The Thirty-Seven Practices of All the Bodhisattvas: TWO INTERPRETATIONS
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
(Practice numbers, 1-37)
◆ Precious Human Life (1)
◆ The Circumstances Most Conducive for Taking Advantage of a Precious Human Life Death and Impermanence (2-4)
◆ The Importance of Having Proper Friends (5-6)
◆ Safe Direction (Refuge) (6-7)
◆ Refraining from Destructive Behavior (8)
◆ Working for Liberation (9)
◆ Developing a Bodhichitta Aim (10)
◆ Exchanging Self with Others (11)
◆ Bodhisattva Behavior: Dealing with Harms (12-17)
◆ Two Critical Situations Requiring Dharma Practice (18-19)
◆ Overcoming Hostility and Attachment (20-21)
◆ Developing Deepest Bodhichitta, the Realization of Voidness (22-24)
◆ The Six Far-Reaching Attitudes (25-30)
◆ A Bodhisattva’s Daily Practice (31-37)
FIRST INTERPRETATION
You see that all things are beyond coming and going,
Yet still you strive solely for the sake of living beings—
To you, my precious guru inseparable from Lord Avalokita,
I offer perpetual homage, respectfully, with body, speech and mind.
The perfect buddhas, who are the source of all benefit and joy,
Come into being through accomplishing the sacred Dharma.
And since this in turn depends on knowing how to practise,
I shall now describe the practices of all the buddhas’ heirs.
1. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to study, reflect and meditate,
Tirelessly, both day and night, without ever straying into idleness,
In order to free oneself and others from this ocean of saṃsāra,
Having gained this supreme vessel—a free, well-favoured human life, so difficult to find.
2. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to leave behind one’s homeland,
Where our attachment to family and friends overwhelms us like a torrent,
While our aversion towards enemies rages inside us like a blazing fire,
And delusion’s darkness obscures what must be adopted and abandoned.
3. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to take to solitary places,
Avoiding the unwholesome, so that destructive emotions gradually fade away,
And, in the absence of distraction, virtuous practice naturally gains strength;
Whilst, with awareness clearly focused, we gain conviction in the teachings.
4. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to renounce this life’s concerns,
For friends and relatives, long acquainted, must all go their separate ways;
Wealth and prized possessions, painstakingly acquired, must all be left behind;
And consciousness, the guest who lodges in the body, must in time depart.
5. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to avoid destructive friends,
In whose company the three poisons of the mind grow stronger,
And we engage less and less in study, reflection and meditation,
So that love and compassion fade away until they are no more.
6. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to cherish spiritual friends,
By regarding them as even more precious than one’s own body,
Since they are the ones who will help to rid us of all our faults,
And make our virtues grow ever greater just like the waxing moon.
7. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to take refuge in the Three Jewels,
Since they will never fail to provide protection for all who call upon them,
For whom are the ordinary gods of this world ever capable of helping,
As long as they themselves are trapped within saṃsāra’s vicious cycle?
8. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is never to commit a harmful act,
Even though not to do so might put one’s very life at risk,
For the Sage himself has taught how negative actions will ripen
Into the manifold miseries of the lower realms, so difficult to endure.
9. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to strive towards the goal,
Which is the supreme state of changeless, everlasting liberation,
Since all the happiness of the three realms lasts but a moment,
And then is quickly gone, just like dewdrops on blades of grass.
10. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to arouse bodhicitta,
So as to bring freedom to all sentient beings, infinite in number.
For how can true happiness ever be found while our mothers,
Who have cared for us throughout the ages, endure such pain?
11. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to make a genuine exchange
Of one’s own happiness and wellbeing for all the sufferings of others.
Since all misery comes from seeking happiness for oneself alone,
Whilst perfect buddhahood is born from the wish for others’ good.
12. Even if others, in the grips of great desire, should steal,
Or encourage others to take away, all the wealth that I possess,
To dedicate to them entirely my body, possessions and all my merits
From the past, present and future— this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
13. Even if others should seek to cut off my head,
Though I’ve done them not the slightest wrong,
To take upon myself, out of compassion,
All the harms they have amassed—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
14. Even if others should declare before the world
All manner of unpleasant things about me,
To speak only of their qualities in return,
With a mind that’s filled with love—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
15. Even if others should expose my hidden faults or deride me
When speaking amidst great gatherings of many people,
To conceive of them as spiritual friends and to bow
Before them in respect—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
16. Even if others whom I have cared for like children of my own
Should turn upon me and treat me as an enemy,
To regard them only with special fondness and affection,
As a mother would her ailing child—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
17. Even if others, equal or inferior to me in status,
Should, out of arrogance, disparage me,
To honour them, as I would my teacher,
By bowing down my head before them—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
18. Even though I may be destitute and despised by all,
Beset with terrible illness and plagued by evil spirits,
Still to take upon myself all beings’ ills and harmful actions,
Without ever losing heart—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
19. Even though I may be famous and revered by all,
And as rich as Vaiśravaṇa, the god of wealth himself,
To see the futility of all the glory and riches of this world
And to remain without conceit—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
20. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to subdue the mind
With the forces of loving kindness and compassion.
For unless the real adversary—my own anger—is defeated,
Outer enemies, though I may conquer them, will continue to appear.
21. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to turn away immediately
From those things which bring desire and attachment.
For the pleasures of the senses are just like salty water:
The more we taste of them, the more our thirst increases.
22. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is never to entertain concepts,
Which revolve around dualistic notions of perceiver and perceived,
In the knowledge that all these appearances are but the mind itself,
Whilst mind’s own nature is forever beyond the limitations of ideas.
23. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to let go of grasping
When encountering things one finds pleasant or attractive,
Considering them to be like rainbows in the summer skies—
Beautiful in appearance, yet in truth devoid of any substance.
24. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to recognize delusion
Whenever one is confronted by adversity or misfortune.
For these sufferings are just like the death of a child in a dream,
And it’s so exhausting to cling to delusory perceptions as real.
25. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to give out of generosity,
With no hopes of karmic recompense or expectation of reward.
For if those who seek awakening must give even their own bodies,
What need is there to mention mere outer objects and possessions?
26. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to observe ethical restraint,
Without the slightest intention of continuing in saṃsāric existence.
For lacking discipline one will never secure even one’s own wellbeing,
And so any thought of bringing benefit to others would be absurd.
27. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to cultivate patience,
Free from any trace of animosity towards anyone at all,
Since any potential source of harm is like a priceless treasure
To the bodhisattva who is eager to enjoy a wealth of virtue.
28. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to strive with enthusiastic diligence—
The source of all good qualities—when working for the sake of all who live;
Seeing that even śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, who labour for themselves alone,
Exert themselves as if urgently trying to extinguish fires upon their heads.
29. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to cultivate concentration,
Which utterly transcends the four formless absorptions,
In the knowledge that mental afflictions are overcome entirely
Through penetrating insight suffused with stable calm.
30. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to cultivate wisdom,
Beyond the three conceptual spheres, alongside skilful means,
Since it is not possible to attain the perfect level of awakening
Through the other five pāramitās alone, in wisdom’s absence.
31. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to scrutinize oneself
Continually and to rid oneself of faults whenever they appear.
For unless one checks carefully to find one’s own confusion,
One might appear to be practising Dharma, but act against it.
32. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is never to speak ill
Of others who have embarked upon the greater vehicle,
For if, under the influence of destructive emotions,
I speak of other bodhisattvas’ failings, it is I who am at fault.
33. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to let go of attachment
To the households of benefactors and of family and friends,
Since one’s study, reflection and meditation will all diminish
When one quarrels and competes for honours and rewards.
34. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to avoid harsh words,
Which others might find unpleasant or distasteful,
Since abusive language upsets the minds of others,
And thereby undermines a bodhisattva’s conduct.
35. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to slay attachment
And the rest—mind’s afflictions—at once, the very moment they arise,
Taking as weapons the remedies held with mindfulness and vigilance.
For once the kleshas have become familiar, they’ll be harder to avert.
36. In short, no matter what one might be doing,
By examining always the status of one’s mind,
With continuous mindfulness and alertness,
To bring about the good of others—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
37. The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to dedicate towards enlightenment
All the virtue to be gained through making effort in these ways,
With wisdom that is purified entirely of the three conceptual spheres,
So as to dispel the sufferings of the infinity of beings.
Here I have set down for those who wish to follow the bodhisattva path,
Thirty-seven practices to be adopted by all the buddhas’ heirs,
Based on what is taught in the sūtras, tantras and treatises,
And following the instructions of the great masters of the past.
Since my intellect is only feeble and I have studied but a little,
This is not a composition likely to delight the connoisseurs,
Yet since I’ve relied upon the sūtras and what the saints have taught
I feel these are indeed the genuine trainings of the buddhas’ heirs.
Still, the tremendous waves of activity of the bodhisattvas
Are difficult for simple-minded folk like me to comprehend,
And I must therefore beg the indulgence of all the perfect saints
For any contradictions, irrelevancies or other flaws this may contain.
Through whatever merit has here been gained, may all beings
Generate sublime bodhicitta, both relative and absolute,
And through this, come to equal Lord Avalokiteśvara,
Transcending the extremes of existence and quiescence.
This was composed in Jewel Cave (Rinchen Puk) in Ngulchu by the monk Tokme, a teacher of scripture and reasoning, for his own and others’ benefit.
SECOND INTERPRETATION
Homage to Lokeshwara
I pay constant homage through my three doors, To my supreme teacher and protector Chenrezig, Who while seeing all phenomena lack coming and going, Makes single-minded effort for the good of living beings. Perfect Buddhas, source of all well-being and happiness, Arise from accomplishing the excellent teachings, And this depends on knowing the practices. So I will explain the practices of Bodhisattvas.
1 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 - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
2 Attached to your loved ones you're stirred up like water. Hating your enemies you burn like fire. In the darkness of confusion you forget what to adopt and discard. Give up your homeland - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
3 By avoiding bad objects disturbing emotions gradually decrease. Without distraction virtuous activities naturally increase. With clarity of mind conviction in the teaching arises. Cultivate seclusion - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
4 Loved ones who have long kept company will part. Wealth created with difficulty will be left behind. Consciousness, the guest, will leave the guest-house of the body. Let go of this life - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
5 When you keep their company your three poisons increase, Your activities of hearing, thinking and meditating decline, And they make you lose your love and compassion. Give up bad friends - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
6 When you rely on them your faults come to an end, And your good qualities grow like the waxing moon. Cherish the spiritual teacher Even more than your own body - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
7 Bound himself in the jail of cyclic existence, What worldly god can give you protection? Therefore when you seek refuge, take refuge in The Three Jewels which will not betray you - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
8 The Subduer said all the unbearable suffering Of bad rebirths is the fruit of wrong-doing. Therefore, even at the cost of your life, Never do wrong - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
9 Like dew on the tip of a grass, pleasures of the three worlds, Last only a while and then vanish. Aspire to the never changing Supreme state of liberation - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
10 When your mothers, who've loved you since time without beginning, Are suffering, what use is your own happiness? Therefore to free limitless living beings Develop the altruistic intention - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
11 All suffering comes from the wish for your own happiness. Perfect Buddhas are born from the thought to help others. Therefore exchange your own happiness For the suffering of others - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
12 Even if someone out of strong desire Steals all your wealth or has it stolen, Dedicate to him your body, possessions And your virtue, past, present and future - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
13 Even if someone tries to cut off your head, When you haven't done the slightest thing wrong, Out of compassion take all his misdeeds Upon yourself - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
14 Even if someone broadcasts all kinds of unpleasant remarks About you throughout the three thousand worlds, In return, with a loving mind, Speak of his good qualities - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
15 Though someone may deride and speak bad words About you in a public gathering, Looking on him as a spiritual teacher, Bow to him with respect - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
16 Even if a person for whom you've cared Like your own child regards you as an enemy, Cherish him specially, like a mother Does her child who is stricken by sickness - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
17 If an equal or inferior person Disparages you out of pride, Place him, as you would your spiritual teacher, With respect on the crown of your head - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
18 Though you lack what you need and are constantly disparaged, Are afflicted by dangerous sickness and spirits, Without discouragement take on the misdeeds And the pain of all living beings - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
19 Though you become famous and many bow to you, And you gain riches to equal Vaishravana's, See that worldly fortune is without essence, And don't be conceited - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
20 While the enemy of your own anger is unsubdued, Though you conquer external foes, they will only increase. Therefore with the militia of love and compassion Subdue your own mind - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
21 Sensual pleasures are like saltwater. The more you indulge, the more thirst increases. Abandon at once those things which breed Clinging attachment - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
22 Whatever appears is your own mind. Your mind from the start was free from fabricated extremes. Understanding this, do not take to mind [Inherent] signs of subject and object - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
23 When you encounter attractive objects, Though they seem beautiful Like a rainbow in summer, don't regard them as real And give up attachment - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
24 All forms of suffering are like a child's death in a dream. Holding illusory appearances to be true makes you weary. Therefore when you meet with disagreeable circumstances, See them as illusory - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas. 25 When those who want enlightenment must give even their body, There's no need to mention external things. Therefore without hope for return or any fruition Give generously - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
26 Without ethics you can't accomplish your own well-being, So wanting to accomplish others' is laughable. Therefore without worldly aspirations Safeguard your ethical discipline - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
27 To Bodhisattvas who wants a wealth of virtue Those who harm are like a precious treasure. Therefore towards all cultivate patience Without hostility - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
28 Seeing even Hearers and Solitary Realizers, who accomplish Only their own good, strive as if to put out a fire on their head, For the sake of all beings make enthusiastic effort, The source of all good qualities - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas. 29 Understanding that disturbing emotions are destroyed By special insight with calm abiding, Cultivate concentration which surpasses The four formless absorptions - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
30 Since the five perfections without wisdom, Cannot bring perfect enlightenment, Along with skilful means cultivate the wisdom Which does not conceive the three spheres [as real] - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
31 If you don't examine your own errors, You may look like a practitioner but not act as one. Therefore, always examining your own errors, Rid yourself of them - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
32 If through the influence of disturbing emotions You point out the faults of another Bodhisattva, You yourself are diminished, so don't mention the faults Of those who have entered the Great Vehicle - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
33 Reward and respect cause us to quarrel And make hearing, thinking and meditation decline. For this reason give up attachment to The households of friends, relations and benefactors - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
34 Harsh words disturb the minds of others And cause deterioration in a Bodhisattva's conduct. Therefore give up harsh words Which are unpleasant to others - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
35 Habitual disturbing emotions are hard to stop through counteractions. Armed with antidotes, the guards of mindfulness and mental alertness Destroy disturbing emotions like attachment At once, as soon as they arise - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
36 In brief, whatever you are doing, Ask yourself 'What's the state of my mind?' With constant mindfulness and mental alertness Accomplish others' good - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
37 To remove the suffering of limitless beings, Understanding the purity of the three spheres, Dedicate the virtue from making such effort To enlightenment - This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.
For all who want to train on the Bodhisattva path, I have written the Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas,
Following what has been said by the excellent ones
On the meaning of the sutras, tantras and treatises.
Though not poetically pleasing to scholars,
Owing to my poor intelligence and lack of learning, I've relied on the sutras and the words of the excellent,
So I think these Bodhisattva practices are without error. However, as the great deeds of Bodhisattvas
Are hard to fathom for one of my poor intelligence, I beg the excellent to forgive all faults, Such as contradictions and non sequiturs.
Through the virtue from this may all living beings Gain the ultimate and conventional altruistic intention
And thereby become like the Protector Chenrezig Who dwells in neither extreme - not in the world nor in peace.
This was written for his own and others’ benefit by the monk Togmay, an exponent of scripture and reasoning, in a cave in Ngulchu Rinchen.
(Courtesy: by Gyalse Tokme Zangpo; Translated by Adam Pearcey; Monk Togmay, an exponent of scripture and reasoning, in a cave in Ngulchu Rinchen & others)
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