Courageous Compassion

by Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron

Overview

The sixth volume of the Dalai Lama’s definitive Library of Wisdom and Compassion series.

Courageous Compassion, the sixth volume of the Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, continues the Dalai Lama’s teachings on the path to awakening. The previous volume, In Praise of Great Compassion, focused on opening our hearts with love and compassion for all living beings, and the present volume explains how to embody compassion and wisdom in our daily lives. Here we enter a fascinating exploration of bodhisattvas’ activities across multiple Buddhist traditions—Tibetan, Theravada, and Chinese Buddhism.

After explaining the ten perfections according to the Pali and Sanskrit traditions, the Dalai Lama presents the sophisticated schema of the four paths and fruits for sravakas and solitary realizers and the five paths for bodhisattvas. Learning about the practices mastered by these exalted practitioners inspires us with knowledge of our minds’ potential. His Holiness also describes buddha bodies, what buddhas perceive, and buddhas’ awakening activities.

Courageous Compassion offers an in-depth look at bodhicitta, arhatship, and buddhahood that you can continuously refer to as you progress on the path to full awakening.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614297475
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Series:	The Library of Wisdom and Compassion , #6
Pages:	496
Sales rank:	631,155
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and a beacon of inspiration for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. He has persistently reached out across religious and political lines and has engaged in dialogue with scientists in his mission to advance peace and understanding in the world. In doing so, he embodies his motto: “My religion is kindness.”



Thubten Chodron has been a Buddhist nun since 1977. A graduate of UCLA, she is the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington State. She is a popular speaker and author of numerous books, including Buddhism for Beginners.

Table of Contents

Preface Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron xiii

Abbreviations xix

Introduction by His Holiness The Dalai Lama 1

Part I How to Live With Compassion: The Bodhisattva Perfections 5

1 Introduction to the Bodhisattva Perfections 7

The Two Collections of Merit and Wisdom 8

The Six Perfections 11

The Basis, Nature, Necessity, and Function of the Six Perfections 14

How the Six Perfections Relate to Other Practices 20

2 Living as a Bodhisattva: The Perfections of Generosity, Ethical Conduct, And Fortitude 27

The Perfection of Generosity 27

The Perfection of Ethical Conduct 42

The Perfection of Fortitude 53

Distinguishing Factors of the First Three Perfections 70

3 Living as a Bodhisattva: The Remaining Seven Perfections 71

The Perfection of Joyous Effort 71

The Perfection of Meditative Stability 79

The Perfection of Wisdom 82

The Three Understandings 86

Space-Like and Illusion-Like Meditation on Emptiness 87

Serenity and Insight 93

The Importance of Insight 96

The Perfection of Skillful Means 98

The Perfection of Unshakable Resolve 100

The Perfection of Power 101

The Perfection of Pristine Wisdom 104

Ultimate Bodhicitta 106

Conclusion 108

4 Sharing The Dharma 111

Four Ways of Gathering Disciples in Tibetan Buddhism 112

Four Ways of Sustaining Favorable Relationships in the Pali Tradition 114

Four All-Embracing Bodhisattva Virtues in Chinese Buddhism 116

Suggestions for Western Dharma Teachers 118

The Essence of the Dharma and Its Cultural Forms 127

Propagating the Dharma 130

What to Teach in the West 133

Teaching according to the Audience 136

Translations and Rituals 141

Many Ways to Benefit Sentient Beings 142

Areas of Caution 149

Respect for the Dharma 152

Buddhadharma in Asia 153

Dharma Centers 155

5 The Ten Perfections in the Pali Tradition 159

The Paramis 159

Generosity 165

Ethical Conduct 168

Renunciation 171

Wisdom 173

Joyous Effort 175

Fortitude 177

Truthfulness 183

Determination 184

Love 185

Equanimity 186

The Sequence of the Perfections 187

How to Accomplish the Perfections 189

Benefits and Results of Practicing the Perfections 192

Part II The Three Vehicles and Their Fruits 195

6 Breakthrough to Nirvana: The Pali Tradition 197

The Three Vehicles 197

Dhyanas and the Destruction of Pollutants 199

Direct Knowledge, Full Understanding, and Realization 202

The Four Pairs of Aryas 204

Those Who Have Work to Do with Diligence and Those Who Do Not 214

Purification and Knowledge 220

Occasions for Attaining Liberation 228

Four Kinds of Persons Who Attain Arhatship 229

Liberation of Mind, Liberation by Wisdom 230

Nirvana and the Arhat 231

Tathagatas and Arhats 236

7 Fundamental Vehicle Paths and Fruits: The Sanskrit Tradition 239

Realization of the Four Truths 239

Three Vehicles: The Paths of Method and Wisdom 242

Path, Ground, and Clear Realization 245

Approachers and Abiders 246

Eight Grounds of the Fundamental Vehicle 250

Five Paths of the Fundamental Vehicle 252

Solitary Realizers 259

The Variety of Dispositions and Faculties 261

8 The Paths of the Bodhisattva 267

Five Mahayana Paths 267

Bodhisattva Path of Accumulation 268

Bodhisattva Path of Preparation 270

Bodhisattva Path of Seeing 272

Bodhisattva Path of Meditation 276

Three Special Times 284

9 Bodhisattva Grounds 287

Special Qualities of Each Ground 287

First Ground, the Joyous 293

Second Ground, the Stainless 297

Third Ground, the Luminous 299

Fourth Ground, the Radiant 302

Fifth Ground, the Indomitable 305

Sixth Ground, the Approaching 309

Seventh Ground, the Far Advanced 313

10 Three Pure Bodhisattva Grounds 317

Eighth Ground, the Immovable 317

Ninth Ground, Excellent Intelligence 321

Tenth Ground, the Cloud of Dharma 324

Summary of the Ten Grounds 327

Do Bodhisattvas Take Birth in Cyclic Existence? 329

How Bodhisattvas Practice 333

Essential Points 335

Tantric Paths and Grounds 339

Gradual Path versus Sudden Awakening 341

11 Buddhahood: The Path of No-More-Learning 345

The Buddha Bodies 346

Wisdom Dharmakaya 350

Nature Dharmakaya 354

Form Bodies 358

Buddha, Arya Buddha, and Sentient Being 367

What Buddhas Perceive 368

12 Buddhahood: The Buddhas' Awakening Activities 375

Nine Similes for Awakening Activity 376

Twenty-Seven Awakening Activities 387

Ananda Settles His Doubts 390

Individuals Acting in Unison 392

Questions about the Buddha 394

The Buddhas' Three Mysteries 396

Seeing the Buddha 397

Notes 401

Glossary 413

Recommended Reading 431

Index 435

About the Authors 463

Editorial Reviews

In this sixth volume of their extraordinary series mapping the Buddhist path to awakening, H. H. the Dalai Lama and the Venerable Thubten Chodron, in conversation both with the Pali and the Indo-Tibetan Mahayana traditions, show how to build on the insight, the understanding, and the cultivation achieved through study and practice in order to become a powerful agent for the welfare of oneself and others, and to ascend to the advanced stages of the path to awakening. Their account is rich in scholarship, deeply humane, and powerfully inspirational.

Jay L. Garfield

At this critical time the world is in need of guides who embody both wisdom and genuine compassion, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron, who serve as living examples of courageous action in upholding the bodhisattva ideal both in word and in deed. Now they have collaborated to give us a volume on the practical application of fearless compassion. May this serve as an inspiration to Buddhist practitioners, now and in the future, to bravely embody compassion for the benefit of all.
”We welcome this addition to the series, which deals with the central relevance of courageous compassion as we walk the path.

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

In the sixth installment of their extraordinary Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, H. H. the Dalaia Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron transport us through the higher reaches of the Buddhist path, as envisioned by the Theravada, Sutrayana, and Mahayana traditions. Led by two expert guides, we come to appreciate the perfections we must practice, the stages of spiritual ascent we must traverse, and the sublime awakened states awaiting at journey's end. At once informative and deeply inspiring, Courageous Compassion should have a place on the bookshelf of every Buddhist, along with the other volumes in this masterful collection.

Roger Jackson

“Courageous Compassion is among the most impressive and beautiful volumes in the remarkable Library of Wisdom and Compassion series. Here Venerable Thubten Chodron stewards the presentation of a substantial and comprehensive description of the bodhisattva’s path of compassion with a special focus on the bodhisattva perfections and the paths and fruits of the three vehicles. Certainly a marvelous addition to everyone’s library of Buddhist wisdom!

Bhikshu Dharmamitra

In volume 6 of this full-bodied series, the Dalai Lama focuses on the paramitas, the activities of a bodhisattva, explaining the set of six and ten paramitas according to the sravaka, Mahayana, and tantric paths and schematics expounded over the long course of Buddhist commentarial traditions. There is even a chapter devoted to how, and what, a Buddhist teacher should teach in the West. In short, Courageous Compassion presents a comprehensive and robust overview of how to act with compassion.

Jan Willis Jan Willis

The previous volume in this groundbreaking series explored ways to generate compassion and bodhicitta; in this volume His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron address how to develop and sustain compassion in the ordinary life we have today all the way up to the completion of our spiritual path. This turn to applying compassion requires not only profound knowledge of the Buddhist textual tradition but also great sensitivity to the circumstances of people’s ordinary lives and to twenty-first-century societies. This book brings both to bear as it asks, What would our lives look like if we lived and acted purely out of compassion?
”Between the two of them, the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron have over a century practicing and teaching on compassion. That depth of experience and knowledge is reflected on every page of this book.

Venerable Damchö Diana Finnegan

In volume 6 of this full-bodied series, the Dalai Lama focuses on the paramitas, the activities of a bodhisattva, explaining the set of six and ten paramitas according to the sravaka, Mahayana, and tantric paths and schematics expounded over the long course of Buddhist commentarial traditions. There is even a chapter devoted to how, and what, a Buddhist teacher should teach in the West. In short, Courageous Compassion presents a comprehensive and robust overview of how to act with compassion.

Jan Willis

The previous volume in this groundbreaking series explored ways to generate compassion and bodhicitta; in this volume His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron address how to develop and sustain compassion in the ordinary life we have today all the way up to the completion of our spiritual path. This turn to applying compassion requires not only profound knowledge of the Buddhist textual tradition but also great sensitivity to the circumstances of people’s ordinary lives and to twenty-first-century societies. This book brings both to bear as it asks, What would our lives look like if we lived and acted purely out of compassion?
”Between the two of them, the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron have over a century practicing and teaching on compassion. That depth of experience and knowledge is reflected on every page of this book.

Venerable Damchö Diana Finnegan

At this critical time the world is in need of guides who embody both wisdom and genuine compassion, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron, who serve as living examples of courageous action in upholding the bodhisattva ideal both in word and in deed. Now they have collaborated to give us a volume on the practical application of fearless compassion. May this serve as an inspiration to Buddhist practitioners, now and in the future, to bravely embody compassion for the benefit of all.

We welcome this addition to the series, which deals with the central relevance of courageous compassion as we walk the path.

Jesunma Tenzin Palmo