Author: M G Chitkara
Publisher: APH Publishing Corporation
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 000
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8176481971
Description
As part of 21-volume series on Buddhism, this study points out that Bodhisattvacharyavatara a great work was composed by Shantideva, a Buddhist master at the monastic university of Nalanda in Northern India.
Shantideva’s Bodhisattvacharyavatara holds a unique place in Mahayana Buddhism akin to that of the Dhammapada in Hinayana Buddhism and the Bhagavad Gita in Hinduism. In combining those rare qualities of scholastic precision, spiritual depth and poetical beauty, its appeal extends to a wide audience of Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Composed in India during the 8th century of the Christian era, it has since been an inspiration to millions of people throughout the world.
Shantideva a monk was strictly observing the code of monastic discipline, and was a realized tantric adept. He was a realized soul a Bodhisattva motivated by the awakening mind, the wish to achieve Buddhahood. Buddhahood is quite simply, the state of being Buddha. It is an expression of complete, perfect enlightenment or that beyond which it is impossible to go. As Such, it is the highest goal and attainment. Precisely because Mahayana philosophy presumes that all beings are already Buddha, this term reflects the concern to manifest the perfectness in everyday life.
A Bodhichitta is a mind infused with the aspiration to attain the state of Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings. This is the entrance to and the motivation behind the Bodhisattva’s way of life. The perfect condition of human existence is in which one has freedom from unfavourable states of being and endowed with the conditions conducive to leading a spiritual life. Bodhisattvacharyavatara consists of about 914 Shalokas contained in ten chapters.
Contents
The Bodhichitta at its celestial excellence
Confession; The Disclosure of Evil
Full Acceptance of the Bodhichitta
Conscientiously protecting and Maintaining Bodhichitta: Aware-ness
Guarding Alertness-vigilance
Patience
Enthusiasm: intensifying Bodhichitta
Meditation
Wisdom
Dedication
Glossary
Bibliography
Index