The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas: An Oral Teaching

by Geshe Sonam Rinchen, Ruth Sonam (Translator)

Recognizing their true potential and letting go of everything which could hinder them on their spiritual journey, Bodhisattvas entrust themselves to the path taught by the Buddha. Resisting disturbing emotions, they learn to respond to difficult situations in a constructive way. Fully understanding the nature of reality and the illusion-like nature of pleasure and pain, they overcome clinging attachment and aversion. In these ways, Bodhisattvas come to cherish living beings as the source of all happiness and are ultimately able to work solely for the good of all. Gyelsay Togmay Sangpo wrote The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas in the fourteenth century. His succinct and simple verses of advice summarize the quintessence of the Mahayana path to perfection. Geshe Sonam Rinchen's oral teachings elucidate these practices for the modern reader and show how we can transform our actions, feelings, and ways of thinking to become Bodhisattvas ourselves.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

113 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Roba · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book has a lot of great values and practices not only for a Buddhist, but for all people. The idea that I disagree the most with, is the glorification given to Buddha (or the teacher). The idea of following a teacher and looking at him as something greater. Personly I cannot give that glorification and to any human being but I do believe in learning from everyone and anyone and trying to make your own path.

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Bless me to accept whatever happens with joy and use it as my path." p. 9

The two kinds of altruistic intention: "...the conventional altruistic intention which is concerned entirely with others' good, and the ultimate altruistic intention which knows reality as it is." p. 14

"Having gained this rare ship of freedom and fortune,/Hear, think and meditate unwaveringly night and day/In order to free yourself and others/From the ocean of cyclic existence..." p. 16

The most serious human state that prevents spiritual practice: holding wrong views (p. 18)

"Happy days start once we take steps to purify past negative actions and refrain from creating new ones." p. 38

"All suffering comes from the wish for your own happiness./Perfect Buddhas are born from the thought to help others..." p. 42

"If you don't examine your own errors,/You may look like a practitioner but not act as one." p. 70

"In brief, whatever you are doing,/Ask yourself, 'What's the state of my mind?'/With constant mindfulness and mental alertness/Accomplish others' good..." p. 75

Fill your mind with thoughts of faith, kindness, compassion, and love p. 77

"There are two important activities - one at the beginning and one at the end. When we sit down to meditate or to study and certainly at the beginning of each day, we must create a really kind-hearted motivation, if it's not already present. Then, throughout the day, we check from time to time to see whether we're behaving as intended. If not, we try to correct our thoughts, feelings and actions. At night before we go to bed, we review the day." p. 81

[Felix Banuelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un buen recordatorio sencillo de la práctica.

[Grady · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas, by Gyelsay Togmay Sangpo, is a fourteenth century root text that is available in several modern English translations with commentaries. I haven't read any of the others and so can't judge between this version and others. Geshe Sonam Rinchen's commentary, translated by Ruth Sonam, has the virtues of brevity and clarity.

I found it most helpful to read straight through the 37 original verses, then return and read the verses with the commentary interspersed. That's at least in part because I don't follow Buddhist cosmology, and so some of the commentaries are not particularly resonant for me. For example, a commentary argues that since birth as a human is comparatively rare - we're much more likely to be born as animals, or other beings that lack a capacity for study and meditation - we "must not waste this precious opportunity, but should, without distraction, practice day and night, sleeping only in the middle part of the night." [19]

No doubt that is a solid reading within the tradition, but it moved me much less than later verses that focus on spiritual ethics and advise readers to respond to spite with compassion; to meet bitterness with generosity; and to practice self-restraint. Read casually, the Thirty-Seven Verses are rewarding as wisdom literature, whether or not one identifies as a Buddhist.