The Hundred Verses of Advice by Padampa Sangye with Dr. Nick Ribush (2/2/2025)

Padampa Sangye was most likely born during the eleventh century in an area of southeastern India which could correspond to the modern-day state of Andhra Pradesh. Following the death of his father when he was fifteen, he ordained as a monk at Vikramaśīla, a famous monastic institute of learning in contemporary northern Bihar. He studied with many renowned teachers, both male and female, travelled widely, and spent many years practicing meditation in places such as Bodhgaya and Swayambhūnath stūpa, as well as in jungles and cemeteries throughout south Asia. He is said to have travelled to Tibet on several occasions, spending varying amounts of time during each visit. On his fifth visit, he is said to have returned to Tingri, Tibet, from China, remaining there, teaching and doing retreat, until his death. Padampa Sangye is remembered for his support of women practitioners and for being aware of the specific difficulties they had to overcome to devote their lives to practice. He was renowned as a pragmatic teacher who taught his male and female students through non-verbal gestures, the bestowing of auspicious objects, and verbal aphorisms and dialogues, through which he dispensed not only advice on spiritual practice but also on everyday behavior. His appearance signified his asceticism and high level of yogic attainment: he wore little clothing or jewelry. Students from near and far came to learn from him; he is reported to have said that he had as many students as there were stars above Tingri. The Hundred Verses of Advice, taught to his students in Tingri, is probably the best-known work attributed to him, and is written as clear and profound advice for integrating spiritual practice into everyday life. o read a commentary by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (considered an emanation of Padampa Sangye): The Hundred Verses of Advice: Tibetan Buddhist Teachings on What Matters Most For additional reading on Padampa Sangye: Lion of Siddhas: The Life and Teachings of Padampa Sangye (authored by Geshe Tsulga's first translator, David Molk). Dr. Nicholas Ribush, MB, BS, is a graduate of Melbourne University Medical School (1964) who first encountered Buddhism at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, in 1972. Since then he has been a student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche and a full time worker for their international organization, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Dr. Nick is the Founding Director of Kurukulla Center and current Director of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.