At the request of His Eminence Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche and Tulku Pema Wangyal Rinpoche on behalf of Padmakara Portugal, His Holiness the Sakya Trichen bestowed a series of teachings in Lisbon, Portugal, in June 2016.
These teachings were subsequently transcribed, edited, and compiled into a book, which was published in English by Padmakara Portugal in 2019 to commemorate His Holiness’s return visit to Portugal.
The Sakya Tradition was later honored to receive the permission and blessings to translate the book into Chinese and Romanian. Both translations were published in September 2026 in celebration of His Holiness’s birthday.
Knowing the Dharma is one thing. Letting it change the way we live is another.
In Entering the Mahayana Path, His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin brings together the essential teachings that shape the Mahayana path—from training the mind and understanding karma and suffering to compassion, refuge, bodhicitta, and dedication.
Step by step, these teachings show how understanding, motivation, and action come together—and how the Dharma becomes something we actually live.
Source: The published English manuscript was shared by Padmakara Portugal.
What are we truly seeking in this life?
Everyone wishes to be free from suffering and to find happiness. Yet we may not often stop to ask whether the things we pursue can really bring lasting peace. And when some forms of suffering cannot be resolved by changing our external circumstances, where can we turn for a way forward?
The Dharma is vast. Some approach it as they would a series of academic courses, assuming that once the prescribed material has been completed, their learning is finished. Others regard putting the Dharma into practice as a matter of external rituals or mysterious activities, while some see it merely as a system of philosophy. But what is Dharma really? Where should we begin, and how can we bring it into our everyday lives?
Whether you are encountering Dharma for the first time or have studied it for many years, we invite you to continue reading with these questions in mind. Read, reflect carefully, and, if the teachings make sense to you, put them into practice and discover their meaning through your own experience. The Dharma is not ultimately measured by how long we have studied or how much we know, but by whether we have understood the direction of the path and brought that understanding into our hearts and actions.
This Dharma teachings e-library is made possible by a grant from Sachen Foundation, and the generous donations of the Yueh Family Charitable Fund, and the Chan Family.