37 Teachings of Gyelse Laglen for Tourists

When we travel, whether for leisure, rejuvenation, adventure, or exploration, the experience can be far more than just visiting new places or seeing famous sights. Travel can also be a profound opportunity for inner transformation. One of the most insightful guides for turning travel into a journey of the spirit is the Gyelse Laglen (The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva) by Gyelse Tokme Zangpo. This revered Buddhist text offers travelers and visitors not just a set of ethical guidelines but a path toward personal growth, deeper understanding, and a compassionate connection with the world. 🌍🙏

Introduction to the Gyelse Laglen

The Gyelse Laglen is a concise yet profound spiritual manual, that outlines the key practices of a Bodhisattva—someone who seeks enlightenment not just for themselves but for the benefit of all beings. Written in the 14th century by the Tibetan master Gyelse Tokme Zangpo, this text distills the essence of Mahayana Buddhist teachings into 37 core practices. Each of these practices provides valuable insights that can profoundly shape how we experience travel, turning what might be a superficial experience into one of deep spiritual significance.

The Importance of Study, Reflection, and Meditation

One of the fundamental practices outlined in the Gyelse Laglen is the commitment to continuous study, reflection, and meditation. The text begins with the line, “The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to study, reflect and meditate, tirelessly, both day and night, without ever straying into idleness.” This suggests that spiritual growth requires constant engagement with the teachings, even amidst the distractions of daily life—or in the case of travelers, the distractions of new and exciting environments. 🧘‍♂️

For travelers, this practice can be adapted by incorporating moments of study and reflection into the journey:

• Study Local Spiritual Traditions:
  • While visiting a new place, take the time to learn about its spiritual and cultural traditions. This could mean reading local religious texts, visiting temples or monasteries, or speaking with local spiritual leaders. Engaging with these practices helps to broaden your understanding and deepen your connection to the place.
• Daily Reflection:
  • Each day of your travels, set aside time for quiet reflection. This could be in the morning, as you prepare for the day, or in the evening, as you unwind. Reflect on your experiences, the people you’ve met, and the lessons you’ve learned. This reflection helps to integrate your experiences more deeply into your consciousness, making your travel not just an external journey, but an internal one as well.
• Regular Meditation:
  • Amidst the hustle and bustle of travel, finding moments for meditation can be challenging, but it is immensely rewarding. Whether it’s a few minutes of mindfulness on a train, a longer session in a peaceful park, or a visit to a meditation center, these moments of stillness help to ground your experiences and maintain a sense of inner peace.

Letting Go of Attachments: The Essence of Detachment

The Gyelse Laglen advises that true spiritual progress requires letting go of attachments, particularly to worldly concerns. This is vividly expressed in the verse: “The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to renounce this life’s concerns, for friends and relatives, long acquainted, must all go their separate ways; wealth and prized possessions, painstakingly acquired, must all be left behind.” This teaching is especially relevant to travelers, who often find themselves deeply attached to their possessions, routines, and the comforts of home. 🏞️

To integrate this practice into your travel experience:

• Minimalist Packing:
  • Before you set off on your journey, challenge yourself to pack as lightly as possible. Bring only what is essential, and let go of the need to carry unnecessary items. This not only makes travel more convenient but also serves as a practical exercise in detachment. The less you carry, the freer you feel.
• Embrace Impermanence:
  • Travel is inherently impermanent. You will pass through places, meet people, and have experiences that are transient. Rather than trying to cling to these moments—whether through excessive photography or the need to buy souvenirs—practice being fully present in each experience, and then let it go.
• Detaching from Comfort:
  • When you encounter discomfort during your travels, such as a less-than-ideal hotel or an unplanned delay, use these moments as opportunities to practice detachment. Remind yourself that these discomforts are temporary and that your happiness does not depend on external conditions.

Cultivating Compassion and Service: The Heart of the Bodhisattva Path

Compassion is the heart of the Bodhisattva path, and Gyelse Tokme Zangpo emphasizes this in several verses, such as: “The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to arouse bodhicitta, so as to bring freedom to all sentient beings, infinite in number.” For travelers, this practice of compassion can transform the way they interact with the world and its inhabitants. 🌺

Here’s how you can bring this teaching into your travels:

• Acts of Kindness:
  • Make a conscious effort to engage in small acts of kindness throughout your journey. This could be as simple as helping someone with their luggage, offering directions to a lost tourist, or buying a meal for someone in need. These acts may seem small, but they embody the spirit of the Bodhisattva—seeking to alleviate the suffering of others.
• Volunteer Opportunities:
  • Many destinations offer opportunities for volunteer work, whether it’s teaching, environmental conservation, or helping at local shelters. Dedicating a portion of your trip to service can be a deeply rewarding way to practice compassion. Not only does it benefit others, but it also enriches your own travel experience, making it more meaningful and purposeful.
• Ethical Travel:
  • Be mindful of the impact your travel has on local communities and the environment. Support local businesses, respect cultural norms, and minimize your ecological footprint. Compassionate travel is not just about how you treat people directly, but also about how your actions affect the wider world.

Facing Adversity with Equanimity: The Power of Inner Calm

Travel is full of uncertainties—missed flights, lost luggage, language barriers, and cultural misunderstandings. Gyelse Laglen teaches that adversity is not something to be feared but embraced as a teacher: “The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to recognize delusion whenever one is confronted by adversity or misfortune. For these sufferings are just like the death of a child in a dream, and it’s so exhausting to cling to delusory perceptions as real.” 🌧️➡️☀️

To apply this teaching:

• Mindful Response:
  • When you encounter a challenge, pause before reacting. Take a deep breath and bring your awareness to the present moment. Instead of reacting with frustration or anger, ask yourself how you can respond in a way that aligns with the qualities of patience, understanding, and compassion. This practice not only helps you handle the situation more effectively but also deepens your mindfulness.
• Seeing Challenges as Opportunities:
  • Every challenge you face while traveling is an opportunity for growth. If you get lost, see it as an opportunity to explore a new area you might not have visited otherwise. If there’s a delay, use the extra time to meditate, read, or simply observe the world around you. By reframing challenges in this way, you turn potential sources of stress into valuable experiences.
• Non-Attachment to Outcomes:
  • Often, stress during travel arises from a fixation on how things should be. Practice letting go of these expectations and accepting whatever happens with grace. Whether your plans work out perfectly or fall apart completely, maintain an inner calm by remembering that your peace does not depend on external circumstances.

Mindfulness in Every Moment: The Art of Being Present

Mindfulness is a recurring theme in Gyelse Laglen, where practitioners are encouraged to maintain awareness in all actions: “In short, no matter what one might be doing, by examining always the status of one’s mind, with continuous mindfulness and alertness, to bring about the good of others—this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.” For travelers, this teaching can transform how you experience each moment of your journey. 🌅

Incorporate mindfulness into your travels:

• Mindful Observation:
  • Whether you’re exploring a bustling market or a quiet temple, practice being fully present. Observe the details—the colors, sounds, smells, and textures around you. Notice how you feel in response to your surroundings. This practice not only enhances your experience but also helps you to engage more deeply with the place and its people.
• Mindful Eating:
  • Food is a central part of the travel experience. When trying new dishes, take the time to eat mindfully. Notice the flavors, the textures, the temperature, and the aroma of each bite. Reflect on where the food came from, the effort that went into preparing it, and how it connects you to the local culture. This simple practice can turn a meal into a rich, sensory experience. 🍜
• Mindful Interaction:
  • When interacting with others, whether locals or fellow travelers, be fully present in the conversation. Listen deeply, without planning your next response while the other person is speaking. By being fully engaged, you not only show respect and empathy but also create more meaningful connections.

Understanding the Illusory Nature of Worldly Pleasures

Gyelse Laglen teaches that worldly pleasures are fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying, encouraging practitioners to seek deeper, more enduring fulfillment: “The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to let go of grasping when encountering things one finds pleasant or attractive, considering them to be like rainbows in the summer skies—beautiful in appearance, yet in truth devoid of any substance.” 🌈

As a traveler:

• Enjoying Without Clinging:
  • It’s natural to enjoy the beautiful sights, delicious foods, and pleasant experiences that travel offers. However, practice enjoying these experiences fully in the moment without becoming attached to them. For example, instead of taking dozens of photos of a stunning landscape, try sitting quietly and simply appreciating the view with all your senses.
• Resisting the Urge to Collect:
  • Travel often brings with it the desire to collect—souvenirs, photos, experiences. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying these things, it’s important to recognize their transient nature. Instead of focusing on what you can take away from each place, focus on what you can leave behind—whether it’s a positive impact on the community or a memory of kindness.
• Seeking Deeper Fulfillment:
  • Beyond the physical pleasures of travel, seek out experiences that offer deeper, more lasting fulfillment. This could be a spiritual retreat, a meaningful conversation with a local, or simply spending time in a place of natural beauty. These experiences nourish the soul and leave a lasting impression long after the trip is over.

The Journey Beyond: Integrating the Teachings into Daily Life

The ultimate goal of the Gyelse Laglen is not just to guide the practitioner through a single journey but to instill habits and practices that lead to ongoing spiritual growth. As the text concludes, “The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to dedicate towards enlightenment all the virtue to be gained through making effort in these ways, with wisdom that is purified entirely of the three conceptual spheres, so as to dispel the sufferings of the infinity of beings.” 🌿🙏

To integrate these teachings:

• Daily Dedication:
  • Even after your travels, continue to practice the principles of Gyelse Laglen. Dedicate your daily actions, whether small or large, towards the betterment of yourself and others. By doing so, you keep the spirit of the Bodhisattva alive in your everyday life.
• Ongoing Reflection:
  • Reflect regularly on your experiences and how they align with the teachings. How have you grown through your travels? What lessons have you brought back with you? This continuous reflection helps to solidify the insights gained and ensures they become a lasting part of your life.
• Spreading Compassion:
  • Continue to practice compassion, mindfulness, and non-attachment in your interactions with others. Whether you’re at home or on the road, these practices help to create a more peaceful and loving world, one small action at a time.

Conclusion: A Journey Within and Beyond

Traveling with the guidance of Gyelse Laglen transforms an ordinary trip into a profound journey of the spirit. By embracing the practices of reflection, detachment, compassion, mindfulness, and the understanding of impermanence, tourists and visitors can transcend the superficial aspects of travel and touch upon something much deeper—a true connection with the self, others, and the world around them. 🌍✨

This is not just about seeing new places but about seeing the world with new eyes—eyes that are aware, compassionate, and free from attachment. The teachings of Gyelse Laglen remind us that every journey, no matter how far or near, is an opportunity to practice the Bodhisattva path and to grow in wisdom and compassion. Whether you are traveling to distant lands or simply navigating the journey of life, these practices offer a roadmap to a more meaningful, peaceful, and fulfilling existence. 🌟