Bodhichitta [boh-dee-CHEE-tuh], often translated as "great compassion," is the gem at the heart of Buddhism. From this altruistic desire to serve others, all other Buddhist practices naturally flow, therefore, this state of mind is one Buddhists should understand and cultivate. In The Awakening Mind, Geshe Tashi Tsering leads us through the two main methods to develop bodhichitta that have been developed by the great Indian and Tibetan Buddhists over the centuries: the seven points of cause and effect, and equalizing and exchanging the self with others.

This is the third release from Geshe Tashi's Foundation of Buddhist Thought series, which-individually and collectively-represent an excellent introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. These unique and friendly books are based on the curriculum of a popular course of the same name, developed by Geshe Tashi himself.

Geshe Tashi's presentations combine rigor and comprehensiveness with lucidity and accessibility, never divorced from the basic humanity and warmth of his personality. In Geshe Tashi, we encounter the new generation of Tibetan monk-scholars teaching in the West who are following in the footsteps of such revered and groundbreaking teachers as Geshe Wangyal and Geshe Sopa.

Awakening the Mind, Geshe Tashi Tsering, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 166 pages, $20.95

Geshe Tashi Tsering was born in Tibet in 1958 and received his Geshe Lharampa degree (similar to a doctorate in divinity) from Sera Monastery in India in 1987. Since 1994, he has been the guiding teacher of the Jamyang Buddhist Centre in London, while also teaching at other Buddhist centers worldwide.

After following the traditional study programme centred around the five key topics of the Nalanda Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism: Philosophy, Metaphysics, Epistemology & Logic, Psychology and Monastic Discipline, Geshe Tashi graduated with the highest honours becoming a Geshe Lharampa in 1990. He went on to study at Gyuto Tantric monastery from 1990. Geshe Tashi has been teaching in the West since 1991, first at Nalanda monastery in France, then from 1994 to 2018 at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London. He has also been the main teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds and Jamyang Bath. He has traveled to many other European countries, USA and Asia, to lead Buddhist courses, conferences, and interfaith dialogues.

Foreword by Lama Zopa Rinpoche		xi
	Preface		xiii
	Editor's Preface		xvii
	1.	Awakening from the Sleep of Selfishness	1
	The Essence of the Buddha's Teachings		1
	The Benefits of Bodhichitta		4
	The Immediate Benefits		6
	The Long-Term Benefits		8
	2.	Steps on the Path	13
	Renunciation and Stability		14
	Equanimity		16
	The Equanimity of Feeling		17
	The Equanimity of Application		17
	Immeasurable Equanimity		17
	The Changeable Nature of Relationships		20
	Lessening Our Aversion		22
	The Meditation on Equanimity		24
	3.	The Intuitive Route to Selflessness	29
	The Main Mind of Bodhichitta		29
	The Two Mental Factors That Make Up Bodhichitta		30
	The Seven Points of Cause and Effect		33
	Establishing the Basis for Developing the Aspiration to Benefit All Beings		34
	All Beings Have Been Our Mothers		34
	Recalling the Kindness of Others		37
	Resolving to Repay the Kindness		40
	The Actual Method of Cultivating the Aspiration to Benefit All Beings		42
	The Cultivation of Affectionate Love		42
	The Cultivation of Compassion		45
	Special Intention		47
	Cultivating the Aspiration to Attain Full Enlightenment		48
	The Result		49
	4.	Turning Self-Cherishing Around	51
	The Rational Route to Compassion		51
	Equalizing Oneself with Others		53
	Understanding Suffering		55
	The Equality of All Beings		57
	Exchanging Oneself with Others		61
	Turning Self-Cherishing Around		61
	Choosing to Be Selfless		64
	The Power of Familiarity		68
	The Block of Seeing Self and Others as Different		70
	Taking and Giving		74
	The Actual Meditation		76
	The Combination of the Two Methods		78
	How the Two Methods Combine		80
	The Four Causes, the Four Conditions, and the Four Forces		81
	The Four Causes		81
	The Four Conditions		83
	The Four Forces		84
	5.	Enhancing the Awakening Mind	89
	Aspiring and Engaging Bodhichitta		89
	Holding Aspiring Bodhichitta with a Ritual		91
	The Bodhisattva Vows		92
	Differences Between the Three Vows		93
	Breaking and Restoring a Vow		94
	The Twenty-two Types of Bodhichitta		97
	Maintaining and Enhancing Bodhichitta in This and Future Lifetimes		103
	Maintaining and Enhancing Bodhichitta in This Lifetime		103
	Maintaining and Enhancing Bodhichitta in Future Lifetimes		104
	Maintaining Bodhichitta through Mind Training		105
	6.	The Bodhisattva's Activities	109
	The Six Perfections		110
	The Perfection of Generosity		113
	The Three Kinds of Generosity		114
	The Six Extraordinary Factors		117
	The Main Obstacles to Practicing Generosity		118
	The Perfection of Morality		120
	The Three Kinds of Morality		121
	The Perfection of Patience		124
	The Three Kinds of Patience		126
	The Perfection of Joyous Perseverance		129
	The Three Kinds of Joyous Perseverance		131
	The Perfections of Concentration and Wisdom		133
	The Four Means of Drawing Sentient Beings to the Dharma		135
	Conclusion		138
Appendix	Eight Verses on Mind Training		141
	Glossary		143
	Bibliography		151
	Notes		153
	Index		159
	About the Authors		167
	The Foundation of Buddhist Thought		169