Vast & Profound is overjoyed to share the exciting news of a new book release by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our dear friend, Venerable Thubten Chodron. Titled Vajrayana and the Culmination of the Path, this extraordinary work is not only a profound gift of wisdom and compassion from our esteemed teachers but also a comprehensive guide to the deeply transformative world of Buddhist Tantra. We are profoundly grateful for their generosity in making these precious teachings accessible. Venerable Chodron has graciously shared the book’s epilogue, which features His Holiness's heartfelt advice to his disciples—a timeless treasure to inspire and guide us all on the spiritual path.

The book can now be ordered through Wisdom Publication.

Learn more about Vajrayana and the Culmination of the Path, set to be released on December 3.

Epilogue: Advice for My Disciples

In recent years I [His Holiness the Dalai Lama] have taught in many countries, and although I did not seek to have students, there may be some people who consider me their spiritual mentor and would like guidance on how to approach their Dharma practice. It is to them that I now speak.

The three principal aspects of the path—the determination to be free from samsara (renunciation), bodhicitta, and the correct view of emptiness—are the bedrock of the path, so put energy into developing deep experience of them.

When meditating on renunciation, focus mainly on the three types of duhkha, especially the pervasive duhkha of conditioning. Recognizing the destructive nature of afflictions will help you understand the disadvantages of the pervasive duhkha of conditioning. The stronger you feel that, the greater your interest in the possibility of eliminating afflictions will grow.

This will lead you to investigate emptiness, and from this you will gain conviction that the realization of emptiness will overcome the wrong views that nourish samsara. Since you want to remove afflictions and know that there is a path to do so, you will automatically generate renunciation of samsara and the aspiration for liberation.

Then turn your attention to other sentient beings and see the harm that afflictions cause them. Their situation and yours are similar. You both want to be happy and avoid suffering; you both have the potential to do so.

Seeing this, and remembering the kindness of others, generate the altruistic intention of bodhicitta. To bring to fruition your wish to attain awakening to benefit sentient beings most effectively, exert effort to gain the correct view of emptiness and meditate on that single-pointedly.

Make it a point to cultivate these two most important practices: bodhicitta and the wisdom realizing emptiness. Directing your mind to these two shows you have great merit.

The guru is fortunate to have the opportunity to teach bodhicitta. You, the disciples, are fortunate to hear about this precious altruistic mind that cherishes others more than yourself. (At this point in the teaching, His Holiness wept.)

Whoever generates this altruistic intention will find themselves setting out on the path to true happiness. Since we all want happiness and don’t want suffering, if you wish for real peace and harmony, there is nothing more to ask for than bodhicitta.

Bodhicitta is our best friend; it protects us from harm and hindrances, and brings all attainments of the Mahayana.