The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva outlines skillful means requiring selfless courage born from wisdom which underlies them all.
Wisdom and skillful means, also known as right action, go together inseparably, reliant on each other and both are required for awakening. Together, they require diligence and courage to act skillfully with body, speech, and mind.
The selfless courage to take upon the suffering of others and give them our happiness, to thank one who slanders us and give our possessions and merit to one who steals from us is driven by wisdom. Here, wisdom refers to realizing the empty nature of all phenomena which we probably lack at least most of the time. So these 37 practices sound impossible. We don’t feel ready for that. We can’t imagine having that kind of selfless courage. The actions set forth in the little yellow book are challenging, especially as we haven’t developed profound non-dual wisdom – but reading and contemplating them develops wisdom to act for the benefit of all beings. These are the actions of a realized Ultimate Bodhisattva - which we aren’t. You may not consider you are any kind of Bodhisattva but these practices are those that arise from the aspiration to respond to benefit all beings and apply to all who wish to develop virtue and happiness. Even having that aspiration lessens our selfishness, the cause of suffering.
The title of a book of commentaries on The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva that I often recommend is Brave, Generous, and Undefended. That is what we aspire to become and in the meantime, we develop the courage to act selflessly until the realization of the profound wisdom of emptiness makes it a natural response.
Relative Bodhisattvas admit to being currently confused about their true nature but intent on fully realizing wisdom and compassion as an Ultimate Bodhisattva and vow to start on the path. They plant these verses in mind as a challenge, an intent, and contemplate the logic of it over and over so it may come to fruition as undefended courage. If anyone reads the 37 practices often, a verse might even come up at the appropriate time and they may remember to pause and perhaps have the courage to act bravely and skillfully. At least one will know how, why, and where they are heading.
I think many come to IMFW seeking some relief and wisdom to deal with the chaos and dissatisfaction and feelings of fear, futility, and hopelessness. There are lots of reasons to show up at IMFW. These teachings are clear that without courageous compassionate and loving action, freedom is not possible. Freedom requires both compassion and wisdom inseparable.
Skillful means could also be called virtue; actions that keep others’ needs and rights primary. This is a form of compassion. With compassion, one’s thoughts, speech, and actions would not be hurtful or greedy. With compassion, one would act with love, generosity, and patience; a pleasant state to dwell in and infused with the wisdom of emptiness, our interdependence, and inseparability. We may not comprehend or certainly act from an understanding of emptiness but we know compassion, selfless caring without pity, when it arises from the heart. We are enmeshed in a dualistic view until we have travelled far on the path. But when we act with generosity, we can glimpse it; we can experience our inseparable nature. We can start there.
It takes courage and faith to spend twenty minutes looking at a barrage of crazy thoughts and seemingly wasting time. Our friends and family don’t get it. Sometimes we don’t, either. There can seem to be many unfruitful sessions before any calm and insight arises. So it goes. That you have hung in there at all is deserving of applause and confidence. We should rejoice. And doing so encourages more courage.
When I began teaching here, even though I had plenty of experience teaching and presenting, I was nervous. It can be harder to present to people you know and who know you and your downfalls. Yikes! You could maybe hear it in my wavering voice back then. I heard it. I was uncomfortable and definitely lacking courage as I was filled with trying to look competent and wise. It wasn’t until I brought in a prayer wheel one time that it changed.
A prayer wheel is filled with prayers of wellbeing that carry far to all beings as one spins it clockwise. Does it? The point is that I pray it does. As I twirled it to remind myself through physically practicing my intent to offer something of use to my friends, focus wasn’t on Pam. I was reminded that this was about conveying some dharma and it could be offered with generosity instead of defending myself. When self-absorbed with the desire to look good and defend myself arises, I’m in an unhappy and isolated state.
Our focus can change away from self and the pain of worrying about how we appear and fearing the future and more to just being of use. We could shift our focus from self to loving care to relieve the suffering of ourselves and others. Well, we could if we remember. So we devote ourselves to courageous skillful action until the wisdom of emptiness of a separate self arises as a result.
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Day of Practice at Insight Meditation Fort Wayne with Susan Weir, Founding Teacher of Insight Meditation Ann Arbor, on February 28 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Join Susan as she teaches: The Map of Realization. 
In difficult times, it’s even more important to call to mind the most fundamental teachings of the Buddha. Mindfulness of Breathing seems like a simple instruction that's easy to follow, but when reading the Sutta, one can become a bit confused by what can seem like obscure language that is no longer relevant for contemporary meditators.
