The kind of person I want to be

Part of an ongoing series of teachings based on Shantideva’s classic text, "Bodhisattvacharyavatara", often translated as “Engaging in the Bodhisattva’s Deeds.” Venerable Thubten Chodron also refers to the outline of the commentary by Gyaltsab Dharma Rinchen and the commentary by the Abbot Dragpa Gyaltsen.

  • Importance of integrity, consideration for others, and conscientiousness
  • Similarities and differences between a political community and a Sangha community
  • Thinking about what kind of person we want to be and changing our conduct accordingly
  • Q&A:
    • How is intending to give different from imagining giving while doing a mandala offering?
    • Is it best to purify daily?
    • Doing regular purification practice
    • Isn’t killing animals logical?
    • Is it possible to be a human being and not cause harm
      everyday?
  • Striving to stop the cause of the lower rebirth
  • Being conscientiousness in regard to cultivating virtue
  • Having remorse at death over nonvirtuous actions we haven’t purified

34 Engaging in the Bodhisattva’s Deeds: The Kind of Person I Want to Be (download)

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.