His Holiness the Dalai Lama: New York City, May 20/13/14 2010, Radio City Music Hall
Root Texts
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will teach Nagarjuna's Commentary on Bodhicitta and A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, by Shantideva. A printed English translation of both texts will be provided to all in attendance. His Holiness's teachings will be translated into English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
In Commentary on Bodhicitta, the 2nd century Indian philosopher Nagarjuna presents how to develop an ultimate awakening mind. An awakening mind - Bodhicitta - is a determination to attain the enlightened state of Buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings. Nagarjuna’s text emphasizes how a practitioner should initially establish that the extraordinary goal of Buddhahood is indeed attainable before engaging in the practices of a Bodhisattva. Teaching that we are empty of inherent existence, Nagarjuna explains that our minds can therefore evolve into the omniscience of a Buddha. An understanding of our emptiness of inherent existence and that of others’ as well as all phenomena, will inspire us to attain the extraordinary state of omniscience by which we can serve all other sentient beings.
A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, is a clear set of instructions on how we must proceed in our cultivation of the awakened mind. The 8th century Indian saint Shantideva provides practical advice on how we initially cultivate the aspiration to attain the state of a Buddha in order to help others. He then teaches the steps we must follow in order for that ultimate goal to be realized.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will concentrate mainly on Nagarjuna’s profound text, while supplementing it with instructions from Shantideva’s inspiring work.
A copy of the texts will be provided to all ticket holders. For advance reading, please click here to download Commentary on Bodhicitta, which is also available in Mandarin and Tibetan.