Teachings on Shantideva's The Way of the Bodhisattva
See the book section for the "The Way of the Bodhisattva" by Shantideva and Pema Chödrön's book, a commentary called "No Time To Lose, a Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva".
Pema Chödrön's Commentaries on Shantideva: Chapter by Chapter
Chapter 1: Bodhicitta - Developing a Clear Intention. 3 talks on 6 CDs $42.50. Excerpted from A95: The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life I, California 2002 (below).
Chapters 2 & 3: Arousing Bodhicitta - The 4 Powers of Confession and the 7 Fold Offering. 4 talks on 7 CDs $55.50. Excerpted from A95: The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life I, California 2002 (below).
Chapter 4: Maintaining Awareness of Commitment - Stabilizing Bodhicitta. 1 talk on 2 CDs $14.50. Excerpted from A84: The Way of the Bodhisattva, Gampo Abbey 2001 (below).
Chapter 5: The Paramita of Vigilance/Discipline. See the sets below of the weekend seminars given in Colorado, the Omega Institute in New York, and Gampo Abbey (A113, A117, and A118).
Chapter 6: The Paramita of Patience. See the sets below of the weekend seminars given in California, Colorado, and New York (A116, A119, and A122).
Chapter 7: The Paramita of Enthusiasm. 2 talks on 4 CDs $29. Excerpted from A110: The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life III, California 2004 (below).
Chapter 8: The Paramita of Meditation. 3 talks on 7 CDs $45. Excerpted from A110: The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life III, California 2004 (below).
Chapter 9: Wisdom and the Bodhisattva Path (see A115 below). Pema Chödrön & Judith Simmer-Brown, California 2005. 7 talks on 14 CDs $101.50. Also available on cassette $96 or 1 MP3 CD $50.75.
Chapter 10: Dedicating the Merit: Special Lecture (see A111 below). 1 talk on 2 CDs $14.50. Also available on cassette $12.00. California 2004.
MP3 CD Versions
Chapters 1, 2, and 10 on one MP3 CD for $45.00.
Chapters 3 and 4 on one MP3 CD for $22.00.
Chapter 5: A118 (includes talk one of A117 from Gampo Abbey on Monastic Discipline) on one MP3 CD for $33.00
Chapter 6: A122 on one MP3 CD for $33.00.
Chapters 7 and 8 on one MP3 CD for $40.00.
Chapter 9: A115 on two MP3 CDs for $50.75.
The set of all chapters 1 through 10 on MP3 CDs for $180.00.
Weekend Programs on Chapter 5: Vigilance (or Discipline)
A113: HEART ADVICE, the Path of Awakening. Weekend seminar, Boulder, CO, October 2004. A commentary by Pema Chödrön on Chapter 5 of The Way of the Bodhisattva entitled “Vigilance”, which is the paramita of discipline. 5 cassettes $60.00; 10 CDs $72.50; 5 DVDs $150; 1 MP3 CD $36.35. (DVDs have a small glitch in the middle where the camera was changed during filming). (NOTE: these are the same talks - unedited - as the Sounds True set called "Bodhisattva Mind").
Talk 1: The Importance of Taming the Mind. Arousing bodhicitta. Notes on the life of Arya Shantideva. Taming the mind with mindfulness to overcome fear and anxiety. The 3 disciplines of not causing harm, gathering virtue, and benefiting others are introduced. 1 tape $12.00; 2-CDs $14.50. Talk 2: Mindfulness and Awareness: Working with Distractions. The realms as experiences within human experience; kleshas as emotions which enslave the mind. Introduction to the 6 paramitas and how training the mind with mindfulness and awareness is essential to their practice. Guarding the mind from distractions. Understanding the results of following a negative thought pattern. 1 tape $12; 2 CDs $14.50. Talk 3: Not Too Tight; Not Too Loose; Not Causing Harm. Tight practice is useful for working with distractions; as loosening up is necessary to not to be too tight or over-zealous. Shenpa: the experience of “urge”. An approach to shenpa in 4 steps: remain like a log. 1 tape $12; 2 CDs $14.50. Talk 4: Gathering Virtue. Doing one thing at a time. Human life is precious, so be steady as a mountain. The absurdity of being attached to the body, and also taking care of the body as part of an uplifted lifestyle. Rejoice in the virtue of others. Look on challenging people with an open, loving heart. Contemplate the awakened ones, those who have been kind to you, and those who suffer, to inspire gratitude, respect, and compassion in one's being. 1 tape $12.00; 2 CDs $14.50. Talk 5: Benefiting Others. 3 kinds of bodhisattva practice: 1) the practice of the king or queen, who enrich themselves in order to then care for others; 2) the practice of the ferryman, who brings people along in the "same boat", "just like me". 3) the practice of the shepherd or shepherdess, who puts others before him- or herself. Working for others in whatever way one can is more important then following rules. Do not teach the disrespectful. 1 tape $12; 2 CDs $14.50.
A118: HOW TO LIVE COMPASSIONATELY IN A TROUBLED WORLD. Heart Advice on working gently, yet precisely with our emotions and our state of mind. A commentary by Pema Chödrön on Chapter 5 of Shantideva's “The Way of the Bodhisattva”. 4 cassettes $48.00; 8 CDs $58.00; 4 DVDs $100; 1 MP3 CD $33.00.
Talk 1: How to Work with Your Mind, Speech, & Actions. Verses 1 through 26. Guarding the mind. Not harming others, gathering virtue, benefiting others. Why we need to tame our minds. The six paramitas. 1 tape $12; 2 CDs $14.50; 1 DVD $25. Talk 2: Getting Your Priorities Straight. Verses 22 through 44. If you put working with emotions in the center of your mandala, everything you do becomes the means to waking up. Our mind has the innate ability to stay present. Basic friendliness, loving-kindness towards yourself. Working with addictions. Positive shame, positive sadness. 1 tape $12.00; 2 CDs $14.50; 1 DVD $25. Talk 3: Remain Like a Log of Wood. Verses 45 through 76. Being mindful of speech. The urge to scratch an itch. Pausing when the momentum could get strong. Staying with uncomfortable energy. Staying like a log is staying steady. Getting over being hooked on how you look. 1 tape $12.00; 2 CDs $14.50; 1 DVD $25. Talk 4: Basic Teachings on Getting Smart. Verses 77 through 109. Rejoicing in the good fortune of others. Stopping the chain reaction of prejudice and aggression. Practicing patience with someone who's provoking you. Monastic guidelines. 1 tape $12.00; 2 CDs $14.50; 1 DVD $25.
A117: DISCIPLINE. Gampo Abbey Yarne Retreat, Winter 2004-2005. These talks were given to the monastics at Gampo Abbey, and in that sense have a unique tone relative to the teachings in Colorado, New York, and California. “Discipline” is the motto of the Gampo Abbey community. The presentation of these teachings in a monastic context has particular power. 6 talks on 11 CDs: $84.50; 1 MP3 CD $42.25; DVDs: $25 each or 6 DVDs $125.00. The last 10+ minutes of the third talk is not available on the DVD, but will be provided on CD for those who order the DVD.
Talk 1: Monastic Discipline. Working with precepts and self-reflection as spiritual path. This is a general talk to the monastic community on the subject of monastic discipline which should also be of interest to lay practitioners. Talk 2: The virtue of taming the mind. Verses 1-25. Also includes brief review of first four chapters of the Bodhicharyavatara, which precede the Discipline chapter. Talk 3: How to tame the mind. Remaining like a log, part 1. Verses 26-50. Talk 4: Overcoming obsession with bodily things. Verses 51-69. Talk 5: Virtuous acts of body and speech: benefiting others. Verses 70-82. Talk 6: Further discipline: manners, benefiting others, and helpful contemplations. Verses 82-109.
Weekend Programs on Chapter 6: Patience
Northern California City Retreats
A95: THE BODHISATTVA'S WAY OF LIFE I. San Francisco Bay Area's City Retreat IV, September-November 2002. Pema Chödrön's commentary on the first three chapters of Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara, covering The Excellence of Bodhicitta, Confession, and Commitment. 8 cassettes $96; 14 CDs $101.50.
A99: THE BODHISATTVA'S WAY OF LIFE II. City Retreat V, Berkeley, CA. June-July 2003. Pema Chödrön's commentary on chapters 4-6 of Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara. A continuation of The Bodhisattva's Way of Life I, Berkeley, CA, 2002 (A95) covering Awareness, Vigilance (or Discipline), and Patience. 8 cassettes $96. 14 CDs $101.50.
A110: THE BODHISATTVA'S WAY OF LIFE III. City Retreat VI, Berkeley, CA. June-July 2004. Pema Chödrön's commentary on chapters 6-8 of Shantideva's “The Way of the Bodhisattva”. A continuation of The Bodhisattva's Way of Life I & II (A99 & A95), covering Patience, Enthusiasm, and Meditation. 8 cassettes $96. 14 CDs $101.50. Also available on 1 MP3 CD $58.00.
A111: DEDICATING THE MERIT, Special Lecture. Pema Chödrön's commentary on the Chapter 10 verses of Shantideva's “The Way of the Bodhisattva”. Berkeley, CA. July 2004. 1 cassette $12.00; 2 CDs $14.50.
A115: WISDOM & THE BODHISATTVA PATH. The Bodhisattva's Way of Life IV. June 2005, Berkeley CA. A practice and study program on the “Wisdom” chapter (chapter 9) of Arya Shantideva's “The Way of the Bodhisattva”, led by Acharyas Pema Chödrön and Judith Simmer-Brown. 8 cassettes $96; 14 CDs $101.50. Also available on 2 MP3 CDs $50.75.
Talk 1: Judith Simmer-Brown. Introduction to Prajnaparamita and Madhyamaka.
Talk 2: Pema Chödrön. No True Existence: Refuting “Partless Particles”. Verses 1-15ab.
Talk 3: Judith Simmer-Brown. Exposing Subtle Beliefs in Solid Existance in Three Aspects: Permanent, Independent, Unitary. Verses 15cd-29.
Talk 4: Pema Chödrön. Understanding interdependence and Overcoming Nihilism. Verses 30-55.
Talk 5: Judith Simmer-Brown. Diamond Slivers: Exploring and Refuting the 4 Extremes. Verses 139-145.
Talk 6: Judith Simmer-Brown. Realizing Two-Fold Egolessness. Verses 56-138.
Talk 7: Pema Chödrön. Wisdom, Groundlessness, Interdependence, and Compassion. Verses 138-165.
A115-G: GUIDED MEDITATIONS. From the above retreat: Guided walking meditation; Looking at the Mind; The 4 Extremes. 1 cassette $12.00. (these are already incorporated into the CD version).
Gampo Abbey Yarne Retreat
A84: THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA These 12 talks given by Pema Chödrön on Shantideva's classic text, “The Way of the Bodhisattva” (Bodhicharyavatara), were given to the shedra students at Gampo Abbey in the Spring of 2001. This verse by verse commentary on the first eight chapters of the book includes a thorough and joyful presentation of the first five paramitas. (Talk 11 is given by Tim Olmstead, Director of Gampo Abbey). 16 cassettes or 24 CDs $156.60 (prices reflect a 10% discount for ordering the whole set). A102: VIGILANCE - DISCUSSION GROUP. Davis, CA., July 2003. Pema Chödrön leads a discussion with the Davis Shambhala Meditation Center and Grass Valley Meditation Group during “The Bodhisattva's Way of Life II”. The emphasis is on Chapter 5 of the text, particularly the verses “to cover the earth with sheets of hide - where could such amounts of skin be found? But simply wrap some leather round your feet, and it's as if the whole earth had been covered”, and “like a log of wood you should remain.” 1 tape $12.00; 2 CDs $14.50.
A115-QA: LETTING GO OF FIXED VIEWS. Pema Chödrön answers questions from practitioners who have been studying the Wisdom Chapter (Chapter 9) in Shantideva's “The Way of the Bodhisattva”. The answers deal with what is the point of madhyamaka, and how to work with the effects of studying this particular path. 1 tape $12.00; 1 CD $12.00.