An accessible, inspiring book on one of the most important topics in Tibetan Buddhism--bodhichitta, or compassion--written by one of its renowned masters who has an international following of thousands.

Bodhichitta is a Sanskrit word meaning "the mind of enlightenment" or "the awakening mind--the mind that wishes to achieve enlightenment in order to lead all other beings into that same state. It is the attitude of the bodhisattva, of the person who makes the compassionate vow to save others from suffering. In this book, the renowned teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche shows us how to achieve it.

First, Lama Zopa gives a clear and comprehensive explanation of bodhichitta, its benefits, and its importance to the path. Then, he walks us through the two main methods for achieving bodhichitta: the seven points of cause and effect, and equalizing and exchanging self and others. Finally, the book closes with meditation instructions to guide and strengthen our practice.

Readers will find Bodhichitta to be a comprehensive guide to this core Buddhist principle, one rich in both accessible philosophical explanation and concrete advice for practitioners.


Bodhichitta: Practice for a Meaningful Life, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Wisdom Publications, Hardcover, 322 pp., $29.95

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023) was a Tibetan Buddhist scholar and meditator who, for 39 years, oversaw the spiritual activities of the extensive worldwide network of centers, projects and services that form the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), which he founded with Lama Thubten Yeshe. Rinpoche has set in motion a host of Vast Visions for the FPMT organization that will span generations to accomplish. These include the proliferation of many charitable projects and beneficial activities. Among many projects dear to Rinpoche�s heart are the two Maitreya Projects: under Rinpoche�s guidance, FPMT plans to build two large statues of the future Buddha, Maitreya, in Bodhgaya and Kushinagar in India; The Sera Je Food Fund, which offered three vegetarian meals a day to all 2,500 monks studying at Sera Je Monastery in south India for twenty-six years, culminating into a large endowment fund, which now covers all the cost of food for all the monks for as long as the endowment fund remains; Animal Liberation events around the world, at which creatures, big and small, are freed from immediate harm or blessed every year� with hundreds of millions of animals liberated to date (by Lama Zopa Rinpoche or those inspired by him), and counting! Rinpoche was also utterly dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama wherever and whenever possible and held this to be an utmost priority for FPMT.