Bodhisattva Attitude: How to Dedicate Your Life to Others

FPMT Lineage Series

by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Gordon McDougall (Editor)

This book comprises several motivations taught by Lama Zopa Rinpoche called “bodhicitta motivations for life,” intended for us to use first thing every morning to generate the mind of bodhicitta and dedicate our life to numberless sentient beings. The Bodhisattva Attitude is taken from the sutra teachings of the Buddha and is based on verses by the great bodhisattva Shantideva in his Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life.

The verses are meant to be recited each morning to remind us of how we are going to dedicate our lives to others. We all understand the importance of motivation and attitude and how they affect the quality of our work and the result that can be achieved. Rinpoche particularly emphasizes the need for us to have a very clear direction and purpose for life. The real meaning of our lives is to bring both temporary and ultimate happiness to all sentient beings and to do this we need to achieve enlightenment. Enlightenment depends on first generating bodhicitta and training our minds in the bodhisattva attitude enables us to do that.

Genres: Buddhism

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2012

Reviews

[Hector Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is very ninja-disciplined master. In the sense of, making you to be NOT confused about what IS and what NOT Dharma and the practice of Dharma.

Fundamentally, this book has intermediate-advance buddism material but comprehensible to everyone. It has a very unique approach of desire, attachment, self-cherishing, being praised and to seek for good reputation.
I was deeply engage with many of the examples and thought meditations, Rinpoche provides.

Ex. Whenever someone gives you a praise like "Your are beautiful" or an offense like "You are dumb", these sounds are merely voices, just like when a person yells at a canyon and the echo suddenly appears. It just a sound, it is your ignorant and uncalm mind that ignites the meaning of the words.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reminder to focus on the intentions behind the practice.

[Stevie Ada · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read (listen) about the eight worldly Dharmas. Thubten Zopa is clear and direct. Sometimes his frankness is not the most effective vehicle for telling a story. Found it important to consider the reflections on emptiness and detachment.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it repetitive, but I like the message.