The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas (in Tib. རྒྱལ་ སྲས་ ལག་ ལེན་ སོ་ བདུན་ མ་) is an important text from the lojong (mind training) collection. In 37 verses, Gyalséy Thokmé Sangpo, the author of this text, gives the instructions on how to follow in the Bodhisattvas’ footsteps.
Togme Sangpo was also called “Gyalsay”, which means the “son of the conquerors”. The expression sons of the victorious ones, which is used in the title and the body of the text, refers to the Bodhisattvas, because through their training on the path they achieve supreme enlightenment and become Buddhas, the victorious ones.
Thirty-Seven Practices comprises all instructions we can find in the most prominent Buddhist writings on the Bodhisattva path, such as the Eight Verses of Training the Mind and the methods for practicing the six perfections as elaborated in the Bodhisattvachariavattara. In January 2018, His Holiness the Dalai Lama noted that the Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas are especially suitable for those who are often tormented by anger and attachment. Togme Sangpo’s explanation starts with the correct method for learning the holy Dharma through listening, contemplation, and meditation.
Calendar of modules
First module
September 18-20 (from Friday, 5:30 pm CET)
Listening, reflecting, meditating starting the practice of renunciation
Second Module
30 October-1 November (from Friday, 5.30 pm CET)
Renouncing and relying
Third Module
4-6 December (from Friday, .30 pm CET)
Refuge and Ethics
Fourth Module
27-30 December (from Sunday, 3 pm CET to Wednesday, 4.30 pm CET)
Working for the benefit of others
Fifth Module
5-7 February (from Friday, 5.30 pm CET)
A problem or an opportunity?
Sixth Module
12-14 March (from Friday, 5.30 pm CET)
My enemy is my best friend
Seventh Module
23-25 April (from Friday, 5.30 pm CET)
How to overcome desire?
Eighth Module
28-30 May (from Friday, 4 pm CETSunday, 12:30 pm CET)
The truth behind hallucinations
Ninth Module (from Friday, 5.30 pm CET)
12-20 June
Generosity, Ethics and Patience
Tenth Module
22-25 July (from Thursday. 5.30 pm CET)
Perseverance, Concentration and Wisdom
Eleventh Module –Retreat
15-22 August (from Sunday, 5.30 pm CET)
Retreating into cultivating vigilance
This second module is an invitation to take advantage of this precious human rebirth by renouncing and relying.
What should we renounce and what should we rely on?
Ven. Geshe Tenzin Tenphel kindly accepted to share with us the wealth of his knowledge and experience relying on this precious text. The program was formulated in 11 modules, from September 2020 to August 2021. With his straight-forward and down-to-earth approach, as well as his infectious laughter, Ven. Geshe Tenphel has convinced us over and over again that Dharma is for everyone and can be practiced anytime, anywhere. Join us on this Bodhisattva journey.