I have heard teachings on the “37 Bodhisattva Practices” several times. However, this week I listened to a somewhat different teaching on this same text. Most take each verse in order and explain it, but this was unique among the teachings. Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin Rinpoche,of course, began with prayers and commenced the actual teaching with introductory concepts that would clarify the meaning of the text and bring it around to practical application.
He kept on explaining these things, giving us important general principles which illuminate this particular text. However, when I reflected on them, I could see that they are much more widely applicable. These very principles could help us to understand and apply the Dharma. In fact, is not that precisely why we study the Dharma? The most advanced academic knowledge about the Dharma brings us no closer to Enlightenment unless we are putting such knowledge into practice.
Our study of the Precious Dharma needs to be bearing fruit in our progress in the two accumulations and in our not accruing more negative Karma which could cause our rebirth in one of the lower realms. If we do not attain Enlightenment in this lifetime, we need to be reborn as a human being who has “precious human life.” Otherwise we are getting no closer to Buddhahood.
Khenpo-la gave us something most valuable. Not only did he give us the transmission for this text, but he also gave us an excellent set of tools for this and other texts.
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