The preliminary teachings for the Way of the Bodhisattva talk about how a teacher teaches and a student listens.

There are three kinds of teachers: the Buddhas, the Arhats and the Bodhisattva scholars.

The Buddha, he or she, performs miracles and radiates light to attract people.  The Buddha has clairvoyance of the student's mind and teaches according to the capacity of the student to grasp the meaning.  The speech quality of the Buddha can teach in all languages and to all levels of students simultaneously.

Arhat teachers also have clairvoyance and can teach each of their students in an appropriate manner. Their minds never associated with a personal agenda of negative emotions.  Their speech can repeat all of the Buddha's teachings without error or exaggeration.  The "hearer" arhats can capture the Buddhas teachings perfectly.

There were 2 famous places of teaching for Bodhisattva scholars:  Vikramshila Monastery and Nalanda University.  These schools developed differing styles of teaching.  The Nalanda style was carried to Tibet and even now has been taken to the West.

All the words of the Budddha were taught through the 5 perfections.  Shastra teachings of the followers of Shakyamuni Buddha are embraced by these 5 topics:

#1) Who is the author, what is their biography and are they really practicing what they teach ?

#2) What is the source of their teaching, the Vinaya, Sutra or Abhidharma ?

#3) Upon which section is the teaching based, i.e. Mahayana or Sutrayana-in other words, which Yana does it tend towards ?

#4) What is the subject of the teaching ?

#5) For whom is this book written ?

This is the Nalanda University style of validating a book. Can you answer these questions about 'The Way of the Bodhisattva ?

Please make the effort to read the amazing biography of Shantideva, who based his writing on the Sutras and particularly in the Mahayana and on the subject of generating Bodhicitta and in training in the 6 Paramitas. While this book was primarily written for the 500 university scholars, it is truly for the benefit of all beings.

Greetings from your resident Buddhist teacher of Mipham Shedra.

I will give weekly teachings on the Way of the Bodhisattva.  I will also suggest verses for you to study as well as other readings you may find of interest.

Here in this short life and very busy world,   I am trying to serve as best I can everyone with interest in Dharma and Dharma teachings.  Now, I will start online classes added to our temple studies, pujas and meditations.  Please regularly check our website and Facebook for more information and these and other topics.  We will be posting teachings on Words of My Perfect Teacher on Facebook.

For those who have little time, I will give short teachings on the Way of the Bodhisattva.  We will be following the sequence of Shantideva's compassionate writing.

May this be for the benefit of all beings.

I hope you will view and contemplate these weekly teachings.  If you can commit to these weekly studies, you will receive benefit and reduce your sufferings.

Naturally, you are committed to feeding your body.  You are relaxed and happy you take the time to eat and to savor your food.  But what are you feeding your mind and heart ?  Buddhism is important food for your mind and heart.  If you feed your mind and heart with the joy of these teachings, your commitment to these studies will be easy and without pressure.

The Way of the Bodhisattva is a wonderful way to start your nourishment. Experienced practitioners or those new to Buddhism will be satisfied.

See you next week.

Greetings Mipham Shedra Students and Supporters,

We are joyous to have Lhoppon-la back from India.  He has returned reinvigorated and very eager to continue transmission of the precious Dharma to his students.  We are in the process of developing a curriculum for the rest of this year and will post it as soon as it is ready.  In the meantime, Lhoppon has begun writing weekly teachings which will be posted to the site and regularly updated.  For now, these can be found under the News section of the site.  Soon, however, they will be located in the 'Teachings' section.

Please, once again, may we remind those of you making generous pledges to Mipham Shedra to fulfill them by sending your  to Mipham Shedra either as one annual payment or monthly as per your ability or per your initial pledge.  Continuing receipt of those funds will greatly assist in all manner of our Center's activities.