Grounds and Paths of the Bodhisattva

Praise of the Element of Qualities (Dharmadhatu-stotra) says:

Just as the crescent moon
Is seen to increase day by day,
Similarly, those abiding on the grounds also
Are seen to increase in stages.
On the fifteenth day of the waxing moon
The moon becomes complete.
Similarly, on the completion of the grounds
The Truth Body is fully manifest.

The bodhisattva’s path to full awakening includes the understanding of what is to be practiced and what is to be abandoned. Teachings on the grounds and paths of a bodhisattva, known as salam in Tibetan, find their scriptural source in the Sutra of the Ten Grounds.

Teachings highlighted in bold can be found at the bottom of the page.

Who it's for

For anyone interested in the Mahayana path—the path leading to full awakening for the benefit of all beings—these teachings will lead to an understanding of how bodhisattvas abandon all defilements and cultivate all good qualities in order to attain the final good of Buddhahood.

Teachers and their teachings

Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche

When visiting Sravasti Abbey in 2006, the 104th Gaden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche gave a short explanation of grounds and paths according to the Yogacara Svatantrika Madhyamaka tenet system: Grounds and Paths According to Yogacara Svatantrika Madhyamaka with Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche (2006).

Rinpoche obtained his Geshe Lharampa degree from Sera Je monastery in 1979. In 1985 he was appointed abbot of Gyume Tantric University, a position he held for six years. Since then he has taught extensively in India and in the West.

Topics covered in this 5-part series include:

• Relating to our spiritual teacher
• Delineating the three vehicles of hearers, solitary realizers, and bodhisattvas
• Path of seeing for the three vehicles
• The ten grounds (bhumis) for the three vehicles
• Objects of abandonment and practices of the 10 grounds (bhumis)
• The qualities of a buddha

Venerable Thubten Chodron

Between 2011 and 2012, Venerable Thubten Chodron taught extensively on the grounds and paths of the bodhisattva according to the Prasangika Madhyamaka tenet system: Grounds and Paths According to Prasangika Madhyamaka (Teachings 2011-2012).

Venerable Chodron utilized Jetsun Lobsang Dadrin’s root text, A Brief Presentation of the Grounds and Paths of the Perfection Vehicle, Essence of the Ocean of Profound Meaning. Dadrin (1867–1937) was a Mongolian Buddhist monk, scholar, and yogi who wrote widely on Buddhist astrology, vinaya, tenets, and grounds and paths. His text is unique because it teaches the grounds and paths according to the Prasangika Madhyamaka tenet system—the highest tenet system of Buddhist philosophy. Texts of this genre are normally presented according to the Svatantrika Madnyamaka tenet system.

Topics covered in this 47-part series include:

• Fundamental vehicle grounds and paths
• The five Mahayana paths: path of accumulation, preparation, seeing, meditation and no more learning
• Qualities of the ten bodhisattva grounds
• Attaining Buddhahood: the four buddha bodies

Sutra [on the Ten Grounds] says-

Like the sun in the sky where clouds are seen,
Even you Superiors who have the pure eyes of intelligence
Are of partial intelligence. You do not see all.
You Blessed Ones however, who have the Truth Body
Of limitless intelligence, see all the limitless objects
Of knowledge pervading the expanse of space.