A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way Of Life
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The Bodhicharyāvatāra, sometimes translated into English as A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, is a famous Mahāyāna Buddhist text written in Sanskrit by Shantideva (Śāntideva), a Buddhist monk at Nālandā Monastic University in India around 700 CE. It has ten chapters dedicated to the development of bodhicitta (the mind of enlightenment) through the practice of the six perfections (Skt. Pāramitās). The text begins with a chapter describing the benefits of the wish to reach enlightenment. The sixth chapter on the Pāramitā of patience, (Skt. Kṣānti, kshanti), is considered by many Buddhists to be the pinnacle of writing on this subject and is the source of numerous quotations attributed to Śāntideva.
Many Tibetan scholars have written commentaries on this text.
[edit] Chapter summary
- 1. The benefits of bodhicitta (the wish to reach full enlightenment for others)
- 2. Purifying bad deeds
- 3. Adopting the spirit of enlightenment
- 4. Using conscientiousness
- 5. Guarding awareness
- 6. The practice of patience
- 7. The practice of joyous effort
- 8. The practice of meditative concentration
- 9. The perfection of wisdom
- 10. Dedication
[edit] Translations available
- by Kate Crosby and Andrew Skilton, with commentary, ISBN 0-19-283720-6 (paperback) and ISBN 1-899579-49-4 (hardcover)
- by Marion Matics (as Entering the Path of Enlightenment)
- by Stephen Batchelor (as A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life)
- by Dr Alexander Berzin (as Engaging in Bodhisattva Behavior)
- by the Padmakara Translation Group, published by Shambhala Publications, 1997.
- by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, ISBN 0948006897 and ISBN 978-0948006890
