The meaning of compassion

76 Engaging in the Bodhisattva's Deeds

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.

  • Do people need to deserve our compassion?
  • Merits of benefiting sentient beings who have a share of the qualities of a buddha
  • Identifying the main method for repaying the buddhas’ kindness
  • Being patient when harmed by sentient beings
  • Abandoning regarding sentient beings with arrogance
  • Questions and answers:
    • Grasping at inherent existence and creating virtue in samsara
    • Examples of assertiveness with compassion

76 Engaging in the Bodhisattva’s Deeds: The Meaning of Compassion (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.