With BA5_9-12 we come to the second point of this section: how every good thing and all virtue also come from the mind. The first three paramitas — giving, discipline and patience — are discussed here as Rinpoche explains stanzas from 9 to 12 of the fifth chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara.

With video BA5_18-22 Rinpoche explains stanzas 18 to 22 of the fifth chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara. Now that we understand that all negative things – the sources of our suffering and pain – as well as all positive things – the sources of our happiness, peace and liberation – both are our mind itself, it is important [...]

With video BA5_23 Rinpoche gives a commentary on stanza 23 of the fifth chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara. This is Shantideva’s request, for himself and all who, like him, want to help themselves, to maintain mindfulness and introspection/awareness in order to guard their minds.

With video BA5_24-28 Rinpoche explains stanzas 24 to 28 of the fifth chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara. This begins the section on how to train in vigilant introspection.  The first instruction is to reflect on the disadvantages of not having introspection, or awareness.

Regarding the training of our mind on action with mindfulness and awareness, there are the three shilas or precepts in the Mahayana discipline: to refrain from doing negative deeds, to accumulate positive deeds and to help beings.

With video BA5_45-49 Rinpoche explains stanzas 45 to 49 of the Fifth Chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara. This begins the second point of the two introduced in the previous teaching: how to maintain the abstaining from negative actions with the tool of mindfulness and awareness. In this section Shantideva mentions 27 sources of misconduct, states of mind [...]

With video BA5Q4 Rinpoche answers some of the questions submitted concerning stanzas 34-53 of Chapter 5 of the Bodhicharyavatara.

After a summer break we continue with video BA5_54-55, which Rinpoche sent after returning from the teaching tour. This is a teaching on stanzas 54 and 55 of the Fifth Chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara and the Nine Points of Practicing Virtue.

With video BA5_59-70 we come to the second shila or discipline: the accumulation of positive actions. Here Rinpoche explains stanzas 59 to 70 of the Fifth Chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara, which are talking about giving up the attachment to our body and making it work for us in order to do more positive deeds for [...]

With video BA5Q5 Rinpoche answers the questions submitted concerning stanzas 54-70 of Chapter 5 of the Bodhicharyavatara.

With video BA5_76-83 Rinpoche completes the teaching from the section on the discipline of accumulating positive deeds, with stanzas 76 to 83 of the Fifth Chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara, Vigilant Introspection.

With video BA5_91-96 Rinpoche continues the instruction on how to work for the benefit of others, as laid out in stanzas 91 to 96 of the Fifth Chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara, Vigilant Introspection. These are about being mindful of the manners of society and the cultural context and avoiding actions that would cause misunderstanding and disappointment, [...]

Last week we finished the Fifth Chapter of the Bodhicharyavatara, Vigilant Introspection. The New Year will begin with a new chapter — Chapter 6, Patience – which we will start next weekend.
This is again a set of questions you can use to self assess your knowledge and understanding of the teachings relating to the chapter we [...]