The Heart of Compassion: The Thirty-seven Verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva
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- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Dilgo Khyentse
- ISBN：1590304578
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Summary
What would be the practical implications of caring more about others than about yourself？ This is the radical theme of this extraordinary set of instructions， a training manual composed in the fourteenth century by the Buddhist hermit Ngulchu Thogme， here explained in detail by one of the great Tibetan Buddhist masters of the twentieth century， Dilgo Khyentse。
In the Mahayana tradition， those who have the courage to undertake the profound change of attitude required to develop true compassion are called bodhisattvas。 Their great resolve—to consider others’ needs as paramount， and thus to attain enlightenment for the sake of all living creatures—carries them beyond the limits imposed by the illusions of “I” and “mine，” culminating in the direct realization of reality， transcending dualistic notions of self and other。
This classic text presents ways that we can work with our own hearts and minds， starting wherever we find ourselves now， to unravel our small-minded preoccupations and discover our own potential for compassion， love， and wisdom。 Many generations of Buddhist practitioners have been inspired by these teachings， and the great masters of all traditions have written numerous commentaries。 Dilgo Khyentse’s commentary is probably his most extensive recorded teaching on Mahayana practice。
In the Mahayana tradition， those who have the courage to undertake the profound change of attitude required to develop true compassion are called bodhisattvas。 Their great resolve—to consider others’ needs as paramount， and thus to attain enlightenment for the sake of all living creatures—carries them beyond the limits imposed by the illusions of “I” and “mine，” culminating in the direct realization of reality， transcending dualistic notions of self and other。
This classic text presents ways that we can work with our own hearts and minds， starting wherever we find ourselves now， to unravel our small-minded preoccupations and discover our own potential for compassion， love， and wisdom。 Many generations of Buddhist practitioners have been inspired by these teachings， and the great masters of all traditions have written numerous commentaries。 Dilgo Khyentse’s commentary is probably his most extensive recorded teaching on Mahayana practice。
Reviews
Jason
，
I am not Buddhist， however I enjoyed some wisdom from this book。 About 20% of the book spoke to me， the other 80% had a hard time keeping my attention。 Quotes from the book:“Aspirations bring their own results。 A strong enough wish to accomplish some goal will probably be realized。 If you direct all your efforts into becoming rich and famous you may manage to achieve that goal。 While if instead you strive hard through study and meditation to understand and accomplish the sublime word of the spir I am not Buddhist， however I enjoyed some wisdom from this book。 About 20% of the book spoke to me， the other 80% had a hard time keeping my attention。 Quotes from the book:“Aspirations bring their own results。 A strong enough wish to accomplish some goal will probably be realized。 If you direct all your efforts into becoming rich and famous you may manage to achieve that goal。 While if instead you strive hard through study and meditation to understand and accomplish the sublime word of the spiritual path you will eventually succeed。 Like a boatman steering his boat， use your own mind to take your life in the direction you choose。”“Be content with whatever you have and satisfied with whatever happens day by day。 Everything else will then fall naturally into place。”“To feel satisfied with whatever you have， that is the ultimate wealth， not to crave or be attached to anything at all。 That is the ultimate happiness。”Hatred， attachment， stupidity - unsuitable friends encourage these behaviors。 “When you are with certain people you may see that your defects and emotions increase。 And this shows that these people might not be true friends。”“There is a saying that when you are with a turbulent person you will be carried away by distractions。 When you are with a greedy person， you will lose everything you have。 When you are with a comfort craving person， you will be preoccupied with petty things。 When you are with an overactive person， your concentration will be scattered。”“We would like to stay forever with those we love but we will surely part from them。 We would like to stay in a pleasant place forever， but we will surely have to go。 We would like to enjoy comforts and pleasure forever， but we will surely lose them。” 。。。more
Brian
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An invaluable guide to understanding how to live a more compassionate life， Dilgo Khyentse’s wisdom and heart shine through in his profoundly moving commentaries on a classic text。 A beautiful book。
LemontreeLime
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Marvelous。
Rachel
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Probably the best commentary on the 37 practices of a bodhisattva in 20th century。 I knew Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche as The Dalai Lama’s principle teacher。 I picked up this book from Audible and never looked back。 It’s the probably the book that you should read and review every day then integrate it into your life as much as possible。 I got teary at some of the parts and got deeply moved by how these teachers demonstrated compassion through their way of living。 I Highly recommend his other books as Probably the best commentary on the 37 practices of a bodhisattva in 20th century。 I knew Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche as The Dalai Lama’s principle teacher。 I picked up this book from Audible and never looked back。 It’s the probably the book that you should read and review every day then integrate it into your life as much as possible。 I got teary at some of the parts and got deeply moved by how these teachers demonstrated compassion through their way of living。 I Highly recommend his other books as well。 Books like these help establish a strong foundation for tantric practice。 。。。more
Kunal Medhe
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One line that strikes me from this book which I intend to practice in my daily life is : Discipline is the basis for concentration。 Concentration is the basis for Wisdom。For me， the aforesaid principle is a prerequisite for practicing the verses written in this book。
Magnus van de Kamp
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The most profound Buddhist teachings I have read so far。 Bodhichitta - the desire to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings。 What a noble path。 Having read many books on spirituality， meditation and spirituality I finally found the work which resonates with me on the deepest level。 We are on this earth not to seek happiness just for ourselves - true， deep and lasting fulfillment comes from the wish and desire for others to be happy and， on the highest level， to bring all bei The most profound Buddhist teachings I have read so far。 Bodhichitta - the desire to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings。 What a noble path。 Having read many books on spirituality， meditation and spirituality I finally found the work which resonates with me on the deepest level。 We are on this earth not to seek happiness just for ourselves - true， deep and lasting fulfillment comes from the wish and desire for others to be happy and， on the highest level， to bring all beings to liberation。 The 37 verses of the Bodhisattva will give you all information， all instructions you need to follow the path of the highest wisdom。 The verses itself will help you to find the right way - but the commentary of each verse will help you to gain deep understanding about what it really means。This book is for everyone who wishes to be a better and a happier human being。 For me， this is the way to enlightenment。 I know that there are many different paths， which will bring you to the final gate， but the bodhissatva path seems to be my personal truth。 。。。more
Jubin
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A great spiritual book。
Tenzin Chemi
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A book you need to carry with you until your last breath unless you have gained a state where you're practicing everything。 I was always curious about Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and his teachings。 And it's clearly mentioned that we are bound by external activities no matter how sophisticated they are， we are bound by certain rules of life from which we can't escape。 To me， it didn't matter whether I believe in Buddhism or not， it touched many parts of the human mind which are pretty basic to live a A book you need to carry with you until your last breath unless you have gained a state where you're practicing everything。 I was always curious about Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and his teachings。 And it's clearly mentioned that we are bound by external activities no matter how sophisticated they are， we are bound by certain rules of life from which we can't escape。 To me， it didn't matter whether I believe in Buddhism or not， it touched many parts of the human mind which are pretty basic to live a good life。 。。。more
D
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What a lot of thoughts of attachment and anger I have！ Does that happen to you？"All the joys and sufferings of this world are just projections of our minds and the result of our past karma，" Thogme said。 "As I have a little understanding that in relative truth everything is like an illusion， and that in absolute truth， everything is utterly beyond conceptual fabrications， I don't experience attachment and hatred at all。"Gyalse Thogme retired to the hermitage of Ngulchu at the age of 42。 He remai What a lot of thoughts of attachment and anger I have！ Does that happen to you？"All the joys and sufferings of this world are just projections of our minds and the result of our past karma，" Thogme said。 "As I have a little understanding that in relative truth everything is like an illusion， and that in absolute truth， everything is utterly beyond conceptual fabrications， I don't experience attachment and hatred at all。"Gyalse Thogme retired to the hermitage of Ngulchu at the age of 42。 He remained there until he was 65， dedicating himself entirely to spiritual practice， and to showing in body， speech， and mind every aspect of perfection。 When the ruthless soldiers appeared brandishing their bloodstained swords and spears， they wanted to receive his blessing， but dared not approach。"We are evil people，" they said。 "We may defile you。""I can put up with that，" Gyalse Thogme replied， and he gave them his blessing。"My wish is to liberate all beings， so if I did have any power， how could I dare abandon those who rely on me？ Yet， just as a doctor's prescription alone will not cure her patient， if you don't pray fervently to the Victorious Ones and apply their teachings， it's going to be difficult for them to protect you， let alone for me to do so。 Therefore， practice correctly all the instructions you have received and you'll be able to help others， just as I have done。 So you don't need to feel pain at the thought that we are going to be separated。 Even if we part， rely upon the Three Jewels and pray to them -- is there any refuge more supreme？""To keep the three vows，Give up all attachment and belief in things as truly existing，And benefit others with your actions， words， and thoughts，Is truly excellent practice。"I must carry myself and others across the ocean of samsara。To that end， to listen， to reflect， and meditateDay and night， without distraction， is the practice of a bodhisattva。3To rely on solitude is the practice of a bodhisattva。5In bad company， the three poisons grow strong，Listening， reflections， and meditation decline，And loving-kindness and compassion vanish --To avoid unsuitable friends is the practice of a bodhisattva。9Like dew on grass， the delights of the three worldsBy their very nature evaporate in an instant。If people's minds are permeated with the wish to help others， the general welfare of the world steadily increases。Those who practice the Dharma of the Mahayana in accordance with the Buddha's intention are known as bodhisattvas。The buddhas being those who have totally conquered the enemies of ignorance and other emotions， they are often referred to by the epithet "Victorious Ones，" while bodhisattvas， in many texts， are called "children of the Victorious Ones。"The eight intrusive circumstances that cause you to drift away from Dharma are （1） to be greatly disturbed by the five poisonous emotions; （2） to be extremely stupid and thus easily led astray by unsuitable friends; （3） to fall prey to the devil of a mistaken path; （4） to be distracted by laziness even though you have some interest in Dharma; （5） to lead a wrong way of life， and be afflicted by negative karma; （6） to be enslaved or controlled by others; （7） to practice for mundane reasons， such as just to be protected from danger or out of fear that you might lack food or other basic necessities; and （8） to practice a hypocritical semblance of Dharma in the hope of wealth or fame。The eight incompatible propensities that limit your nature potential to attain freedom are （1） to be fettered by your family， wealth， and occupation so that you do not have the leisure to practice the Dharma; （2） to have a very corrupt nature that drives you to depraved behavior， so that even when you meet a spiritual teacher it is very hard to turn your mind to Dharma; （3） to have no fear of samsara's sufferings， and therefore no feeling of disillusionment with samsara， or determination to be free from it; （4） to lack the jewel of faith and therefore have no inclination whatsoever to meet a teacher and undertake the teachings; （5） to delight in negative actions and have no compunction about committing them; （6） to have no more interest in Dharma than a dog in eating grass， being therefore unable to develop any positive qualities; （7） to have spoiled your pratimoksha vows and Mahayana precepts， and thus to have nowhere else to go but the lower realms of existence， where there is no leisure to practice the Dharma; and （8） having entered the extraordinary path of the Vajrayana， to break samaya with your teacher and vajra sisters and brothers， and thus be parted from your natural potential。Having this precious human life is like having a well-rigged ship on which to sail across the ocean to an island of treasures。 As Shantideva says in The Ways of the Bodhisattva:Cross the sea of emotionsOn the boat of human existence。The time of death is uncertain;The cause of death is unpredictable。Practice to free yourself and all others from the suffering that is samsara。Among human beings， there are 4 root sufferings: birth， old age， sickness， and death。The meaning of leaving behind your native land is to leave behind the emotions of attachment， hatred， and the obscuring ignorance that permeates both。Go to a completely unknown place where there is nothing that will engender negative emotions。 Affectionate relatives and friends Are like jailers detaining you in samsara。Entanglement in desire or aversion toward sensual experiencesIs like honey into which an insect falls。Seized by fear， throw them all away！Have good thoughts and intentions toward all beings。Like the moon， which is always on the move， do not remain in one place too long。Living in solitary places， the source of all good qualities -- your self-control and moderation increase。Anything you do that is in accord with the Dharma， however small or trivial， will be beneficial。Give up concerns of this life by reflecting on impermanence --Consciousness， a guest， will leave the hotel of the bodyIn reality， phenomena are impermanent， and devoid of any true substantial existence。Fear death now，And thus become fearless at the time of death;Do nothing。Crave nothing。Start the day by arousing the wish for enlightenment。In the evening， examine everything you have done during the day， confess whatever was negative， and dedicate whatever was positive to the benefit of all beings。 Make a promise to do better the next day。To cherish the teacher more than yourself， and more than anyone else， is the practice of a bodhisattva。People naturally search for refuge， for someone or something to protect them from sorrow and torment。 Some people turn to the powerful with the hope of achieving wealth， pleasure， and influence。True refuge can only be provided by something that is itself totally free -- true refuge is to be found only in the Three Jewels -- the Buddha （spiritual friends， animals， wheels， bridges， boats， fresh breezes， medicinal plants）， Dharma （teachings of the Buddha: discipline， instruction， metaphysics）， and Sangha （the community of Buddha's followers -- those who teach and practice） -- with their absolute wisdom， unbiased compassion， and unimpeded ability。A king whose predominant concern was the welfare of his subjects would be considered noble， whereas a king who looked after his own welfare and comfort at the expense of his subjects would be shameless。Throughout your past lives you have been connected with all beings， and at some time or other all of them must have been your loving parents。Faith is the prerequisite for refuge， and its very essence。 Taking refuge comes from the depth of your heart。 After taking refuge， （1） do not take refuge in worldly gods and powerful people of this world。 （2） give up all forms of violence， in thought， word， or deed; （3） do not willingly share the lifestyle of those who live in a totally wrong way， nor distrust karmic law of cause and effect。Having taken refuge in the Buddha （1） respect any representation of the Buddha。 Having taken refuge in the Dharma （2） respect all the scriptures， down to a single letter of the alphabet。 Never step over books。 Having taken refuge in the Sangha （3） respect members of the monastic community and all Dharma practitioners。Abandon evildoingPractice virtue wellMaster your own mindLooking at the mindThere is nothing to see。Seeing nothing， we see the Dharma，The source of all buddhas。Kharak Gomchung said:In the mind of a beginnerThere is clarity， but no stability;To stop it being consigned to the wind of thoughts，Fasten it with the rope of mindfulness。Calming the mind is like closing the glass of a lantern around the flame so that it can shine brightly and steadily， protected from the wind。Avoid attachment to the homes of friends and benefactors is the practice of a bodhisattva。As Shantideva says:For I am one who strives for freedom;I must not be bound by wealth and honors。Gyalse Thogme said:To feel satisfied with whatever you have， that is the ultimate wealth;Not to crave or be attached to anything at all， that is the ultimate happiness。Most wars that devastate the world are started by harsh words。 As Nagarjuna says in his Letter to a Friend， the words people speak are of three kinds: like honey， flowers， and excrement。 World that help and please are like honey。 Words that are honest and true are like flowers。 Violent， harmful words are like excrement。The way a bodhisattva uses speed is to bring people onto the path of liberation。 Start by saying things and telling stories that open people's minds by making them happy。 Gradually and skillfully introduce them to the meaning of Dharma。 Stay alert， and watch what your mind is doing。 Think about it。The buddha nature， tathagatargarbha， is present in all of us， but we fail to recognize it。 If your mistaken belief in a self disappeared， you would realize the essential sameness of self and other。The essence of the practice of a bodhisattva is to transcend self-clinging and dedicate yourself completely to serving others。 True generosity is to have no clinging; true discipline is to have no desire; true patience is to be without hatred。 A bodhisattva possesses impartial love for all beings。Bless me that I may know how to use all difficulties and obstacles as friends along this path！May I be able to benefit beingsThrough my body， speech， and mind。Even through my shadow。And may not even the least harmEver come about because of me。May all beings enjoy happiness and well-beingAnd perform the deeds of the bodhisattvas。 。。。more
Kaitlyn
，
Excellent commentary and practice guide。 May we be of benefit。
Legdup Tsering
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inspiring！！！ don't know if i'll ever be able to practice being a bodhisattva。。 inspiring！！！ don't know if i'll ever be able to practice being a bodhisattva。。 。。。more
Mary Boudreau
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loved it
Nate
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Excellent！ If all children would read this by sixteen and really practiced these 37 practices， then in two generations war as we know it would end and maybe famine。。。
Nancy
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I will be "currently reading" these thirty seven verses for a long time。 This isn't a book to be read cover-to-cover and then put on a shelf。 It's really a handbook （and sometimes a textbook） on living a compassionate life。 And writing a "review" of it is like a writing a review of the Bible。 As Buddhist texts go， it is really very comfortable to read， but that by no means makes it easy。 It's a lot of work， and pretty much turns my life upside-down each time I sit down with it。 And that is preci I will be "currently reading" these thirty seven verses for a long time。 This isn't a book to be read cover-to-cover and then put on a shelf。 It's really a handbook （and sometimes a textbook） on living a compassionate life。 And writing a "review" of it is like a writing a review of the Bible。 As Buddhist texts go， it is really very comfortable to read， but that by no means makes it easy。 It's a lot of work， and pretty much turns my life upside-down each time I sit down with it。 And that is precisely why I will continue to read it。 I love how it shapes my heart。 The Heart of Compassion is the only kind of heart that makes sense - no matter what kind of faith is behind it。 。。。more
Dave Padilla
，
This special book is meant to be read slowly and contemplatively。 There is so much ancient wisdom that can be applied to our lives in this 21st century。 It's a real treasure。 This special book is meant to be read slowly and contemplatively。 There is so much ancient wisdom that can be applied to our lives in this 21st century。 It's a real treasure。 。。。more
Bonnie
，
Excellent！
Miriam Holsinger
，
Confession。。。 I did not make it to the end。 Sigh。。。 But after over a year of it sitting on my "currently reading" list and picking up realizing I lost my place and really don't know where it was I don't think I am going to finish it。 This one was a bit above my head。 I hope someday to have the merit and wisdom to appreciate it as the jewel I hear it is - at that time I will start over from the beginning。 Confession。。。 I did not make it to the end。 Sigh。。。 But after over a year of it sitting on my "currently reading" list and picking up realizing I lost my place and really don't know where it was I don't think I am going to finish it。 This one was a bit above my head。 I hope someday to have the merit and wisdom to appreciate it as the jewel I hear it is - at that time I will start over from the beginning。 。。。more
Mark Gelula
，
Reading this book was a complete blessing。 I felt that the root text was extremely well taught and that it was directed at me。
Larry
，