Bodhisattvas

The 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas 108 English Translations

A tale about Gyelse Tokme Zangpo, also known as Prince Thogme Sangpo. His compassion was so profound that even a hint of a stranger’s suffering brought him to tears. He often wept during Dharma teachings. Though urged by his disciples to laugh to attract sponsors, he struggled to do so in the face of sentient beings’ suffering. This extraordinary and compassionate master authored some of the most beautiful descriptions of the qualities of Bodhisattvas; here, let us cherish the translations of the 37 great qualities. Article Photo: The gate of Sakya Monastery.

English Translations of the 37 Practices of Bodhisattva

1. Having gained this rare ship of free and fortune. Hear, think, and meditate unwaveringly night and day to free yourself and others from the ocean of cyclic existence—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

2. You’re stirred up like water attached to your loved ones. Hating your enemies, you burn like fire. In the darkness of confusion, you forget what to adopt and discard. Give up your homeland—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

3. By avoiding harmful objects, disturbing emotions gradually decrease. Without distraction, virtuous activities naturally increase. With the clarity of mind, the conviction in the teaching arises. Cultivate seclusion—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

4. Loved ones who have long kept company will part. Wealth created with difficulty will be left behind. Consciousness, the guest, will leave the guesthouse of the body. Let go of this life—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

5. When you keep their company, your three poisons increase—your hearing, thinking, and meditation decline, making you lose love and compassion. Give up bad friends—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

6. When you rely on them, your faults end, and your good qualities grow like the waxing moon. Cherish spiritual teachers even more than your own body—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

7. Bound himself in the jail of cyclic existence, what worldly God can give you protection. Therefore, when you seek refuge, take refuge in the Three Jewels, which will not betray you—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

8. The Subduer said all the unbearable suffering of bad rebirths is the fruit of wrongdoing. Therefore, even at the cost of your life, never do wrong—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

9. Like dew on the tip of a blade of grass, pleasures of the three worlds last only a while and then vanish. Aspire to the never-changing supreme state of liberation—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

10. When your mothers, who’ve loved you since time without beginning, are suffering, what use is your happiness? Therefore, to free limitless living beings, develop the altruistic intention—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

11. All suffering comes from the wish for your happiness. Perfect Buddhas are born from the thought of helping others. Therefore, exchange your joy for the suffering of others—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

12. Even if someone steals all your wealth out of a strong desire or has it stolen, Dedicate to him your body, possessions, and virtue, past, present, and future—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

13. Even if someone tries to cut off your head when you haven’t done the slightest thing wrong. Out of compassion, take all her misdeeds upon yourself—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

14. Even if someone broadcasts all kinds of unpleasant remarks about you throughout the three thousand worlds. In return, with a loving mind, speak of his good qualities—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

15. Someone may deride and speak badly about you in a public gathering. Looking at her as a spiritual teacher, Bow to her with respect—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas

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16. Even if a person for whom you’ve cared like your own child regards you as an enemy. Cherish him especially, like a mother does her child who is stricken by sickness—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

17. If an equal or inferior person disparages you out of pride. Place her, as you would your spiritual teacher, with respect on the crown of your head—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

18. Though you lack what you need and are constantly disparaged, afflicted by dangerous sickness and spirits, without discouragement, take on the misdeeds and the pain of all living beings—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

19. Though you become famous, many bow to you, and you gain riches to equal Vaishravana’s. See that worldly fortune is without essence and be unconceited—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

20. While the enemy of your anger is unsubdued, though you conquer external foes, they will only increase. Therefore, with the militia of love and compassion, subdue your mind—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

21. Sensual pleasures are like saltwater: The more you indulge, the more thirst increases. Abandon at once those things which breed clinging attachment—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

22. Whatever appears is your mind. Your mind, from the start, was free from fabricated extremes. Understanding this, do not take to mind [Inherent] signs of subject and object—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

23. When you encounter attractive objects, though they seem beautiful like a rainbow in summer, don’t regard them as accurate and give up attachment—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

24. All forms of suffering are like a child’s death in a dream. Holding illusory appearances to be true makes you weary. Therefore, when you encounter disagreeable circumstances, see them as unreal. This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

25. When those who want enlightenment must give even their body, there’s no need to mention external things. Therefore, without hope for a return or any fruition, give generously—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

26. Without ethics, you can’t accomplish your well-being, so wanting to achieve others’ is laughable. Therefore, without worldly aspirations, safeguard your ethical discipline—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

27. To Bodhisattvas who want a wealth of virtue, those who harm are like precious treasures. Therefore, towards all, cultivate fortitude without hostility—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

28. Seeing even Hearers and solitary Realizers, who accomplish only their good, strive as if to put out a fire in their head. For the sake of all beings, make an enthusiastic effort, the source of all good qualities—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

29. Understanding that disturbing emotions are destroyed with unique insight with calm abiding.  Cultivate concentration that surpasses the four formless absorptions—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

30. Since the five perfections without wisdom cannot bring perfect enlightenment, along with skillful means cultivate the wisdom which does not conceive the three spheres [as accurate]—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

31. If you don’t examine your errors, you may look like a practitioner but not act as one. Therefore, constantly reviewing your mistakes and ridding yourself of them is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

32. If you point out the faults of another Bodhisattva through disturbing emotions, you are diminished, so don’t mention the faults of those who have entered the Great Vehicle—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

33. Reward and respect cause us to quarrel and make hearing, thinking, and meditation decline. For this reason, give up attachment to the households of friends, relations, and benefactors—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

34. Harsh words disturb the minds of others and cause deterioration in a Bodhisattva’s conduct. Therefore, give up harsh words that are unpleasant to others—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

35. Habitual disturbing emotions are complex to stop through counteractions. Armed with antidotes, the guards of mindfulness and mental alertness destroy alarming emotions like attachment at once as soon as they arise—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

36. In brief, whatever you are doing, ask yourself, “What’s the state of my mind?” With constant mindfulness and mental alertness, accomplish others’ good—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

37. To remove the suffering of limitless beings, understand the purity of the three spheres, and dedicate the virtue from making such an effort to enlightenment—This is the practice of Bodhisattvas.

The author of the text is Gyelsay Togmay Zangpo, a Tibetan monk and Bodhisattva who lived from 1295 to 1369. The text was translated and edited by Ruth in 1997.

Thank you for taking the time to read it! Additionally, I invite you to read about why meditation is so challenging. If there is anything I can do to improve the article, please let me know by leaving a comment.

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