The defining characteristics of the Second Bhumi Bodhisattva

In the sixth lesson of Entering the Middle Way, Khenpo Sodargye begins with a story about Khenpo Achung receiving a miraculous blessing from Chandrakirti, illustrating the profound transmission of the Madhyamaka lineage. The teaching then delves into the distinction between mundane and supramundane generosity, emphasizing the realization of the "emptiness of the three spheres." Khenpo concludes the First Bhumi by comparing its wisdom and compassion to a water-crystal autumn moon dispelling darkness. Moving to the Second Bhumi, the "Stainless Ground," the core focus shifts to the perfection of ethical discipline. A Second Bhumi Bodhisattva maintains flawless discipline, completely abstaining from the ten non-virtuous actions even in dreams. Khenpo underscores that true Mahayana discipline requires relinquishing all dualistic attachments to "me" and "mine"; harboring pride in one’s pure vows fundamentally renders them impure. Finally, the lesson starkly warns against the faults of broken discipline. Without morality as a foundation, even vast generosity only leads to wealthy but unfree rebirths in the lower realms. Emphasizing a famous Kadampa verse, Khenpo urgently reminds practitioners to seize their current freedom and favorable conditions to practice genuinely, rather than risking a fall into the abyss of samsara.

A journalist once asked Khenpo Sodargye, What are you addicted to?

The Khenpo answered candidly, I’m addicted to reading books on Madhyamaka.

What kind of wisdom could inspire such deep fascination with the Middle Way?

Within the Madhyamaka tradition, Nāgārjuna’s Root Stanzas of the Middle Way, Aryadeva’s Four Hundred Stanzas on the Middle Way, and Chandrakirti’s Entering the Middle Way are regarded as three of the most essential treatises. For centuries, they have been highly revered by all schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Khenpo Sodargye once systematically received teachings on this text before his guru, His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, including Mipham Rinpoche’s teaching notes Teachings of Candrakirti and Chandrakirti’s Auto-Commentary on Entering the Middle Way. He also continued studying this treatise with many other great masters. Through memorization, deep study and contemplation, and repeated teaching of the text, he developed a firm and extraordinary realization of Madhyamaka.

Entering the Middle Way thus became one of the treatises to which the Khenpo devoted the greatest effort during his years of study and contemplation.

Let us now approach this classic that made a great Buddhist scholar “addicted,” and explore together the profound wisdom at the very heart of the Madhyamaka tradition.