Diligence: The Joyful Endeavor of the Buddhist Path

An exploration of diligence, the essential quality to inspire joy and openheartedness for Buddhist practice and daily life, from renowned Buddhist teacher Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. An exploration of diligence, the essential quality to inspire joy and openheartedness for Buddhist practice and daily life, from renowned Buddhist teacher Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This book contributes the first commentary on the diligence chapter from Shantideva's 8th-century classic The Way of the Bodhisattva. While many books have explored his celebrated chapter on wisdom, diligence has been overlooked. As one of the six paramitas or perfections that are fundamental for following the bodhisattva path and helping others, diligence can profoundly impact our lives. The highly acclaimed Buddhist teacher Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche guides us through the depth and complexity of Shantideva's teachings with his characteristic buoyant energy and clear, accessible writing. With over three decades of teaching on the subject, Dzigar Kongtrul illuminates how diligence is the inner quality that inspires us to engage with the world and, most importantly, with our own mind. It's the inner vigor that sparks enthusiasm despite difficulty, the dynamic armor that protects against laziness, and the inner strength that aims to meet the world with joy and openheartedness. Shantideva explains that diligence is the energy that flows through all the paramitas-it's the wind that keeps us moving toward the goal of liberation and benefiting others. Within the heart of every bodhisattva is a bursting sense of tenderness, peace, intelligence, and joy-which is inherent in the quality of diligence. In this book, Dzigar Kongtrul explores traditional teachings on diligence, such as the three kinds of laziness, the Four Immeasurables, the two strengths, rebirth, the nature of emptiness, and dependent origination. Joy is the continuous thread woven through this time-honored wisdom that will aid us throughout our lives whether in formal practice or our day-to-day interactions with an ever-changing world. With diligence, we will overcome laziness and succeed in all our meaningful endeavors.

About the Author :
DZIGAR KONGTRUL RINPOCHE grew up in a monastic environment and received extensive training in all aspects of Buddhist doctrine. In 1989, he moved to the United States with his family, and in 1990, he began a five-year tenure as a professor of Buddhist philosophy at Naropa University. He also founded Mangala Shri Bhuti, his own teaching organization, during this period. He has established a mountain retreat center, Longchen Jigme Samten Ling, in southern Colorado. When not guiding students in long-term retreats and not in retreat himself, Rinpoche travels widely throughout the world teaching and furthering his own education. He is the author of several books including Training in Tenderness and Peaceful Heart.

Review :
“‘What does it take to get out of your own way?’ In his inspiring and insightful new book, Dzigar Kongtrul turns our usual ideas of laziness and diligence on their heads by looking to The Way of the Bodhisattva—a well-loved classical text—to explore this question. The result? A practical and comprehensive guide to developing a warm heart and open mind through the practice of joyful effort, from one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most highly respected and innovative teachers.” —Susan Kaiser Greenland, author of Real-World Enlightenment and Mindful Games “For any undertaking to be successful, we have to make the necessary effort. How much more so if we wish to achieve ultimate enlightenment for ourselves and others! In an age where it is all too easy to get lost in distraction and pleasure, this new exploration of Shantideva’s timeless advice is a much-needed guide to help us find joy in practicing virtue.” —Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, author of Awakening Wisdom “Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche hands us a priceless gift in this unique elucidation of Shantideva’s teaching on diligence. With tender guidance and exquisite skill, he reveals diligence as vital for freeing us from the stubborn habits and distractions that keep us from moving forwards or realizing our true nature. Setting this teaching within the wider spectrum of the bodhisattva path and the practices of self-reflection and compassion, Rinpoche shows how we ourselves can discover inspiration, self-confidence, delight in spiritual practice, and come to understand diligence as ‘the art of finding joy in everything we do.’” —Patrick Gaffney, editor of Mind in Comfort and Ease “Skillfully unpacks all 76 of Shantideva’s verses on [diligence], offering clear and relatable guidance. . . . Diligence emerges not only as a discipline, but as a joyful and liberating practice.” —Buddhadharma