Thirty-Seven Practices of the Bodhisattvas

Gyalsé Tokmé Zangpo

Thirty Seven Practices of the Bodhisattvas (Tib. རྒྱལ་སྲས་ལག་ལེན་སོ་བདུན་མ་, gyalsé laklen so dün ma, Wyl. rgyal sras lag len so bdun ma) — an important lojong text by Gyalsé Tokmé Zangpo. In thirty seven verses, it gives instructions on how to follow the bodhisattva path. Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche has said that the Eight Verses of Training the Mind represents the short version of lojong, the Thirty Seven Practices is the medium, and the Bodhicharyavatara is the extensive version.

In recent years, the text was taught and commented upon extensively by Ngawang Tendzin Norbu.

Oral Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Dzogchen Beara, November 1994
• Khenpo Petse Rinpoche, Rigpa London, 16-17 March 1996
• Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Rigpa London, 20-22 June 1997
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 10 August 1998
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 11-13 December 1998
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Rigpa London, 15-17 December 1998
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Dzogchen Beara, 18-28 December 1998
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, L'Orangeraie, Paris, 9-10 January 1999
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Myall Lakes, Australia, 16-25 January 1999
• Patrick Gaffney, Bern, Switzerland, 6-7 May 2017
• Patrick Gaffney, Dzogchen Beara, Ireland, 16-20 March 2018
• Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 12-13 October 2019 (up to and including verse 4)
• H.E. Ling Choktrul Rinpoche, Dzogchen Beara, 28-29 September 2024: teaching and lung

Written Commentaries

In English

• Bhakha Tulku Pema Tenzing, The 37 Bodhisattva Precepts, translated by Venerable Bhaka Tulku and Ani Lucia, 1990
• Chökyi Dragpa, Uniting Wisdom and Compassion: Illuminating the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, translated by Heidi Koppl, Wisdom, 2004
• Dalai Lama, Commentary on the Thirty Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1996
• Dilgo Khyentse, The Heart of Compassion: The Thirty-seven Verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva, translated by Padmakara Translation Group, Shambhala, 2007
• Geshe Jampa Tegchok, Transforming Adversity into Joy and Courage: An Explanation of the 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas (Snow Lion, 2005)
• Geshe Sonam Rinchen, The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas, translated by Ruth Sonam, Snow Lion, 1997
• Khenpo Sodargye, The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, available here
• Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Traveling the Path of Compassion, A Commentary on the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, KTD Publications, 2009
• Kyabje Pema Norbu Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche, Path of the Bodhisattva, translated by Sangye Khandro, Vimala Publishing, 2008
• Ringu Tulku, Daring Steps Towards Fearlessness: The Three Vehicles of Buddhism, Snow Lion, 2005 (Includes a commentary on the 37 Practices)

In French

• Dilgo Khyentsé, Au coeur de la compassion : Commentaire des Trente-Sept Stances sur la pratique des bodhisattvas de Thogmé Zangpo (Padmakara, 2008)
• Khenpo Donyeu Rinpotché, Vivre en fils des bouddhas : Commentaire du poème "Les 37 pratiques des fils des vainqueurs" (Claire Lumière, 1999)

External Links

• Thirty Seven Practices of All Bodhisattvas by Gyalsé Thokmé Zangpo (Lotsawa House)
• Translations of the Thirty-seven Bodhisattva Practices by Alexander Berzin
• Explanation of the Thirty-seven Bodhisattva Practices by Alexander Berzin
• Khenpo Sodargye's teachings on the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva