Enough childish behavior!

141 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.

  • Verse 178: Why do we grasp at the unlclean form of the body as I?
  • Verse 179: Grasping at the body as I leads to negative actions
  • Verses 180 and 181: Why it’s unsuitable to have attachment to the body
  • Verse 182: We wear ourselves out trying to make the body look good
  • Verse 183: Refuting attachment to the body
  • Verse 184: Using the body to gain the three wisdoms
  • Verse 185: Giving up childish behavior and following in the footsteps of the wise
  • Verse 186: Accepting what we have to do and exerting effort
  • Verse 187: Placing the mind in equipoise to dispel the obscurations

141 Enough childish behavior! (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.