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The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas

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This book is an extended commentary on a forty-verse tract published five hundred years ago in Tibetan. It explores the underlying theology of Tibetan Buddhism from an intellectual viewpoint.

Buddhism does not take a single form. We think of Confucianism which has a rich history of aphorisms; or perhaps the "Bon" Buddhism of Japan or other east asian contries which incorporate some elements of zen and particular ethnic traditions. In India and South Asia there are two main branches, Theravadan and Vajrayanic Buddhism. This book covers Vajrayanic Buddhist thought and practices.

It does *not* describe Tantric practices, which is just as well. By that I mean, Tantric Buddhism is trendy nowadays, but is overemphasized in my view. There is a deep tradition of compassion and love in Buddhism, and I think it is well represented here.