Lama Zopa Rinpoche - The Six Perfections: The Practice of the Bodhisattvas

T HE SIX PERFECTIONS the activities of the bodhisattva lay out a route map to enlightenment. Once we have attained the precious mind of bodhichitta and become a bodhisattva, we hone that mind, taking it ever closer to enlightenment by training in the six perfections. These are very advanced practices, each perfection fueled by the wonderful mind of bodhichitta and grounded in the wisdom of realizing emptiness.

But what makes them so precious for us is the absolute relevance they have in our daily lives. Each of the six is a skill we can and need to develop right this moment. I often joke that I have attained the perfection of miserliness and impatience, but, really, within these teachings are the tools to overcome the negative minds we all now have and to develop their positive counterparts.

Who of us is completely generous or never does an action that harms others? And in this world of smartphones and social media, it seems the whole world is suffering from ADHD, unable to focus for more than a second, twitching from one screen to the next in search of some elusive goal. We all need patience, perseverance, and concentration.

Whenever Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches on the six perfections, either as a whole or by focusing on one or more, he isnt teaching to the bodhisattvas but to us, and his teaching is wonderful advice that shows us how to redirect our lives, making us more generous, moral, patient, and joyful in doing positive actions. Anybody who has sat in front of Rinpoche knows he embodies bodhichitta and wisdom, and his explanation of these subjects is extraordinary. In compiling this book, I hope I have been able to bring even a fraction of the wisdom he has showered us with for over forty years.

In general, quotes in this book have been taken from published texts such as Shantidevas A Guide to the Bodhisattvas Way of Life and have been cited accordingly, but some are Rinpoches own translations, which Ive taken from the transcripts. As Rinpoche very often investigates the words within a verse thoroughly, what I have often ended up with is more a paraphrase of the original quote.

To compile this book, I have used teachings stored in the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive that have been lovingly recorded, transcribed, and checked by a vast number of people, all working to preserve the precious words of a great teacher. I would like to thank everybody who contributed to this book: those at LYWA, the audio team that recorded the teachings, and the team at Wisdom Publications, who are an inspiration to work with.

I apologize for any errors found in this book; they are 100 percent mine. May this book be the tool to allow people to develop their positive qualities to the maximum degree in order to help others. May whatever merit gained from the creation of this book be dedicated to peace in this troubled world; to the long life, well-being, and fulfillment of the wishes of all our holy teachers, especially His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche; and to the flourishing of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition and of the Dharma throughout the world.

Gordon McDougall
Bath, England