The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

Thirty-seven Practices of a Bodhisattva is an ancient text written in the 14th Century BCE by Tokme Zangpo, a Buddhist monk and scholar who was born in Puljung, south west of the Sakya Monastery in Tibet. Thirty-seven Practices is a beautifully condensed work that makes clear the day-to-day behavior of a Bodhisattva (an enlightened being on their way to attaining full Buddhahood) and gives advice on how to emulate this in your own life. It can serve you as a practical guide as you travel the path towards enlightenment. Though short in length, a person could spend a rewarding lifetime perfecting the practices. The work can be seen as a companion to Santideva's classic work the Bodhicaryavatara. In earlier editions the practices only had a number to identify it. This gave no indication as to the essence of the practice. In this edition, I have provided a descriptive title for each practice. These are my labels, not Tokme Zangpo's.While there are several English translations of this text, they are, to my way of thinking at least, a little difficult to understand for people living in the 21st Century who might be unfamiliar with the metaphors and idioms of 14th Century Tibet. The mode of expression and the figures of speech are the product of that far-off time. My version faithfully re-expresses the text in modern day language, preserving the underlying message of the original. Be assured that every effort has been made to keep the underlying spirit of the original. I respect the beauty of the original text, however my greatest wish is to bring the even greater beauty of the underlying message to a new audience in the modern world - people who might otherwise find the original text less than easy to understand. Bringing this ancient text to a 21st Century audience in simple, everyday language to maximise the potential audience is part of my effort to free all sentient beings from the cycle of suffering.37 Practices accompanies a similar retelling of Santideva's Boddhicaryavatara, and Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching.David Tuffley, Redland Bay, Australia.