Wheel of Sharp Weapons: Verses 34-37

An expanded commentary on Dharmarakshita's The Wheel of Sharp Weapons given at Sravasti Abbey from 2004-2006.

  • Wrong views and misconceptions hindering our understanding1
  • The four distortions
  • Using clear appearance and divine identity to counteract negative self views
  • Feeling lost and powerless
  • Weather and environmental calamities
  • Importance of taking and keeping precepts, and going slowly in doing so
  • Feeling greedy and bereft of material wealth
  • Looking at all hardships simply as results of our own past actions ripening on us now
  • Giving charity and making offerings to the Three Jewels

Wheel of Sharp Weapons (expanded): Verses 34-37 (download)


  1. A numbering error occurred in the text used in the teaching, so some of the verse numbers are incorrect in the audio. The verses numbered on this site are the correct ones. 

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.