Thursday, May 5 to Sunday, May 8, 2005
Trinlay Tulku : The Bodhicaryavatara
or Introduction to the Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva

Some pictures here >>>

At the age of three years, he was recognized by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and Venerable Kalu Rinpoche as the reincarnation of a Buddhist master and then received a Tibetan-style education. Today Trinlay Tulku is one of the Western teachers of Buddhism who can best express the depth of the Buddha's teachings in a western language.

On a surprisingly cool May morning, Trinlay Tulku started out by giving a general introduction to the foundations of Buddhism to an audience of about 130 people.

The indispensable basis of meditation practice is the knowledge of the Four Noble Truths, the very first teaching given by Buddha Shakyamuni on the reality of suffering, the causes of suffering, the cessation of suffering and the path leading to this end. Trinlay Tulku gave a general explanation, also presenting the twelve interdependent links which describe the functioning of confused mind which produces causes and effects that keep sentient beings caught in cyclic existence. The twelve interdependent links explain how we perpetuate the experience of pain and suffering endlessly.

The Bodhicaryavatara, The Introduction to the Way of a Bodhisattva, is one of the great classics of the Mahayana path. It was written by Shantideva, a highly unusual and independent personality of the university of Nalanda in the 8th century. Composed as a long poem, Shantideva's work embodies a philosophical definition of Bodhicitta, the enlightened attitude, and lays out the practical means by which this is to be achieved.

Bodhicitta, a term difficult to translate, means enlightened mind or attitude or 'a mind that tends towards enlightenment'. It is lovingkindness and compassion raised to their highest power. Shantideva demonstrates how concern for others, a love that truely transcends desire and concern for oneself, lies at the heart of all authentic spiritual endeavours and is the very essence of enlightened wisdom.

The author, Shantideva, born in a royal family, was attracted at an early age to the teachings of the Mahayana. As a member of Nalanda university, he taught the Bodhicaryavatara to an audience of the most learned scholars of his time, demonstrating sharp intelligence combined with a deep understanding of suffering and an overwhelming sense of tenderness towards others.

The ten chapters of his work can be divided into three sections which correspond to the wishing prayer expressed by the great Nagarjuna, the 3rd century Indian philosopher:

« May bodhicitta, the precious, excellent enlightened attitude, arise where it has not yet been born and where it has been born may it remain unimpaired and be forever increased. »

According to this structure, Trinlay Tulku laid out how the first three chapters have the function of stimulating the dawning of bodhicitta in the mind. The following three chapters show how to prevent the extraordinary attitude from being watered down or lost, while the last three chapters give instructions on how to progressively strengthen bodhicitta. The tenth chapter is a dedication prayer.
The verses of the first four chapters were explained in more detail during this seminar.

« The excellence of Bodhicitta », the first chapter, is a magnificent hommage to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas – those who have generated the two aspects of the enlightened attitude: bodhicitta as intention and bodhicitta as action. Trinlay Tulku placed before us the facts of human, conditioned existence: its fraility, its impermanence, the certainty of death, the probability of further suffering – and yet the possibility of a « precious human existence » with the potential to give rise to perfect altruism. « Do not live your life in vain! » we were told in many different ways.

In this first chapter, Bodhicitta is celebrated as the most potent remedy against all that keeps us limited in the habitual ego-centered orientation of our mind: « Be aware of the utter fragility of goodness! Except for bodhicitta there is nothing able to withstand the overwhelming strength of evil. » (Shantideva)

Chapters 2 and 3 « Exposing one's failures » and « Generating the enlightened mind », teach us the seven prepatory practices for the development of bodhicitta. These practices are known as the seven branches in numerous sadhanas: Offering and praising, going for refuge, confessing, rejoicing, requesting the Buddhas to teach, supplicating them not to dissappear into parinirvana, and dedicating the merit. These verses inspire us to accumulate merit and wisdom, thereby forging tendencies of positive karma.

Trinlay Tulku especially emphasized the four powers which form a true confession: sincere regret of the negative deed, the support of the enlightened ones, the practice of the antidote, and the commitment not to fall again into the trap of negative action. It was interesting to note that confession in the Buddhist sense is self-disclosure in the presence of the Buddhas and a prayer for refuge and protection. There is no asking for forgiveness. The understanding of the functioning of action, cause and consequence (karma) will raise our consciousness of behaviour patterns and negative tendencies. Only then can they be changed. And thus the second chapter finishes with the verse: « ...and all these mistakes, negative as they are, I promise I'll never do them again. »

The third chapter portrays the extraordinary courage and confidence of a Bodhisattva. The vow of the Bodhisattva is to deliver all sentient beings from their suffering. Courage is the main character trait of the practitioner striving for enlightenment: With enthusiastic joy he wishes to give himself, « ...his body, his possessions, his merit gained and to be gained » (Shantideva) in order to bring forth the benefit of others. Even the harm encountered through other beings is transformed in his wishes into a cause leading to their enlightenment. This passage on courageous self-forgetting gave rise to numerous questions from a somewhat shaken audience. Trinlay Tulku elucidated with humour and sincerity the right understanding of these verses.

« Bodhicitta contains within it all the Buddha's teaching », he concluded this chapter. « It is the quintessence of the Dharma. »
Finally, on the fourth and last day, chapter 4 on « Mindfulness » lead us into the section on how to preserve enlightened mind, how to keep it from being lost.

Shantideva admits that an over-enthusiastic start without the necessary reflection will lead to hesitation and discouragement. With pedagogical skill he convinces us that there is no real alternative to Bodhicitta in our quest for wisdom and enlightenment.
Trinlay Tulku insisted on the importance of mindfulness and vigilance which help us not to be lead astray by our negative tendencies - our real enemies! And with Shantideva he even adds a humourous glimpse on their nonexistence : « Disturbing emotions, scattered by the eye of wisdom, where would you run now, when driven from my mind? Where could you hide and return to do me harm?... But oh, I am not persevering. My mind is feeble... »

The section on preserving Bodhicitta explains the practice of the six paramitas. This time, Trinlay Tulku gave only an overview and concluded his teaching by imploring the audience to take to heart the advice given by Shantideva, studying and reading further commentaries on this work, and reflecting on its profound meaning.
Four days with Trinlay Tulku were a journey of discovery of profound dharma with a joyous, learned, humorous and compassionate guide.