Reading Nook

Verse 1

Right now you have a good boat, fully equipped and available
-- hard to find.

To free yourself and others from the sea of samsara,

Day and night, constantly,

Study, reflect and meditate.

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo, translation by Ken McLeod

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Verse 2

Attraction to those close to you catches you in its currents;

Aversion to those who oppose you burns inside;

Indifference that ignores what needs to be done is a black hole.

Leave your homeland.

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo, translation by Ken McLeod

Reading Nook

Verse 3

Don't engage distractions and spiritual practice naturally grows;

Keep awareness clear and vivid and confidence in the way arises

Rely on silence.

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo, translation by Ken McLeod

Reading Nook

Verse 4

You will separate from long-time friends and relatives.

You will leave behind the wealth you worked to build up.

The guest, your consciousness, will move from the inn, your body.

Give up your life.

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo, translation by Ken McLeod

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Verse 5

When you keep their company your three poisons increase,

Your activities of hearing, thinking, and meditating decline,

And they make you lose your love and compassion.

Give up bad friends--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 6

When you rely on them your faults come to an end

And your good qualities grow like the waxing moon.

Cherish spiritual teachers

Even more than your own body--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 10

When your mothers, who've loved you since time without beginning,

Are suffering, what use is your own happiness?

Therefore to free limitless living beings

Develop the altruistic intention--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 11

All suffering comes from the wish for your own happiness.

Perfect Buddhas are born from the thought to help others.

Therefore exchange your own happiness

For the suffering of others--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 12

Even if someone out of strong desire

Steals all your wealth or has it stolen,

Dedicate to him your body, possessions

And your virtue, past, present and future--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

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Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 15

Though someone may deride and speak bad words

About you in a public gathering,

Looking on her as a spiritual teacher,

Bow to her with respect--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 16

Even if a person for whom you're cared

Like your own child regards you as an enemy,

Cherish him specially, like a mother

Does her child who is stricken by sickness--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

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Verse 19

Though you become famous and 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 20

While the enemy of your own anger is unsubdued,

Though you conquer external foes, they will only increase.

Therefore with the militia of love and compassion

Subdue your own mind--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 22

Whatever appears is your own 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 23

When you encounter attractive objects,

Though they seem beautiful

Like a rainbow in summer, don't regard them as real

And give up attachment--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 meet with disagreeable circumstances,

See them as illusory--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 25

When those who want enlightenment must give even their body,

There's no need to mention external things.

Therefore, without hope for return or any fruition

Give generously--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 26

Without ethics you can't accomplish your own well being,

So wanting to accomplish others' is laughable.

Therefore, without worldly aspirations

Safeguard your ethical discipline--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 27

To Bodhisattvas who want a wealth of virtue

Those who harm are like a precious treasure.

Therefore, towards all cultivate fortitude

Without hostility--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 28

Seeing even Hearers and Solitary Realizers, who accomplish

Only their own good, strive as if to put out a fire on their head,

For the sake of all beings make enthusiastic effort,

The source of all good qualities—

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 29

Understanding that disturbing emotions are destroyed

By special insight with calm abiding,

Cultivate concentration which surpasses

The four formless absorptions--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 real]--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 31

If you don't examine your own errors,

You may look like a practitioner but not act as one.

Therefore, always examining your own errors,

Rid yourself of them--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 32

If through the influence of disturbing emotions

You point out the faults of another Bodhisattva,

You yourself are diminished, so don't mention the faults

Of those who have entered the Great Vehicle--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 34

Harsh words disturb the minds of others

And cause deterioration in a Bodhisattva's conduct.

Therefore give up harsh words

Which are unpleasant to others--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 35

Habitual disturbing emotions are hard to stop through counteractions.

Armed with antidotes, the guards of mindfulness and mental alertness

Destroy disturbing emotions like attachment

At once, as soon as they arise--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 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 a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo

Reading Nook

Verse 37

To remove the suffering of limitless beings,

Understanding the purity of the three spheres,

Dedicate the virtue from making such effort

To enlightenment--

This is the practice of a bodhisattva.

"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo