Practices of a Bodhisattva Resources
Books:
Essential Mind Training is the first volume in the Tibetan Classics series, which aims to make available accessible paperback editions of key Tibetan Buddhist works drawn from Wisdom Publications' Library of Tibetan Classics. The key to happiness is not the eradication of all problems but rather the development of a mind capable of transforming any problem into a cause of happiness. Essential Mind Training is full of guidance for cultivating new mental habits for mastering our thoughts and emotions. This volume contains eighteen individual works selected from Mind Training: The Great Collection, the earliest compilation of mind-training (lojong) literature. The first volume of the historic Tibetan Classics series, Essential Mind Training includes both lesser-known and renowned classics such as Eight Verses on Mind Training and The Seven-Point Mind Training. These texts offer methods for practicing the golden rule of learning to love your neighbor as yourself and are full of practical and down-to-earth advice. The techniques explained here, by enhancing our capacity for compassion, love, and perseverance, can give us the freedom to embrace the world.
Mind Training: The Great Collection The Tibetan practice of "mind training," or lojong, stretches back for hundreds of years and encompasses a variety of techniques for cultivating altruistic thoughts and coping with the inevitable challenges of everyday life. Mind Training: The Great Collection is an English adaptation of the first anthology of these techniques. Presenting 44 of the original texts — including seminal works such as "Leveling out All Preconceptions" and "Eight Verses on Training the Mind" — Mind Training combines eloquent translations and historical commentaries to demonstrate how anyone can learn to exude love, compassion, and perseverance.
Always maintain a joyful mind: and other lojong teachings on awakening compassion and fearlessness For centuries Tibetan Buddhists have relied on a collection of fifty-nine pith teachings (called lojong in Tibetan) to help them develop wisdom and compassion amid the challenges of daily living. In this book Pema Chodron introduces these transformative teachings and offers guidance on how to make them part of our everyday lives. The lojong teachings include: "Always maintain only a joyful mind," "Don't be swayed by external circumstances," "Don't be so predictable," and "Be grateful to everyone." Each slogan is followed by Pema Chodron's accessible and succinct commentary on how to understand and apply it. This book also features a forty-five-minute audio program entitled "Opening the Heart," in which Pema Chodron offers in-depth instruction on tonglen meditation, a powerful practice that anyone can undertake to awaken compassion for oneself and others.
Bodhicharyavatara Reading List:
The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva Revised translation and new preface by the Padmakara Translation Group
For the Benefit of All Beings: A Commentary on The Way of the Bodhisattva by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Practicing Wisdom: The Perfection of Shantideva's Bodhisattva Way by The Dalai Lama
The Way of Awakening: A Commentary on Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara by Geshe Yeshe Tobden
The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech: A Detailed Commentary on Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva by Kunzang Pelden Translated by the Padmakara Translation Group
No Time To Lose: A Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva by Pema Chodron
Lojong Reading List:
The Great Path of Awakening: The Classic Guide to Lojong, A Tibetan Buddhist Practice for Cultivating the Heart of Compassion by Jamgon Kongtrul
The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Training the Mind by Traleg Kyabgon
Always Maintain a Joyful Mind: And Other Lojong Teachings on Awakening Compassion and Fearlessness by Pema Chodron
Start Where You Are by Pema Chodron
Buddhism With an Attitude by Alan Wallace
Training the Mind by Trungpa Rinpoche
Enlightened Courage by Khyentse Rinpoche
Lojong in Seven Points by Gelek Rinpoche
Essential Mind Training by Thupten Jinpa
Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the practice of Lojong by Norman Fischer
The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas Reading List:
The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas: An Oral Teaching – October 31, 2001 by Geshe Sonam Rinchen (Author), Ruth Sonam (Translator)
The Heart of Compassion: The Thirty-seven Verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva – May 29, 2007 by Dilgo Khyentse (Author), Padmakara Translation Group (Translator)
Reflections on Silver River – January 1, 2014 by Ken McLeod (Author)
Illuminating the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva – July 14, 2015 by Chokyi Dragpa (Author), Heidi I. Koppl (Translator), & Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche
A Guide to the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva – August 11, 2020 by Ngawang Tenzin Norbu (Author), Christopher Stagg (Translator), & Dzogchen Ponlop
The Wheel of Sharp Weapons Effectively Striking the Heart of the Foe Reading List:
The Wheel of Sharp Weapons by Dharmarakshita
Good Karma: How to Create the Causes of Happiness and Avoid the Causes of Suffering by Thubten Chodron
Eight Verses for Training the Mind Reading List:
Eight Verses for Training the Mind by Dalai Lama
Lojong Mind Training in Eight Verses by Gelek Rimpoche
Finding Genuine Practice: The Eight Verses of Training the Mind by 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje