The Way of the Bodhisattva

teaching for the modern world

Humanity is currently facing some of the greatest challenges in history, including climate change and a global pandemic. In many cases, our lives have been turned upside down by the loss of loved ones, illness, financial hardship, or large-scale shifts in the ways we work and live. At the heart of Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva are tools and practices that help us to grow in the midst of these demanding times, by opening our hearts and suffusing our being with care, compassion, and a strong sense of connection with others.

ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION

Transmission holds a profound place in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Passed down in an unbroken lineage from teacher to student since the time of the Buddha, these transmissions represent living expressions of the deepest truths that we gain through meditation. Widely understood to bring the essential points of the entire Buddhist path to life, Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva is a text that Mingyur Rinpoche sees as profoundly relevant to our time. Over the course of a year, through a series of live retreats and online courses, Rinpoche will pass on this transmission, which he received from his own teachers. A guided, step-by-step exploration of The Way of the Bodhisattva will be supported by Mingyur Rinpoche himself, Tergar guides, and a variety of other lineage teachers. In receiving these teachings, you will deepen your practice and imbue your life with increased purpose and well-being.

“All happiness in the world is born

Of wishing others happiness.

All suffering in the world is born

Of wanting happiness for yourself.”

The Way of the Bodhisattva, Chapter 8, verse 129

Courtesy of the Rubin Museum

Six-Week Essence Course on Meaning and Application

Available Now

A six-week online course in which Mingyur Rinpoche explains the essence of Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva, highlighting how we can infuse our busy, modern lives with awareness, compassion, and wisdom. This course includes live webinars and weekly video teachings with Mingyur Rinpoche, interactive sessions with Tergar guides, curated readings, guided meditations, experiential exercises, and much more.
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Ten-Month Immersion Course of Comprehensive Study and Practice

Available Now

A series of courses that fully integrates Shantideva’s teachings by bringing them into the realm of lived experience and employing their transformational power in daily life. This course includes live webinars and weekly video teachings with Mingyur Rinpoche, interactive sessions with Tergar guides, curated readings, guided meditations, experiential exercises, and much more.
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Why should I attend?

During this transmission, Mingyur Rinpoche will unlock the transformative potential of The Way of the Bodhisattva with step-by-step instructions for modern people. Participants will learn techniques to raise bodhichitta, cultivate mindfulness and introspection, develop the qualities of patience, joyful effort, and meditative concentration, and see things as they truly are. No matter what stage of the path you are on, this transmission will bring deep wisdom and purpose to your experience of daily life. It’s also a great opportunity to receive this teaching from an unbroken lineage of master practitioners who, throughout generations, integrated them fully into their practices and everyday lives.

TRY A PRACTICE

While the pandemic has presented us with tremendous challenges, it has also called forth deep, collective compassion. Take a moment to bring to mind an instance, perhaps from early on in the pandemic, when you felt compassion and solidarity with someone with whom you never would have before. What effect did this sense of compassion and connection have on your own experience of the pandemic at the time? Can you recall any other moment when a shared experience gave you a stronger sense of sameness with a stranger or broke down walls between you and others?

About Shantideva

Shantideva is thought to have been born to a royal family in modern-day West Bengal in northern India. On the eve of Shantideva’s enthronement, Manjushri—the bodhisattva of wisdom—is said to have visited him in a vision in which he instructed Shantideva to renounce the life of a householder and go forth into the homeless life. Shantideva left immediately upon receiving this vision, wandering through the jungles of northern India in search of truth. After some years of practice, he traveled to the ancient Indian monastic university of Nalanda, where he studied the sutras and tantras. While ridiculed by his fellow monks for his outwardly lazy behavior, he practiced in secret, actualizing the texts and practices he was studying. The monks, in their contempt, pressured him to teach, thinking that he would fail miserably and be ultimately shamed into leaving the monastery. To mock him, they set out a throne for him worthy of the greatest masters of his time. However, much to their surprise, he delivered without any hesitation what we now know as The Way of the Bodhisattva. Since that day, Shantideva has been revered as one of the greatest Buddhist masters in history.

About Mingyur Rinpoche

Mingyur Rinpoche is the youngest son of the esteemed 20th-century Dzogchen master Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. As a young boy in the Himalayas, Mingyur Rinpoche received instructions on core Buddhist practices from some of the greatest masters in living memory. Following this, he spent many years in strict retreat and in monastic college, where he studied classical Buddhist texts. Since then, he has dedicated himself to the transmission of the dharma to modern audiences. His characteristically relatable style shines through in this year-long transmission on The Way of the Bodhisattva.

Frequently
Asked Questions

What is a bodhisattva?

A bodhisattva is someone who is committed to helping all beings awaken to their true nature. Bodhisattvas are often considered enlightened teachers, but could also be everyday people, just like us, who have the motivation of bodhichitta (see below).

What is Bodhichitta?

Bodhichitta is the altruistic motivation and commitment to become a fully realized buddha, in order to help all beings realize their own true nature and become buddhas themselves.

Do I have to be a Buddhist to join the transmission?

This transmission is open to all who have a wish to better understand the human experience and the workings of the mind. While rooted in Buddhist wisdom, the teachings contained in this transmission are applicable to anyone.

Do I have to have prior experience in meditation?

Prior experience in meditation is suggested, but not required. Mingyur Rinpoche teaches in a highly relatable way, so much of this transmission is based on exploring our lived experience. If you wish to acquire a foundation for these practices, attending a Joy of Living program online is a good option.

Can I join at any time?

Once the courses are open, you can join any time and move at your own pace. To participate in the online retreats, however, it is highly recommended that you attend the live events; recordings will be made available, but only for a limited time.

How much does it cost?

Online courses are part of the monthly Vajrayana Online subscription. You can check the payment options here.
Online retreats are paid for separately. Information about the events is available here.

What if I have to miss part of the year-long transmission? Can I still participate?

Absolutely! The elements of the transmission function together as a cohesive whole, but each one also stands alone. Join in whatever elements work for you!

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