Guarding the mind

Guarding the mind

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.

  • The importance of setting virtuous motivation
  • Seeing others as kind as an antidote to holding grudges and taking revenge
  • Guarding our mind as we would an open wound in a restless crowd
  • Benefits of guarding introspection
  • Methods for guarding the mind
  • Disadvantages of not having mindfulness and introspective awareness
  • Guarding mindfulness as the method for guarding introspective awareness
  • Relying on a virtuous friend

44 Engaging in the Bodhisattva’s Deeds: Guarding the Mind (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.