A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life

Whoknows

Hi all,

I am very excited to finally be going to one of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings. I have wanted to go to his teachings in the past when he was in Australia, but conditions worked against this happening until now. And what is even better is that HHDL is presenting Shanitideva's "A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life"! My aspiration is that the Bodhisattva's vow is going to be offered but that is not defined in the scope of the teachings so it may not be so, but it would be cool if it was. If there are others in Australia who wish to check this out look up: http://www.dalailamainaustralia.org/

Cheers

SherabDorje

I'm sure the vow will be offered. It is often included with the recitation of the Triple Refuge in Vajrayana Buddhism, almost always, in fact, IME.

Is that a Kalachakra initiation that HHDL is giving? He gave the same teaching with the Kalachakra initiation on his US tour in 1989.

pineblossom

Hi all,

I am very excited to finally be going to one of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings. I have wanted to go to his teachings in the past when he was in Australia, but conditions worked against this happening until now. And what is even better is that HHDL is presenting Shanitideva's "A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life"! My aspiration is that the Bodhisattva's vow is going to be offered but that is not defined in the scope of the teachings so it may not be so, but it would be cool if it was. If there are others in Australia who wish to check this out look up: http://www.dalailamainaustralia.org/

Cheers

It is good that you are going and I am sure you will gain much from his teachings.

However, unless there is a tantric initiation I would doubt that the Bodhisattva vows would be offered - as the vows are part of Tantra.

But there is nothing stopping you taking the vows yourself. From memory there are 18 basic vows and 46 odd secondary vows.

Whoknows

Hi @pineblossom , it was my understanding that the Bodhisattva vows are definitely Mahayana rather than Vajrayana, even though the Mahayanic vows are a prerequisite for Vajra practise. Is this not so?

Hi @SherabDorje , the focus of the teachings will be Shantideva's A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way and not the Kalacakra Tantra. I believe that HHDL performed the Kalacakra teachings in his last visit to Australia and unfortunately I was unable to attend. Maybe next time.

andyrobyn

In my experience also, HHDL will most likely offer the opportunity for reciting Bodhisattva vow - from what has occured at group teachings in Australia which I have been able to attend

pineblossom

Perhaps - which is what I perhaps did not make clear - it's all so long ago.

Dazzle

Its a good idea to first check what it is that you're vowing :

http://www.bodhicitta.net/BODHISATTVAVOWS.htm

Also this is definately worth some serious thought...

"We are willing, if male, to have sex with another's wife - or with an unmarried woman whose parents forbid it, or with any other inappropriate partner - when the woman has the strong wish to develop bodhichitta but is overwhelmed with desire for sex with us and who, if she were to die not having had sex with us, would carry the grudge as an instinct into future lives. As a result, she would be extremely hostile toward bodhisattvas and the bodhisattva path.

Bodhisattvas' willingness to engage in inappropriate sexual acts when all else fails to help prevent someone from developing an extremely negative attitude toward the spiritual path of altruism raises an important point for married couples on the bodhisattva path to consider."


http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/practice_material/vows/bodhisattva/secondary_bodhisattva_pledges.html

pineblossom

If you have to check out the vows before you take them forget about taking vows.

Dazzle

.

If you have to check out the vows before you take them forget about taking vows.

That statement doesn't actually make any sense, pineblossom.

:eek2:

pineblossom

It does to those who know what I mean. You need to think a little deeper than 'common sense'.

Dazzle

Oh really ? To not know what one's doing ?

I took Bodhisattva vows myself many years ago and was a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner for a long time after that, so I do know what I'm talking about, thanks.

andyrobyn

At the public teachings of HHDL that I have been able to attend here in Australia, there have been opportunities to meet and speak with members of many different ordained Sangha and I have seen individuals who decide to take vows at such an event

DhammaDhatu

...when the woman has the strong wish to develop bodhichitta but is overwhelmed with desire for sex with us and who, if she were to die not having had sex with us, would carry the grudge as an instinct into future lives. As a result, she would be extremely hostile toward bodhisattvas and the bodhisattva path.

The wish to develop bodhichitta but will commit suicide if does not have sex with us. What kind of "bodhicitta" is that?

:eek2:

DhammaDhatu

If you have to check out the vows before you take them forget about taking vows.

Well, the monk in this (30 minute) video disagrees with you. At 2:55, he says some rather controversial things.

:hair:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4799330235646887812#

Whoknows

Its a good idea to first check what it is that you're vowing :

http://www.bodhicitta.net/BODHISATTVAVOWS.htm

Also this is definately worth some serious thought...

"We are willing, if male, to have sex with another's wife - or with an unmarried woman whose parents forbid it, or with any other inappropriate partner - when the woman has the strong wish to develop bodhichitta but is overwhelmed with desire for sex with us and who, if she were to die not having had sex with us, would carry the grudge as an instinct into future lives. As a result, she would be extremely hostile toward bodhisattvas and the bodhisattva path.

Bodhisattvas' willingness to engage in inappropriate sexual acts when all else fails to help prevent someone from developing an extremely negative attitude toward the spiritual path of altruism raises an important point for married couples on the bodhisattva path to consider."


http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/practice_material/vows/bodhisattva/secondary_bodhisattva_pledges.html

Hi @Dazzle ,

Thanks for the link, some of the vows are very interesting, for instance I have started reading about Western Philosophy and its similarities and differences with Buddhist Philosophy and are enjoying reading this material. According to the vows I need to maintain detachment so that I don't enjoy the study as its not Buddhist material, though to be honest I am learning this in context of Buddhism.

As to the other point, it seems quite a long shot for a "what if", maybe I'll cross that bridge when, and if, I get to it. As a martial artist I think it may be more likely that I could need to use violence if needed but again I won't play "what if" games and wait until the situation arises and then decide on the merit of the specifics, in most cases these negative actions may not be required. Also the context of the quote is extremely important:

Refusing to commit these destructive actions when necessity demands is at fault, however, only if we have taken and keep purely bodhisattva vows. Our reticence to exchange our happiness for the welfare of others hampers our perfection of the ethical self-discipline to help others always. There is no fault if we have only superficial compassion and do not keep bodhisattva vows or train in the conduct outlined by them. We realize that since our compassion is weak and unstable, the resulting suffering we would experience from our destructive actions might easily cause us to begrudge bodhisattva conduct.

Also the root downfall of "Not listening to others' apologies or striking others" could be a problem while I'm at training! I have no problems with listening to apologies, but we do strike each other at training, but without intent to harm and without anger, so maybe this is still OK. I have almost two months to look into this but I still think it can only be a good thing to take these vows.

Whoknows

Looking forward to tomorrow! I don't think I'll make a good Bodhisattva, too self preoccupied, but the teachings will be great, I am sure. Possibly planting some positive seeds for another millennia or so in the future.