Recensions
- Entering the trainings in Compassion by The 7th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
- All-Pervading Benefit of Beings: The Meditation and Recitation of the Great Compassionate One by Thangtong Gyalpo
- The Benefit of Others That Fills All Space by Jamgon Kongtrul (Tibetan Text included)
- The Continuous Rain of Benefit of Beings by Khakhyab Dorje, the 15th Karmapa (Tibetan Text included)
- The Praise to Avalokiteshvara by Chandrakirti (Mahākāruṇikābhyarthanā (RKTST 4337) )
- The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas by Ngul Thogme Zangpo (Tibetan Text included)
Full translations
Who is a bodhisattva and what do they practice? In the fourteenth century, the Tibetan Buddhist master Gyalse Tokme Zangpo answered these questions in a classic teaching on mind training (lojong) called the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva. This text consists of short slogans outlining the core of the Buddhist path of compassion that continues to inspire modern-day Buddhist masters, including the Dalai Lama and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
The most well-known commentary to the Thirty-Seven Practices is by the twentieth-century master Dzatrul Ngawang Tenzin, which is translated here along with a meditation instruction for the first time. Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, who commissioned this translation, provides an informative overview to the history of the text and commentary, introducing the reader to the world of Tibet’s most widely studied text.
(Source: Shambhala Publications)This commentary by His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, as expounded during Kalacakra teachings at Bodh Gaya, is characterised by its clarity, practicality and profundity. Each stanza of the root text is elucidated precisely and in accessible language.
In addition, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives introductory talks at the start of each day of teaching in which he touches on every aspect of our daily lives. Studying this text leads us to feel that His Holiness is speaking directly to each one of us, and it is universal in its application.
When applied and practised with sincerity, this teaching will develop an individual's warm-hearted compassion. Thus, the contents of this book will be beneficial to Buddhist scholars and general readers alike. (Source: back cover)This book was previously published under the title Uniting Wisdom and Compassion. (Source Accessed Mar 3, 2025)
Contains the root text of The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva (Rgyal sras lag len so bdun ma)
by Thokme Zangpo and a commentary on this text by Minyak Kunzang Sönam titled The Excellent Vase of Nectar: The Unity of Scriptures and Oral Instructions (Rgyal sras lag len gyi 'grel pa gzhung dang gdams ngag zung 'jug bdud rtsi'i bum bzang).The book is divided into five parts:
I. Daily Recitation and Practice
II. Selected Texts for Study, Reflection and Meditation
III. Additional Prayers, Vows and Commitments
IV. Daily Dedication Prayers
V. Appendix
Part I and Part IV serve as a useful guide for all, who have an inclination towards dharma practice, but do not know how to start and design a daily practice session. It is also useful for those seekers who might be misguided and surmise that dharma practice comprises only of mantra recitation and so forth, thereby missing its essence.
Part II helps strengthen the practitioner’s dharma practice on the basis of selected compositions of great scholars and yogis. The actual breakthrough in the mental transformation happens through changes in the thought process, for which study and reflection are the cornerstones. Any of these profound texts and short extracts may be selected for study, reflection or meditation, on an on-going basis.
Part III reinforces and rejuvenates dharma practice and to that end, may be undertaken on a regular or occasional basis.
Part V introduces the reader to meditation practices, both shamatha (calm abiding) and vipasyana (special insight), including meditation on the breath, as well as methods to cultivate Bodhicitta and the wisdom of emptiness. While there are many texts on the wisdom of emptiness, the meditation included here is designed for all those who are not thoroughly introduced to this subject and still want to familiarise and habituate themselves with the wisdom of emptiness.
Brief notes, Endnotes and Glossary have been added to help the readers unfold the meanings of the texts with ease. (preface, xiv–xv)It is the English translation of Der Weg zu geistigem Frieden. (Source: Translators' Preface)
For Garchen Rinpoche this book is a close companion and his most important treasure. By accomplishing this training of the mind, he succeeded in taking his tormentors to his heart during his twenty years in Chinese captivity. His teachings are imbued with the realization of this practice.
The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas was written in the fourteenth century by Thogme Sangpo (1295–1369), a lamrim and lojong master in the tradition of the Indian master Atisha (982–1054). Thogme Sangpo's work is the essence of lojong – the training of the mind that leads to the development and perfect unfolding of compassion and bodhicitta. (Source Accessed Mar 4, 2025)His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche held this teaching in high esteem, having received it himself from different masters over 150 times. His Holiness frequently taught this text at Larung Gar and also when he visited monasteries or Dharma centers in various places. Depending on the time available, His Holiness would sometimes present the teaching in great detail and at other times very concisely, sometimes giving only the oral transmission. Often acting as His Holiness’ attendant and translator, Khenpo Sodargye received this teaching, including the oral transmission, more than 100 times from His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche.
It is also this very text that created an auspicious condition for Khenpo Rinpoche’s Dharma activities in the Han regions of China. At the request of His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, Khenpo Sodargye translated this treatise into Chinese and gave teachings to Han Chinese Buddhists during their visit to Mount Wutai in 1987. Since that time, Khenpo Rinpoche’s Dharma activities have been profoundly vast and successful.
This treatise categorizes all of the practices of the Buddhist path into those of lesser, middling, and great beings, in successive order. This works as a practical guide for following the path of the bodhisattvas, verse by verse. As a training manual, this treatise enables bodhichitta to increase naturally and become stronger in our minds after we completely understand it. Even if one doesn’t understand its real meaning, just by hearing the verses word by word, one’s compassion and loving-kindness will naturally increase.
In this commentary, Khenpo Rinpoche gives a precise explanation of the practices in a systematic way. Accordingly, this will help practitioners who are determined to incorporate these practices into everyday life and traverse the bodhisattva path, in developing stability in their understanding and practice. (Source Accessed Mar 3, 2025)- Entering the trainings in Compassion by The 7th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
- All-Pervading Benefit of Beings: The Meditation and Recitation of the Great Compassionate One by Thangtong Gyalpo
- The Benefit of Others That Fills All Space by Jamgon Kongtrul (Tibetan Text included)
- The Continuous Rain of Benefit of Beings by Khakhyab Dorje, the 15th Karmapa (Tibetan Text included)
- The Praise to Avalokiteshvara by Chandrakirti (Mahākāruṇikābhyarthanā (RKTST 4337) )
- The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas by Ngul Thogme Zangpo (Tibetan Text included)
The root text gives in thirty-seven short verses the essential practices leading to enlightenment. Gyalsay Togme Sangpo (1295-1369) was renowned as a bodhisattva in Tibet and revered for living according to the bodhisattva ideals and practices that he taught. He inspired not only his direct disciples but also generations of practitioners up to the present day.
This extraordinary commentary by Geshe Jampa Tegchok clearly explains the popular practice of exchanging oneself with others for developing love and compassion for all living beings. It lays open the methods for doing glance stabilizing and analytical meditations and offers an in-depth discussion of the nature of emptiness. All the essentials are here for transforming our attitudes and developing courage and joy. (Source: Shambhala Publications)Commentaries
Commentaries
His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche held this teaching in high esteem, having received it himself from different masters over 150 times. His Holiness frequently taught this text at Larung Gar and also when he visited monasteries or Dharma centers in various places. Depending on the time available, His Holiness would sometimes present the teaching in great detail and at other times very concisely, sometimes giving only the oral transmission. Often acting as His Holiness’ attendant and translator, Khenpo Sodargye received this teaching, including the oral transmission, more than 100 times from His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche.
It is also this very text that created an auspicious condition for Khenpo Rinpoche’s Dharma activities in the Han regions of China. At the request of His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, Khenpo Sodargye translated this treatise into Chinese and gave teachings to Han Chinese Buddhists during their visit to Mount Wutai in 1987. Since that time, Khenpo Rinpoche’s Dharma activities have been profoundly vast and successful.
This treatise categorizes all of the practices of the Buddhist path into those of lesser, middling, and great beings, in successive order. This works as a practical guide for following the path of the bodhisattvas, verse by verse. As a training manual, this treatise enables bodhichitta to increase naturally and become stronger in our minds after we completely understand it. Even if one doesn’t understand its real meaning, just by hearing the verses word by word, one’s compassion and loving-kindness will naturally increase.
In this commentary, Khenpo Rinpoche gives a precise explanation of the practices in a systematic way. Accordingly, this will help practitioners who are determined to incorporate these practices into everyday life and traverse the bodhisattva path, in developing stability in their understanding and practice. (Source Accessed Mar 3, 2025)Partial translations
Readings
Teachings
The root text gives in thirty-seven short verses the essential practices leading to enlightenment. Gyalsay Togme Sangpo (1295-1369) was renowned as a bodhisattva in Tibet and revered for living according to the bodhisattva ideals and practices that he taught. He inspired not only his direct disciples but also generations of practitioners up to the present day.
This extraordinary commentary by Geshe Jampa Tegchok clearly explains the popular practice of exchanging oneself with others for developing love and compassion for all living beings. It lays open the methods for doing glance stabilizing and analytical meditations and offers an in-depth discussion of the nature of emptiness. All the essentials are here for transforming our attitudes and developing courage and joy. (Source: Shambhala Publications)Teachings
Bodhicitta, the "mind of Awakening," which designates the wisdom of love and compassion, is the ultimate goal of all the vehicles taught by the Buddha in the sutras and tantras. This "mind" has an absolute aspect: emptiness; and a relative aspect: the vow to attain the omniscience of Buddhahood to better serve all sentient beings without the slightest exception. This aspiration deepens in the meditation of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity. The action that results from deep intimacy with these impartial and unlimited feelings is found entirely in the six transcendent virtues of the "being of Awakening" or bodhisattva. And it is transcendent knowledge (prajñaparamita) itself that plunges the being of Awakening into the mind of absolute Awakening, the inexpressible space of clear emptiness with a heart of compassion.
The mind of Awakening is therefore the most precious of all spiritual jewels. Here we find a lively and precise exposition of it by one of the most convincing heralds of the thought and practice of loving-kindness, pure kindness. An accomplished heir to many traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, Pema Wangyal Rinpoche gently and persuasively embodies the six transcendent virtues and, using the four attractions of the bodhisattva, it is with kind words and selected examples that he expounds the essential truth of compassion, details its exercise for each person and acts in accordance with what he says.
This book comprises transcribed teachings that Tulku Pema Wangyal gave from July 4–14, 1983, in Sireuil. They offer an exegesis of Thogme Zangpo's poem, The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas. The first part concerns the path, attitude, and practice of Bodhisattvas, the vital point of which is relative and absolute bodhicitta (stanzas 10 to 24). The second part deals with skillful means (stanzas 25 to 30).
(Source: Padmakara)This commentary by His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, as expounded during Kalacakra teachings at Bodh Gaya, is characterised by its clarity, practicality and profundity. Each stanza of the root text is elucidated precisely and in accessible language.
In addition, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives introductory talks at the start of each day of teaching in which he touches on every aspect of our daily lives. Studying this text leads us to feel that His Holiness is speaking directly to each one of us, and it is universal in its application.
When applied and practised with sincerity, this teaching will develop an individual's warm-hearted compassion. Thus, the contents of this book will be beneficial to Buddhist scholars and general readers alike. (Source: back cover)It is the English translation of Der Weg zu geistigem Frieden. (Source: Translators' Preface)
For Garchen Rinpoche this book is a close companion and his most important treasure. By accomplishing this training of the mind, he succeeded in taking his tormentors to his heart during his twenty years in Chinese captivity. His teachings are imbued with the realization of this practice.
The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas was written in the fourteenth century by Thogme Sangpo (1295–1369), a lamrim and lojong master in the tradition of the Indian master Atisha (982–1054). Thogme Sangpo's work is the essence of lojong – the training of the mind that leads to the development and perfect unfolding of compassion and bodhicitta. (Source Accessed Mar 4, 2025)
