Vows

The Great Benefits of Bodhichitta There are great benefits to be derived from the development of an enlightening aim of bodhichitta. The positive force built up by it of are discussed in twelve lines from a sutra of the Buddha which was requested by the householder Viradatta....

Overview of the Twenty-Two Trainings Last in our discussion is the seventh point, which consists of the list of the twenty-two trainings, or points that train the mind in cleansing our attitudes. The first of these trainings is: Do all yogas with one. This refers to, no...

Let us look more closely at the type of nonrevealing form that a pratimoksha vowed restraint (so-sor thar-pa’i sdom-pa, Skt. prātimokṣasaṃvara) is. There Is Only One Nonrevealing Form for All the Branches of a Pratimoksha Vowed Restraint  Vasubandhu adds further detail about...

Bodhisattva Vows For practicing the engaged state of bodhichitta and being best able to practice the six far-reaching attitudes, we need to take the bodhisattva vows. This involves refraining from committing the 18 root downfalls and the 46 faulty actions that transgress these...

Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche II talks about the pressures of the tulku system, the differences between Buddhists in the West and his homeland of Spiti, and the importance of compassion.

There are various types of actions that indicate the practical application of refuge in our daily lives and what we actually need to do in order to maintain that direction.

A deep understanding of the various components of an empowerment is important for gaining the most benefit from the experience.

The distinctions among the four classes of tantra can be described in terms of varying levels of reliance on external and internal methods and with the analogy of an increasing level of blissful awareness used to focus on voidness.

The mechanism for how receiving an initiation prepares us for successful tantra practice.

These root tantric vows give the necessary supporting context to our practice. Without them, we cannot gain attainments or realizations from tantric practice in the yogaand anuttarayoga classes.