Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Auxiliary bodhisattva ethical restraints 1-6

Auxiliary bodhisattva ethical restraints 1-6

The text turns to training the mind on the stages of the path of advanced level practitioners. Part of a series of teachings on the Gomchen Lamrim by Gomchen Ngawang Drakpa. Visit Gomchen Lamrim Study Guide for a full list of contemplation points for the series.

  • Comparison of worldly needs and spiritual needs
  • How not to act on thoughts of desire
  • Showing respect and making offerings to those who are worthy
  • How to appropriately answer questions
  • When to accept invitations and gifts and when not to accept them

Gomchen Lamrim 91: Auxiliary Bodhisattva Ethical Restraints 1-6 (download)

Contemplation points

Venerable Chodron continued giving commentary on the bodhisattva ethical code, which are the guidelines you follow when you “take the bodhisattva precepts.” Consider them one by one, in light of the commentary given. For each, consider the following:

  1. In what situations have you seen yourself act this way in the past or under what conditions might it be easy to act this way in the future (it might help to consider how you’ve seen this negativity in the world)?
  2. From which of the ten non-virtues is the precept helping you to restrain?
  3. What are the antidotes that can be applied when you are tempted to act contrary to the precept?
  4. Why is this precept so important to the bodhisattva path? How does breaking it harm yourself and others? How does keeping it benefit yourself and others?
  5. Resolve to be mindful of the precept in your daily life.

Precepts covered this week:

To eliminate obstacles to the far-reaching practice of generosity and obstacles to the ethical conduct of gathering virtuous actions, abandon:

  • Auxiliary Precept #1: Not making offerings to the Three Jewels every day with your body, speech, and mind.
  • Auxiliary Precept #2: Acting out selfish thoughts of desire to gain material possessions or reputation.
  • Auxiliary Precept #3: Not respecting your elders (those who have taken the bodhisattva precepts before you have or who have more experience than you do).
  • Auxiliary Precept #4: Not answering sincerely asked questions that you are capable of answering.
  • Auxiliary Precept #5: Not accepting invitations from others out of anger, pride, or other negative thoughts.
  • Auxiliary Precept #6: Not accepting gifts of money, gold, or other precious substances that others offer to you.
Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.