Actualizing Bodhicitta with Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi March 27, 2010

Bodhicitta is commonly translated from Sanskrit as the "Awakening-Altruistic Mind." This refers to a state of being in which an individual wishes and works for the enlightenment of all sentient beings. How can we start to develop this mind "moistened by compassion" and avoid being discouraged by what seems like a daunting undertaking?

Fortunately, we have many real examples from different religious traditions of great beings such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, St. Francis of Assisi, and the Bal Shem Tov who have achieved this state. In addition, there are wonderful texts like Shantideva's A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, which provide detailed instruction on cultivating Bodhicitta. And, prayers like "The Four Immeasurables" help to habituate our minds to consider the well-being of others.

But to go from words on a page or a simple recitation to actually changing one's view and behavior is challenging and the focus of this one day workshop. Through a series of discussions and exercises we will explore some of the practical benefits of developing this transformative state of mind.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Tenzin Priyadarshi is the Founding Director of The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Buddhist Chaplain there. At the age of ten years, he entered a Buddhist monastery in Rajgir near ancient Nalanda University and was subsequently ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is his spiritual mentor. Priyadarshi also serves as the President of the Prajnopaya Foundation, a worldwide humanitarian organization, and is the Founding Member and Director of The Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda Projects) in New Delhi, India. He serves as Trustee for The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi and an advisor to the Renaissance Project in San Francisco, CA. He is also actively involved in ongoing dialogue between Buddhism, meditation and neuroscience.

Official Website: http://www.ciis.edu/News_and_Events/Event_Calendar/Priyadarshi_Urban_Buddhism_Workshop.html