Lesson 24

The Way of the Bodhisattva L24 24

Chapter Title Mapping

Life often feels incredibly solid and real while we are in the middle of it. We struggle for our careers, fight for our families, and constantly seek bigger houses and better comfort. But have you ever paused to look back? In this deeply reflective session, Khenpo Sodargye shares personal memories—from herding yaks barefoot in the snow as a child to his later travels—to illustrate a profound truth: our past experiences are no different from last night’s dream.

Through touching stories of great masters like His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Dudjom Rinpoche, this talk explores the fragility of our time. Why did Patrul Rinpoche cry on New Year's Day while others celebrated? How did a terminally ill woman in New York find peace after meeting a Tibetan master? This is not just a lecture; it is a wake-up call about how we spend our limited days, challenging us to break free from the "Zhu Bajie" lifestyle of merely eating, sleeping, and waiting for the end.

"The Way of the Bodhisattva" is one of the most highly recommended texts of Khenpo Sodargye’s lifetime. He once said that among all the treatises he has translated and taught, this is the one that everyone should study thoroughly at least once. For those with faith, it guides the mind deeply into Buddhist principles and inspires a broad awakening of Bodhicitta. Even for those without faith, studying it can help reduce anger, stress, and suffering. If studied systematically from beginning to end, this text becomes a lifelong source of spiritual benefit. This course, taught by Khenpo Sodargye in 2006, consists of 201 lessons and carefully guides practitioners to cultivate Bodhicitta and enter the Bodhisattva path, using the clearest, most practical, and systematic approach to help students advance to higher dimensions of life and mind.