Author: M G Chitkara
Publisher: APH Publishing Corporation
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 000
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8176481939
Description
As part of a 21-volume series, this book points out Bodhisattva is a being who, having developed the Awakening Mind, devotes his life to the task of achieving Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings.
According to Buddhist thought, a Bodhisattva is someone on the path to Buddhahood who dedicates themselves entirely to helping all other sentient beings towards release from suffering, the word Bodhisattva can best be understood by translating the Bodhi and Sattva separately: Bodhi means the understanding of wisdom of the ultimate nature of reality, and a Sattva is someone who is motivated by universal compassion. The Bodhisattva ideal is thus the aspiration to practice infinite compassion with infinite wisdom.
Bodhisattva is a combination of two words, i.e. bodhi and sattva. Bodhi means the understanding or wisdom of the ultimate nature of reality and sattva is some are motivated and absorbed by universal compassion. The Bodhisattva ideal is, thus, the aspiration to practice infinite compassion with wisdom. Bodhisattva is the one having treated the path to Buddhahood and is about to reach the ultimate destination of perfect liberation.
Bodhisattvas who live in total accordance with the teachings come ever closer to Enlightenment. The practice of Guruyoga yields both mental and physical merits, which are necessary for the attainment of the wisdom and the method aspects of the Dharma. Nagarjuna wrote that all offerings should be made of the Guru, and Vejradhara stated, it is more beneficial to make offerings to even one hair of the Guru than any of the other objects of devotion.
Positive thinking and noble thoughts can make an ordinary man as exalted as Bodhisattvas are. The conception of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana was a corollary to its Buddhological speculation. They (the Mahayanist ) argued that there were among the worldly beings such individuals, who are in a position to develop Bodhichitta, fulfill the paramitas and become a Buddha. The development of Bodhichitta requires that the adopt must dedicate himself in his several lives to the service of others, and should not desire his own emancipation unless and until all others have attained it, because seeking one’s own emancipation before others would prove that he has not developed the virtue of self-sacrifice to the fullest extent. The volume contains some thrilling accounts on the cult of Boddhisattvas.
Contents
Introduction
Buddhist’s Bhakti & Adoration of the Bodhisattvas
Altruistic Purification and The Yajna
Attributes of Buddha
Becoming A Bodhisattva In the Human Realm
Way of Living
Bodhicharyavatara: Governing the bodhisattvas way of life
Bodhichitta The Essence of Teachings
Bodhipakshya Dharma: Common to Both Hinayana & Mahayana
Bodhisattva in the world of Suffering
Bodhisattva in the world of Suffering
Bodhisattva, Destined to Achieve Enlightenment
Luxury and Asceticism
Bodhisattva, the goal of Arahants
Bodhisattva: Accessible to Both Man & Women
Bodhisattva: The Sage of Silence
Bodhisattva engage themselves in the Selfless Service
Bodhisattvas: The Practitioners of Sadharmapundrika
Lotus Sutra, The Philosophy of Life
Bodhisattva: Works in wisdom, Compassion & Love
Buddha Nature
Buddha, The Fully Enlightened
Buddhist Triad: Sila Samadhi & Prajna
Actions Culminate Inevitable consequences
Mahamudra: Gesture of the ultimate essence
Mara & The Bodhisattva
Paramitas the highest Perfection for Bodhisattva
Sanskrit Treatises; Essentially Helpful for the Doctrine of Bodhisattva
Sanskrit treatises: Essentially Helpful for the Doctrine of bodhisattva
Self and Selflessness
Society & The Bodhisattvas
The Bodhisattva Tradition, Deeds & Ideal
The Bodhisattvas Enlightenment
The Great Wisdom: Manjusri
Appraisal & Summing Up
Epilogue
Appendix: Bodhicharyavatar (Sanskrit Text) Devnagari English, With Literal Meaning
Bibliography
Index