Summary: Episode Description: In this first segment of the second session, John focuses primarily on chapters 2 and 3 from Shantideva's "The Way of the Bodhisattva." Before entering into the text, however, John touches upon the ideas of "deserving happiness" and "self-compassion." The notion of deserving or not deserving happiness seems ingrained in some western cultures. John views this idea as flawed. If you are happy, the causes and conditions for happiness are in place. If you are unhappy, these causes and conditions are not in place. Happiness has nothing to do with deserving. The task of a bodhisattva is to understand the causes of genuine happiness and to work to help others actualize this happiness. John next discusses self-compassion. Although in his view, this term is incoherent, a good substitute is "renunciation." In this sense, you are compassionate toward yourself if you recognize suffering and renounce it, that is, you sincerely aspire to be free from it. John next explores chapter 2 from Shantideva's text. This chapter focuses importantly on the idea of refuge and on the contemplation of death. Refuge is essentially about seeing that you are not entirely in control of your life and that you "need help." So you take refuge in the Buddha, which is in one sense your own capacity for awakening, in the Dharma, the realization of the teachings and their meaning, and in the Sangha, those who have seen the nature of reality. The contemplation of death is another method (like the contemplation of the "precious human life" from Part 1b of this series) for "turning the mind" toward the Dharma. You see that your time is short, that death is inevitable, and you are motivated to make use of your great opportunity. John finally introduces chapter 3, which is largely about bodhicitta, the "mind of awakening" that aspires to become a Buddha in order to maximally benefit all beings. For Series description and Teacher BIO, please visit Part 1a. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: The Way of a Bodhisattva Series: All 6 Parts
