A Journey into Compassion, Wisdom & the Bodhisattva Path

The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhicharyavatara) by the great Indian master Shantideva is one of the most treasured texts in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Written more than a thousand years ago, it remains a profound and practical guide for anyone wishing to cultivate compassion, wisdom, and a deeper understanding of the awakened mind.

This ongoing study course offers an opportunity to slowly explore this profound text through teachings, reflection, meditation, and discussion. Rather than simply studying the words, we take time to contemplate their meaning and discover how these teachings can transform our relationship with ourselves, others, and the world around us.

This course is suitable for students who have completed introductory Buddhist studies, as well as those with previous familiarity with Buddhist philosophy who wish to deepen their understanding in a supportive community setting.

Upcoming Terms and Sessions

Om denna kurs

Shantideva’s The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life is considered one of the most important texts on the development of bodhicitta — the awakened mind of compassion and the aspiration to benefit all beings.

Through this text, Shantideva presents the path of the bodhisattva: someone who combines wisdom and compassion in order to overcome self-centred ways of thinking and cultivate a mind dedicated to the wellbeing of others.

Across this course, we will gradually make our way through the chapters of the text, exploring Shantideva’s teachings through study, contemplation, and discussion. The aim is not only to understand the philosophy but to bring these teachings into our own lives and experiences.

The course creates space to:
– Explore the meaning and importance of bodhicitta
– Understand the attitudes and practices that support compassionate living
– Reflect on our habits, emotions, and ways of relating to others
– Develop tools for transforming challenges into opportunities for growth
– Deepen meditation and contemplative practice

Through regular engagement with the text, students are encouraged to move beyond intellectual understanding and discover how these teachings can become a living practice.

Course Structure

The course follows a steady and contemplative approach, allowing time for students to become familiar with the text and reflect on its meaning.

Each term includes:

– Teachings and explanations from Venerable Khadro
– Guided reflections and meditation practices
– Readings from The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life
– Group discussion and opportunities for questions
– Encouragement to apply the teachings in everyday life

The course progresses through selected chapters over multiple terms, allowing students to engage deeply with the material rather than simply covering the text.

Current Study Focus

Term 1 & Term 2: Chapters 1–5

The first two terms introduce the foundations of the bodhisattva path through Chapters 1–5 of The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.

Together, we explore themes including:

Chapter 1: The Benefits of Bodhicitta

Discover why the awakened mind of compassion is considered one of the most precious qualities a person can cultivate.

Chapter 2: Confession and Purification

Explore practices for recognising harmful patterns, taking responsibility for our actions, and creating the conditions for inner transformation.

Chapter 3: Taking Hold of Bodhicitta

Learn how to cultivate the intention to benefit others and strengthen our commitment to the bodhisattva path.

Chapter 4: Carefulness

Examine how mindfulness and awareness help us protect the qualities we wish to develop.

Chapter 5: Guarding Awareness

Explore the importance of maintaining awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and actions as part of compassionate living.

Term 1

📅 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 September & 6, 13 October

Term 2

📅 20, 27 October & 3, 10, 17, 24 November & 1 December

Who is this for?

This course is for you if you are:

– Looking to deepen your understanding after introductory Buddhist studies
– Interested in exploring Mahayana Buddhist philosophy in greater depth
– Wanting to cultivate compassion and wisdom in daily life
– Curious about the Bodhisattva path and the development of bodhicitta
– Interested in studying an authentic Buddhist text within a supportive community

A basic familiarity with Buddhist teachings is recommended, but students from other Buddhist introductory courses are warmly welcome to contact us if they would like to know whether this course is suitable for them.

Venerable Khadro was born in Venezuela of European parents, raised in Argentina and after completing a degree in Business Administration, she emigrated to New Zealand in 2004, where she first encountered Tibetan Buddhism. She took ordination in 2014 with the Great Master Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Since then she has engaged in formal Buddhist studies, including the completion of the Master Programme in Buddhist Philosophy. She has also spent months in solitary retreat including at Lawudo, a remote hermitage in the Himalayas, Nepal.

She has served the FPMT for the past 20 years in various roles, and is currently the Resident Teacher at Yeshin Norbu Center in Stockholm. She has led various courses and retreats in New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Colombia, India, Nepal and Germany.

Her international background allows her to share the teachings with an open, warm, and accessible approach. She is an FPMT registered teacher, a Buddhist Chaplain, and an accredited Foundation for Developing Wisdom and Compassion facilitator (FDWC).