated sūtras for 84000. Her research focuses on tantric philosophical views of the luminous nature of mind in the early Mahāmudrā tradition (eleventh-thirteenth centuries). She is the coeditor of Buddha Nature Across Asia and has published on topics including death and dying in tantric Buddhism, buddha-nature, the six yogas of Nāropa, and the Kalācakra tradition. |
|---|
| Description | In this seven part series, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche teaches on chapter one of the Uttaratantra, Sublime Continuum of the Mahayana by Maitreya. This text clarifies the meaning of our Buddha potential, in particular the emptiness of the mind that allows evolution to a state of complete enlightenment, and gives an extensive explanation of the meaning of the Three Jewels - Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. This teaching was given at Land of medicine Buddha in 2004 and includes both Tibetan and English interpreted by Venerable Tse Yang. |
|---|
| Description | This teaching is part of a series of teachings on the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhisattvacharyāvatāra), Shantideva’s well-known and much revered work. It is a very poetic and inspiring text explaining how to live the bodhisattva ideal, progressively dedicating one’s life completely to others until achieving enlightenment and becoming perfectly beneficial to them. (Source Accessed Oct 29, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | This is day 1 of Geshe Lhakdor's teaching from Shantideva's Verses of the Compendium of Precepts (Śikṣāsamuccayakārikā). The teaching is in English. |
|---|
| Description | In this chapter, Shantideva reminds us that all good deeds and all wrongdoings, all happiness and all sufferings depend on our minds. Only by carefully guarding our minds can we protect and develop the qualities to benefit ourselves and others up to enlightenment. To do so, we need mindfulness to keep our minds on virtue and introspection to check that our actions, speech, and thoughts are not involved in non-virtue. Drawing from many different situations, Shantideva illustrates precisely how to apply mindfulness and introspection to refrain vigilantly from negative actions, resolutely engage in virtue, and skillfully benefit others. This maps out for us the whole practice of morality in the most inspiring yet very hands-on way.
By commenting on each poetic verse, Venerable Fedor will help us unfold the profound meaning behind each one and integrate them into our daily lives. This teaching is part of a series of teachings on the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhisattvacharyāvatāra), Shantideva’s well-known and much revered work. It is a very powerful text explaining how to live the Bodhisattva ideal, progressively dedicating one’s life completely to others until achieving enlightenment and becoming perfectly beneficial to them. Even though the text is very profound, it is incredibly accessible and can inspire all practitioners, whatever their experience of Buddhism is. It is especially recommended for those who want to know more about or practice Mahayana Buddhism, and more generally, to develop loving kindness and compassion. (Source Accessed Oct 29, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Becoming a bodhisattva and entering the path to enlightenment is accomplished by generating bodhicitta, the mind that aspires to attain enlightenment for the welfare of all beings. Don explores the benefits of cultivating bodhicitta as well as the way to make it firm in the mind in the first three chapters of Shantideva’s text.
The Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhicaryāvatāra), one of the great classics of Indian Buddhist literature, was written by the distinguished 8th-century scholar, Master Shantideva. This revered text is widely regarded as the most authentic and comprehensive guide for the spiritual practitioner dedicated to the enlightenment of all sentient beings. His Holiness the Dalai Lama cites this work as one of the greatest influences in his life and repeatedly stresses the benefits of studying it. (Source Accessed Oct 1, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Sunday Livestream Teaching w/ Drupa Rinpoche (January 10th, 2021). Bodhicaryavatara - Chapter 4 Conscientiousness (Verses 1-10).
Prayers begin at 7:01. First verse begins at 41:26. (Source Accessed Oct 29, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Kyabje Thrangu Rinpoche offers instruction on practicing patience or forbearance, as explained in Shantideva's treasured text, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. The 1,000-year old text, prized in all lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, provides methods by which the depths of our compassion and wisdom can be revealed. So revered is this text that the prominent 19th-century Nyingma teacher, Patrul Rinpoche, who lived as a wandering ascetic with very few possessions, was said to have always carried A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life with him and was constantly teaching the text. Similarly, His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso once said, "if I have any understanding of compassion and the practice of the Bodhisattva path, it is entirely on the basis of this text that I possess it." Kyabje Thrangu Rinpoche will help us understand Shantideva's sixth chapter on "Patience". (Source Accessed Oct 8, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Venerable Thubten Chodron gives an overview of the text and covers verse 1ab in Chapter 1 on Shantideva’s homage to the Triple Gem.
The Texts: |
|---|
| Description | Day 1 morning of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's four day teaching on Shantideva's "Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" and Kamalashila's "Middling Stages of Meditation" in Madison, Wisconsin from July 20th to 23rd, 2008. (www.dalailama.com) (Source Accessed Oct 13, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Thubten Chodron guides viewers through her book, Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions in this video series produced by Sravasti Abbey. This talk addressing Chapter 14 discusses buddha-nature by way of emptiness. Venerable Thubten Chodron presents that emptiness is the reason that the mind's afflictions and obscurations can be purified and that purification process reveals buddha-nature inherent in the minds of all beings. |
|---|
| Description | In this public talk held at Jewel Heart in New York, Geshe Tenley helps us understand why anger is so harmful and how we can keep a clear and calm mind, adapting Shantideva's timeless wisdom to our modern world. Translator Tenzin Gelek. (Source Accessed Oct 29, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche talks about LOVING KINDNESS AND COMPASSION cont., BODHICITTA and REFUGE in this video .
Motivation ! (E 00:24 ) |
|---|
| Description | An intensive seminar on view and practices of Mahayana Buddhism, based in part on Shantideva's classic work The Bodhicharyavatara. Begins with the transition of hinayana to mahayana: being gentle toward oneself and reducing discursive thoughts in meditation awakens "bodhichitta", "awakened heart." Core teaching of mahayana as the six paramitas -- generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and wisdom or prajna. All qualities already inherent in us. Special focus on discipline paramita, controlling one's mind and sense perceptions, not taking a break. Final paramita of prajna, or "discriminating awareness wisdom", described as knowing what to boycott, what to cultivate. According to Shantideva, "bodhisattva ideal" is taking a journey that does not run away from challenges. Involves raising twofold bodhichitta, relative and absolute. Relative is developing sympathy, relaxation within oneself and generating to others. Absolute as experiencing mind beyond discursive thoughts. Bodhisattva vow is expanding vision beyond one's immediate circle to include everyone. Final topic is tonglen, "sending and taking", meditation practice that takes in suffering of others, gives out goodness. Mahayana as putting "this", oneself, together with "that", other, in mutual egolessness. Extensive QandA of concluding talk defines prajna in depth, razor-like clarity that boycotts all unnecessary situations and activities, the latter the definitions of samsara, which prajna destroys. This seminar was co-taught with the Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin, who gave talks 2, 4, 6, and 8. To listen to the Vajra Regent's talks from this seminar, copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://www.vajraregent.org/?current_event=612 |
|---|
| Description | Do Ngak Kunphen Ling of Redding, CT and the Mahayana Sutra and Tantra Center of New Jersey are pleased to announce an extraordinary nine-day teaching to be given by Gyumed Khensur Lobsang Jampa Rinpoche on the singularly important Buddhist philosophical work entitled The Treatise on the Higher Doctrine of the Great Vehicle (S: Mahāyānottaratantra¬śāstra, T: Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma’i bstan bcos), which is also known by the name Distinguishing the Spiritual Lineage of the Three Jewels (S: Ratnagotravibhāga, T: dKon mchog gi rigs rnam par dbye ba).
This treatise is one of the Five Teachings of Maitreya, all of which were said to have been revealed to Asanga by the Bodhisattva Maitreya. The central teaching of the Higher Doctrine is the topic of the “spiritual lineage” (Skt: gotram, Wyl: rigs), which is known popularly as “Buddha Nature” and represents the quality, both in a potential and an actualized form, by means of which all sentient beings possess the ability to attain the supreme enlightenment of a Buddha. The root text of the Higher Doctrine, written in verse form, comprises five chapters that are organized around seven “adamantine” topics. The first chapter deals with the first four topics, which are the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, and the spiritual lineage. Each of the next three chapters deals with the remaining three topics of enlightenment, a Buddha’s virtuous qualities, and a Buddha’s enlightened activities. The concluding chapter describes the benefits that are gained by a person who possesses devotion toward the subject matter presented in the treatise. |
|---|
| Description | In this chapter, Shantideva teaches us a crucial skill: how to develop joy and courage in practicing virtue, the cause of happiness. Pushing ourselves or clinging to meaningless activities will not suffice to bring us to enlightenment. Shantideva guides us in cultivating joyous perseverance through aspiration, steadfastness, and knowing when to rest, so that we may have joyful, unshakable determination that will carry us along the path up to enlightenment as the wind carries a cotton ball.
By commenting on each poetic verse, Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi helps us unfold the profound meaning behind each one and integrate them into our daily lives. This teaching is part of a series of teachings on the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhisattvacharyāvatāra), a very powerful text explaining how to live the Bodhisattva ideal, progressively dedicating one’s life completely to others until achieving enlightenment and becoming perfectly beneficial to them. This profound text is incredibly accessible and can inspire different practitioners. It is especially recommended for those who want to know more about or practice Mahayana Buddhism, and more generally, to develop loving kindness and compassion. (Source Accessed Oct 29, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Day 1 of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's three day teaching on Shantideva's "A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" organized by the Youth Buddhist Society of India in Sankisa, UP, India on December 3-5, 2018. His Holiness speaks in Tibetan with an English translation available. (Source Accessed Oct 8, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Through acquiring the wisdom discerning the true nature of reality, the bodhisattva draws nearer to and eventually reaches the goal of complete and perfect enlightenment. Shantideva elucidates the way to develop this transcendent wisdom in the latter portion of the ninth chapter and then concludes the text with a beautiful and inspiring chapter of heartfelt prayers and dedications for attaining this result. (Source Accessed Oct 5, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Sunday Livestream Teaching w/ Drupa Rinpoche (August 16th, 2020). Bodhicaryavatara Chapter 1, The Benefits of Bodhicitta. A summary of the talk is available at: https://khacholing.org/k/images/PPT/BodhisattvaVowsNotes3.pdf. (Source Accessed Oct 29, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Few texts are more frequently taught and quoted, have as colorful a history, and as much relevance to Buddhists today more than the eighth-century Indian Buddhist monk Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva. The Dalai Lama has said that “if I have any understanding of compassion and the bodhisattva path, it all comes from studying this text.”
The living tradition of this text radiates most brightly from the Tibetan tradition where it was translated from Sanskrit in the ninth century and is central to all the traditions there, the Tibetan diaspora, and those receiving it in the West. One singular aspect about the text is that unlike many of the important authored texts from India, it is fundamentally a practice text. As the Dalai Lama described it, “Shantideva composed his text in the form of an inner dialog. He turned his own weapons upon himself, doing battle with his negative emotions. Therefore, when we teach or listen to this text, it is important that we do so in order to progress spiritually, rather than making it simply a subject of academic study.” In the spirit of this approach, Shambhala Publications and the Tsadra Foundation were pleased to host a four-day workshop on the text led by Wulstan Fletcher of the Padmakara Translation Group and recent recipient of the 2016 Khyentse Foundation Fellowship for his service to the Buddhadharma. Wulstan’s brief biography is below, suffice it to say there are few in the west who have worked as closely with this text and who can articulate so clearly its value, importance, and potential for us all. Wulstan was joined by several of the leading lights in Buddhist studies, translation, and teaching communities of Boulder, Colorado, including Sarah Harding, Holly Gayley, and Judy Lief. This workshop will be a 360-degree view of the text, exploring its translation, history, commentaries, the famous ninth chapter on wisdom, and its relevance today. In particular, the intention is to present this text from a view of how practitioners today can really connect, relate, and use it in the way it was intended. Wulstan is an extraordinary translator and scholar who has studied and gone through retreat with some of the greatest masters of the twentieth century. This workshop, which we plan to follow with many more, is meant to help impart the knowledge, experience, and wisdom from people like Wulstan to a new generation of translators, practitioners, and scholars. The Tsadra Foundation flew Wulstan in from France to give us this rare opportunity to engage with him and this extraordinary text that has been so fundamental for so many. |
|---|
| Description | The Bodhicaryavatara by Shantideva is one of the most celebrated works of the Mahayana Buddhism, teaching in detail the bodhisattva way in ten chapters. Beginning with a praise of bodhicitta - the resolve to attain perfect awakening for the benefit of all beings - Shantideva instructs us on how to give birth to this priceless jewel of a mind and how to cultivate it step by step. It covers all the important practices, from generosity, discipline, patience and joyful effort, to the meditative application of bodhicitta and profound insight into the true nature of reality. Shantideva concludes his poem with the most wonderful verses of dedication.
Khenpo Jamyang Tenzin taught this text over the course of two IBA summer programs in 2008 and 2009. In the morning, Khenpo la would teach directly on the text and in the afternoon there would be a short review of the morning class and time for Q&A. On Saturdays, Khenpo la taught only the morning class, and Sunday was a day of rest. In 2008, Khenpo la taught chapters 1 to 6: Chapter 1: The benefits of bodhicitta In 2009, Khenpo la taught chapters 7 to 10: Chapter 7: The practice of joyous effort This recording covers chapter 1, verses 1–5. |
|---|
| Description | Shantideva Class 1. Tulku Orgyen Phuntsok Rinpoche teaching on The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva. |
|---|
| Description | Bodhicharyavatara Chapter 9, Stanza 1 |
|---|
| Description | Teaching by Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche on The Way of the Bodhisattva. This video covers chapter 3 and is part 1 of 2. |
|---|
| Description | Dedication from Shantideva's The Way of the Bodhisattva Commentary Series by Venerable Khenpo Tenzin Part 1 - September 10, 2024 |
|---|
| Description | Teachings on the Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra by Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin at Tibetan Meditation Center, Frederick, MD. According to the posters, the third installment was lost due to recording errors, and the teachings from May 15, 2016 (part 14) have been lost due to a sound encoding problem. |
|---|
| Description | Audio recording of chapter 1 of Alexander Berzin's translation of the Bodhicaryāvatāra entitled Engaging in Bodhisattva Behavior. |
|---|
| Description | Why are we able to attain enlightenment? Is buddha-nature merely a metaphor for emptiness or something more? Is buddhahood something that is produced or uncovered? In this conversation, Casey Forgues explores these questions and more with Lopen Karma Phuntsho by referencing some of the earliest Mahāmudrā masters, including Nāropa, Marpa, and Gampopa. This discussion focuses on how the luminous mind (also sometimes known as clear light) was emphasized in terms of the basis, path, and fruition in this tradition, and how the three can be merged through meditative practices on luminosity.
In the recent publication Buddha Nature Across Asia, edited by Klaus-Dieter Mathes and Casey Forgues (Kemp), Casey contributes a chapter focused on an important concept related to buddha-nature and our innate propensity for buddhahood—natural luminosity (prakṛtiprabhāsvaratā), the theory that the inherent condition of mind is luminous and pure, and afflictions (kleśa) are merely adventitious. While this idea is found in the Pāli canon, it came to be particularly thematized as the basis for buddhahood among the various Mahāyāna traditions. The natural luminosity of mind is a central topic in the Ratnagotravibhāga and came to be understood by some commentators to be synonymous with buddha-nature, especially within the Tibetan Kagyü Mahāmudrā tradition. Casey provides a semantic gloss of the term among key Indian canonical texts, including sūtra, tantra, and dohā sources, that directly influenced the doctrine of natural luminosity among the early Mahāmudrā teachings. She looks into how Maitrīpa (986–1063), Nāropa (1016–1041), and Marpa (1012–1097) in particular understood the luminous mind to be inseparable from the dharmakāya, which led to later traditional Mahāmudrā understandings of buddha-nature. While buddha-nature sources are not extensively referenced in the earliest available Mahāmudrā teachings, Casey demonstrates how the doctrine of natural luminosity directly influenced teachings on buddha-nature, and vice versa, in the tradition. You can download the PDF of the book for free online here: https://wstb.univie.ac.at/wp-content/uploads/WSTB_103.pdf Casey Forgues (Kemp) is a PhD candidate at the University of Vienna and editorial director of Khyentse Vision Project. Casey received her MPhil in Tibetan Studies at the University of Oxford and has translated sūtras for 84000. Her research focuses on tantric philosophical views of the luminous nature of mind in the early Mahāmudrā tradition (eleventh-thirteenth centuries). She is the coeditor of Buddha Nature Across Asia and has published on topics including death and dying in tantric Buddhism, buddha-nature, the six yogas of Nāropa, and the Kalācakra tradition. |
|---|
| Description | In these classes, Rinpoche will give teachings on the classic Indian Buddhist text Bodhisattva’s Way of Life by Shantideva. This popular Buddhist text provides wonderfully useful tools for skilful and balanced living.
Lama Choedak Rinpoche, who memorised this text when he was 15 years old, will translate from the Tibetan text and offer a down-to-earth commentary with wisdom, humour and compassion. A special focus this term will be on Chapter VI of the text on the Perfection of Patience. The practical wisdom of The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life gives the essential instructions for how to live a happy life in harmony with others. (Source Accessed Oct 8, 2021) |
|---|
| Description | Bodhicharyavatara, Chapter 4, Stanza 1 Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Bodhicharya Online Shedra (November 2, 2011) Further recommended reading: the commentary book by Kunzang Pelden (Khenpo Kunpal), The Nectar of Manjushri’s Speech, p. 139-144. |
|---|
Abstract from the Author
Secondary Publications Mentioned
About the media
| Featuring | |
|---|---|
| Creator | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. |
| Director | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. |
| Producer | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. |
| Publisher | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. |
| Translator | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. |
| Contributors | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. |
| Event | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. (Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected., Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected.) |
| Media Series | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. Parts/Tracks |
| Related Website | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. |
| Video Web Location | [Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected.] |
| Creation Date | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. |
| Citation | Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected. |
Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected.
<ul><li>"Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." is not recognized as a Boolean (true/false) value.</li> <!--br--><li> "Lua error in Module" has not been listed as valid URI scheme.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "Performer" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "Director" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "Producer" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "BuNayPublisher" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "Translator" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "Contributors" has a restricted application area and cannot be used as annotation property by a user.</li> <!--br--><li>"Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation.</li> <!--br--><li>"" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value -110.</li> <!--br--><li>"" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value -111.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "Organization" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "Frontcoverimg" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "Pdflink" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "BuNayTopicTags" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li> <!--br--><li>"" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value -140.</li> <!--br--><li>"" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value -141.</li> <!--br--><li>Property "LocalMediaFile" (as page type) with input value "Lua error in Module:GetMediaValue at line 1: Module:MediaData returned boolean, table expected." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.</li></ul>
