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Shantideva (sometimes Śantideva, Zh: 寂天) was an 8th-century Indian Buddhist scholar at Nalanda University and an adherent of the Prasangika Madhyamaka philosophy.
The Chan Ssu Lun of the Chinese Madhyamika school identifies two different individuals given the name "Shantideva", the founder of the Avaivartika Sangha in the 6th century and a later Shantideva who studied at Nalanda in the 8th century, who appears to be the source of the Tibetan biographies. Citations of archaeological discoveries supporting this thesis may be accessed through Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, a respected online resource maintained by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, or through the Bodhicaryavatara Historical Project, an academic research project started by the Mahabodhi Sunyata Seminary in Tarragona, Spain.
Shantideva is particularly renowned as the author of the Bodhicaryavatara (sometimes also called the Bodhisattvacaryavatara). An English translation of the Sanskrit version of the Bodhicaryavatara is available online, as well as in print in a variety of translations, sometimes glossed as A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way Of Life or Entering the Path of Enlightenment. It is a long poem describing the process of enlightenment from the first thought to full buddhahood and is still studied by Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhists today. A commentary by Pema Chodron was published in 2005 as "No Time To Lose". An introduction to and commentary on the Bodhicaryavatara by The Dalai Lama called "A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night" was printed in 1994. A commentary on the Patience chapter was provided by the Dalai Lama in "Healing Anger" 1997, and his commentaries on the Wisdom chapter can be found in "Practicing Wisdom" 2004.
[edit] References
- Shantideva. The Way of the Bodhisattva. Translated by the Padmakara Translation Group. Boston: Shambala, 1997. ISBN 1-57062-253-1.
- Shantideva. Guide to the Bodhisattva's way of life : how to enjoy a life of great meaning and altruism. Translation from Tibetan into English by Neil Elliot. Ulverston (UK) ; Glen Spey, N.Y. : Tharpa, 2002. ISBN 9780948006890
- Kelsang Gyatso. Meaningful to behold: a commentary to Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's way of life. London; Ulverston (UK): Tharpa, 1989, 1998. ISBN 13: 978-0948006357
- Chödrön, Pema. No Time to Lose: A Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva. (Commentary on Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life). Boston: Shambhala 2005. ISBN 1 590 30135 8
- Tenzin Gyatso (14th Dalai Lama). A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night: A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. (Commentary on Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life). Boston : Shambhala, 1994. ISBN 10:. 0877739714
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