The 37 Bodhisattva Precepts Ngulchu Thogme Vairotsana Foundation 2 Vairotsana Foundation The Venerable Bhakha Tulku Pema Tenzing 3 Vairotsana Foundation Padmasambhava is the emanation of Buddha Shakyamuni as was prophesied by Buddha Shakyamuni Himself in the Sutras and Mantrayana treatises such as the Parinirvana Sutra. Padmasambhava is the Wisdom Vajra Master of all precious Mantrayana teachings. He is honored and praised as the jewel in the crown of all sublime scholars and saints. Among Padmasambhava’s innumerable manifestations for the benefit of beings, Terton Pema Lingpa is considered to be one of the most precious tertons. Bhakha Rigdzin Gyatso, Ocean of Vidyadharas, is one of the many manifestations of Pema Lingpa. Bhakha Tulku Pema Tenzing is his tenth incarnation, recognized by His Holiness Karmapa and His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. By Thinley Norbu Rinpoche 4 Vairotsana Foundation Prayer to Manjushri Auspicious unchanging Three Jewels From whom good fortune arises and emanates, The sublime and appropriate refuge, Manjushri is endowed with the most glorious qualities. Although, in accordance with the perceptions of beings of all directions and times, You perform Your magical dance display, There is no objective reality to be found. I bow down to You! Among the peaceful deities, You are the most peaceful. Most gentle and glorious, free from distress. All-embracing form of the Great Compassionate One, Youthful emanation with myriad forms. I bow down to You! Among the wrathful, You are the most wrathful. All-destroying Yamaraja, You devour samsara and nirvana, (transforming them into) Dharmadhatu. Great enemy of time (of the inevitability of death). I bow down to You! Your vajra body is inseparable emptiness and appearance. Ultimate wisdom of all the victorious ones, Lord of all (Buddha, indistinguishable from) Kuntuzangpo, Vajra Manjushri, I bow down to You! 5 Vairotsana Foundation By the virtue of having praise and made obeisance to You, Until I attain the essence of enlightenment, May Manjushri’s light of supreme wisdom Dissolve into the lotus of my heart. Written by the great scholar Mipham (the Vajra-Pleasing-to Manjushri) 6 Vairotsana Foundation Thirty-Seven Precepts of the Bodhisattva O Glorious Avalokiteshvara Full of Compassion You are the Sole Mother of all beings. I bow down to You. Lord Chenrezig, even though You see everything in its true nature, beyond coming and going, for You, there is no difference between samsara and nirvana. Still You always endeavor to help beings unceasingly in many ways and in many forms. Glorious Avalokiteshvara, inseparable with my most excellent Guru, with the devotion of my three doors I prostrate to You always. Fully enlightened Buddhas are the source of happiness and benefit for all beings. Even their enlightenment depends on their following the path of Dharma. Thus we also must depend upon practicing and understanding the Dharma in a proper way. I will therefore explain the practices of the Bodhisattva. 7 Vairotsana Foundation 1 Because of favorable conditions you have attained this extraordinary human body which is like a great sailing ship. Thus, while this opportunity is at hand, one should cross the deep and dangerous ocean of samsara by listening to, analyzing and meditating day and night on the teachings of the Bodhisasttva path. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 2 By attachment to relatives and friends you are trapped as in a whirlpool and you cannot get out. Hatred for your enemy rages like a blazing fire. Lacking mindfulness, you forget what to accept and what to reject and remain in the darkness of ignorance. For these reasons, renounce your homeland. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 3 By avoiding that which stimulates the five senses and gives rise to anger, desire, jealousy, pride and ignorance, your conflicting emotions gradually fade away. Without these many distractions, virtuous deeds also spontaneously increae. As your mind is clear and free from confusion, you will have an unwavering trust in the Buddha Dharma. Therefore, one should live in a hermitage, in a remote and distant place, far from these disturbing influences. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 8 Vairotsana Foundation 4 Close friends who have long been together will separate. Wealth and possessions gained with much effort will be left behind. Consciousness, like a guest, will leave the guest house of the body. Sacrifice these worldly comforts in order to practice the Dharma thoroughly. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 5 Bad friends increase your emotions and cause doubt about the Dharma, diminishing your study and meditation. Their influence obscures your loving kindness and compassion. Therefore, you should avoid such companions. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 6 The one, by whose influence your faults decrease and your good qualities increase, like the waxing moon, should be considered your spiritual friend and even more precious than your own life. Therefore, always hold the spiritual teacher with great respect above all others. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 9 Vairotsana Foundation 7 How can worldly gods save us when they themselves are still bound to samsara? You should therefore take refuge in the Three Jewels, who will never fail you, and can save you from the dangers of samsara. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 8 The Buddha has said that the unbearable suffering of the lower realms are the result of sinful deeds. Therefore, even at the cost of your own life, refrain from doing harmful deeds. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 9 The happiness of the three realms is like dew on the grass which may vanish at any moment. The happiness of liberation is unchanging. You should seek this permanent happiness by being courageous when facing hardships on the path. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 10 Vairotsana Foundation 10 Since all beings have at one time been your very own mother, you should think like this: “If all my mothers, who have loved me since beginningless time, continue to suffer, what is the use of my own happiness?” Then, with the aim of liberating countless sentient beings, generate true Bodhicitta (vowing to become enlightened). This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 11 All suffering without exception arises from desiring happiness for oneself, while perfect Buddhahood is born from the thought of benefiting others. You must therefore truly exchange your own happiness for the suffering of others. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 12 If someone, driven by greed wants to rob you or induces others to do so, you should give all you have, and dedicate your body, possessions, and all your merit, past, present, and future, to him. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 11 Vairotsana Foundation 13 Even if someone were to cut off your head though you were completely innocent, you should take the sin entirely upon yourself, and with genuine compassion wish that he will have no suffering resulting from his crime. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 14 Even if someone says all sorts of unpleasant things about you, proclaiming them throughout the universe, you, in return, should extol that person’s good qualities with your loving- kindness. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 15 Even if, in the midst of a large gathering, someone exposes your hidden faults in an insulting way, perceive him as your spiritual teacher and bow to him respectfully. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 12 Vairotsana Foundation 16 If someone whom you have raised as your own son turns against you like a deadly enemy, show him your deepest love and understanding, like a mother would for her sick child. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 17 If someone of your own station or a lower one treats you with arrogance and contempt, respect him as you would your teacher, the crown ornament upon your head. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 18 If you are in a wretched condition, very poor, despised by others, fatally ill and troubled by evil spirits, at this time, as an act of bravery, visualize every being’s sin and suffering coming to you. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 19 Even if you have achieved fame and wide respect, and are as wealthy as Kubera (Lord of Wealth), recognize that this worldly prosperity has no essential reality, and be as humble as any ordinary person. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 13 Vairotsana Foundation 20 If you do not crush your anger, which is the inner enemy, then the outer enemy will most certainly increase as you try to destroy it. Therefore, tame this inner enemy with the forces of loving- kindness and compassion. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 21 Indulging in the passions is like drinking salty water. The more you consume, the more your thirst increase. Whatever arouses desire in you, immediately abandon it. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 22 Whatever you see is a reflection of your own mind. The essence of mind has, from the beginning, been free of conceptual limitations. Having recognized this truth, free your mind from grasping at phenomena and clinging to thought. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice. 23 Attractive phenomena are like rainbow in the summer sky. When you meet with them, however lovely they may be, don’t take them to be real, but abandon your desire and attachment. This is the way of Bodhisattva practice 14 Vairotsana Foundation 24 The sufferings of samsara are like the (imagined) death of a son in a dream. If you grasp at your deluded experiences as real, it is pointless and tiring. So when meeting with unfavorable circumstances, see them as illusions.