The sixth volume of the Dalai Lama's definitive Library of Wisdom and Compassion series.

Courageous Compassion, the sixth volume of the Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, continues the Dalai Lama's teachings on the path to awakening. The previous volume, In Praise of Great Compassion, focused on opening our hearts with love and compassion for all living beings, and the present volume explains how to embody compassion and wisdom in our daily lives. Here we enter a fascinating exploration of bodhisattvas' activities across multiple Buddhist traditions--Tibetan, Theravada, and Chinese Buddhism.

After explaining the ten perfections according to the Pali and Sanskrit traditions, the Dalai Lama presents the sophisticated schema of the four paths and fruits for sravakas and solitary realizers and the five paths for bodhisattvas. Learning about the practices mastered by these exalted practitioners inspires us with knowledge of our minds' potential. His Holiness also describes buddha bodies, what buddhas perceive, and buddhas' awakening activities.

Courageous Compassion offers an in-depth look at bodhicitta, arhatship, and buddhahood that you can continuously refer to as you progress on the path to full awakening.

Courageous Compassion, Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron, Wisdom Publications, Hardcover, 496 pp, $29.95

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (b. 1935) is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. For sixty years, he was the also the political leader of the Tibetan people, first from the Potala Palace in Lhasa and then helping his compatriots adapt to the modern world from his residence in northern India. An advocate for science, ethics, and harmony among people of different faiths, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and travels widely in support of Buddhism, the cause of Tibet, and human happiness.

Thubten Chodron has been a Buddhist nun since 1977. A graduate of UCLA, she is the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington State. She is a popular speaker and author of numerous books, including Buddhism for Beginners.

CONTENTS: Courageous Compassion
Preface by Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron		xiii
Abbreviations		xix
INTRODUCTION BY HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA		1
PART I. HOW TO LIVE WITH COMPASSION: THE BODHISATTVA PERFECTIONS		5
1.	INTRODUCTION TO THE BODHISATTVA PERFECTIONS	7
	The Two Collections of Merit and Wisdom	8
	The Six Perfections	11
	The Basis, Nature, Necessity, and Function of the Six Perfections	14
	How the Six Perfections Relate to Other Practices	20
2.	LIVING AS A BODHISATTVA: THE PERFECTIONS OF GENEROSITY, ETHICAL CONDUCT, AND FORTITUDE	27
	The Perfection of Generosity	27
	The Perfection of Ethical Conduct	42
	The Perfection of Fortitude	53
	Distinguishing Factors of the First Three Perfections	70
3.	LIVING AS A BODHISATTVA: THE REMAINING SEVEN PERFECTIONS	71
	The Perfection of Joyous Effort	71
	The Perfection of Meditative Stability	79
	The Perfection of Wisdom	82
	The Three Understandings	86
	Space-Like and Illusion-Like Meditation on Emptiness	87
	Serenity and Insight	93
	The Importance of Insight	96
	The Perfection of Skillful Means	98
	The Perfection of Unshakable Resolve	100
	The Perfection of Power	101
	The Perfection of Pristine Wisdom	104
	Ultimate Bodhicitta	106
	Conclusion	108
4.	SHARING THE DHARMA	111
	Four Ways of Gathering Disciples in Tibetan Buddhism	112
	Four Ways of Sustaining Favorable Relationships in the Pali Tradition	114
	Four All-Embracing Bodhisattva Virtues in Chinese Buddhism	116
	Suggestions for Western Dharma Teachers	118
	The Essence of the Dharma and Its Cultural Forms	127
	Propagating the Dharma	130
	What to Teach in the West	133
	Teaching according to the Audience	136
	Translations and Rituals	141
	Many Ways to Benefit Sentient Beings	142
	Areas of Caution	149
	Respect for the Dharma	152
	Buddhdharma in Asia	153
	Dharma Centers	155
5.	THE TEN PERFECTIONS IN THE PALI TRADITION	159
	The Paramis	159
	Generosity	165
	Ethical Conduct	168
	Renunciation	171
	Wisdom	173
	Joyous Effort	175
	Fortitude	177
	Truthfulness	183
	Determination	184
	Love	185
	Equanimity	186
	The Sequence of the Perfections	187
	How to Accomplish the Perfections	189
	Benefits and Results of Practicing the Perfections	192
PART II. THE THREE VEHICLES AND THEIR FRUITS		195
6.	BREAKTHROUGH TO NIRVANA: THE PALI TRADITION	197
	The Three Vehicles	197
	Dhyanas and the Destruction of Pollutants	199
	Direct Knowledge, Full Understanding, and Realization	202
	The Four Pairs of Aryas	204
	Those Who Have Work to Do with Diligence and Those Who Do Not	214
	Purification and Knowledge	220
	Occasions for Attaining Liberation	228
	Four Kinds of Persons Who Attain Arhatship	229
	Liberation of Mind, Liberation by Wisdom	230
	Nirvana and the Arhat	231
	Tathagatas and Arhats	236
7.	FUNDAMENTAL VEHICLE PATHS AND FRUITS: THE SANSKRIT TRADITION	239
	Realization of the Four Truths	239
	Three Vehicles: The Paths of Method and Wisdom	242
	Path, Ground, and Clear Realization	245
	Approachers and Abiders	246
	Eight Grounds of the Fundamental Vehicle	250
	Five Paths of the Fundamental Vehicle	252
	Solitary Realizers	259
	The Variety of Dispositions and Faculties	261
8.	THE PATHS OF THE BODHISATTVA	267
	Five Mahayana Paths	267
	Bodhisattva Path of Accumulation	268
	Bodhisattva Path of Preparation	270
	Bodhisattva Path of Seeing	272
	Bodhisattva Path of Meditation	276
	Three Special Times	284
9.	BODHISATTVA GROUNDS	287
	Special Qualities of Each Ground	287
	First Ground, the Joyous	293
	Second Ground, the Stainless	297
	Third Ground, the Luminous	299
	Fourth Ground, the Radiant	302
	Fifth Ground, the Indomitable	305
	Sixth Ground, the Approaching	309
	Seventh Ground, the Far Advanced	313
10.	THREE PURE BODHISATTVA GROUNDS	317
	Eighth Ground, the Immovable	317
	Ninth Ground, Excellent Intelligence	321
	Tenth Ground, the Cloud of Dharma	324
	Summary of the Ten Grounds	327
	Do Bodhisattvas Take Birth in Cyclic Existence?	329
	How Bodhisattvas Practice	333
	Essential Points	335
	Tantric Paths and Grounds	339
	Gradual Path versus Sudden Awakening	341
11.	BUDDHAHOOD: THE PATH OF NO-MORE-LEARNING	345
	The Buddha Bodies	346
	Wisdom Dharmakaya	350
	Nature Dharmakaya	354
	Form Bodies	358
	Buddha, Arya Buddha, and Sentient Being	367
	What Buddhas Perceive	368
12.	BUDDHAHOOD: THE BUDDHAS' AWAKENING ACTIVITIES	375
	Nine Similes for Awakening Activity	376
	Twenty-Seven Awakening Activities	387
	Ananda Settles His Doubts	390
	Individuals Acting in Unison	392
	Questions about the Buddha	394
	The Buddhas' Three Mysteries	396
	Seeing the Buddha	397
Notes		401
Glossary		413
Recommended Reading		431
Index		435
About the Authors		463