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Masculinity and Femininity in the Spiritual Life

by Sangharakshita

The third and fourth Perfections are kshanti (forbearance, tolerance or spiritual receptivity) and virya (energy in pursuit of the good). So the Bodhisattva integrates 'feminine' and 'masculine' qualities in a perfect union.

Talk given in 1969.

This talk is part of the series Aspects of the Bodhisattva Ideal.

Tracks (click play to listen)

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	1.	Review of the series (8:38)
	2.	The third and fourth paramitas: kshanti and virya (6:08)
	3.	Three principal aspects of kshanti: i. Forbearance (11:26)
	4.	“Patience is the greatest forbearance” (5:59)
	5.	ii. Tolerance (9:58)
	6.	iii. Spiritual receptivity (6:49)
	7.	Virya: 'Energy in pursuit of the good' (6:15)
	8.	Emotional energies becoming blocked (5:04)
	9.	Emotional energies being wasted (2:47)
	10.	Emotional energy being too coarse (4:41)
	11.	The Bodhisattva at play 'like an elephant' (4:00)
	12.	'The monkey attitude and the kitten attitude': jnana (wisdom) and bhakti (devotion); 'self-power' and 'other-power' (9:24)
	13.	The Bodhisattva's integration of masculine and feminine; the union of wisdom and compassion in the Tantra: Yab-Yum (7:25)