The heart of the practice

The 1st Panchen Lama, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen, in his ‘Guru Puja’ (‘Lama Choepa’) writes, “This chronic disease of cherishing ourselves is the cause giving rise to our unsought suffering; understanding this, we seek the courage and strength to begrudge and destroy this monstrous demon of selfishness.” This is the heart of the practice. From this flows the tonglen practice of taking away the suffering of others and giving them all the happiness and joy. This cultivates our Bodhicitta. Ultimate Bodhicitta is the wisdom realizing emptiness. The combination of Bodhicitta and Śūnyatā (emptiness) is a complete practice leading to enlightenment for the benefit of all.