Diligence: The Joyful Endeavor of the Buddhist Path

Diligence is the essential quality to inspire joy and openheartedness for Buddhist practice and daily life. As one of the six paramitas or perfections that are fundamental for following the bodhisattva path and helping others, diligence can profoundly impact our lives. In this commentary focused on the Diligence Chapter from Shantideva’s eighth-century classic The Way of the Bodhisattva, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche illuminates how diligence is the inner vigor that sparks enthusiasm despite difficulty, the dynamic armor that protects against laziness, and the inner strength that aims to meet the world with joy and openheartedness. He explores traditional teachings on diligence, like the three kinds of laziness, the two strengths, rebirth, and the nature of emptiness, and shows how diligence combined with joy can lead us to success in every endeavor.