matochok's review
4.0
Bodhicharyavatara or The Way of the Bodhisattva, is a classic work of Mahayana tradition of Buddhism written by the Indian Buddhist master Santideva a member of the famed Nalanda university of ancient India. Santideva's beautiful verses, originally written in Sanskrit and later translated into Tibetan contains profound meditations on many themes of Mahayana Buddhism. The chapters can be divided into three stages, the first three are designed to stimulate the bodhichitta (desire for enlightenment), the next three are instructions on how to prevent the attitude from being dissipated and finally the next three are ways in which bodhichitta can be intensified.
A bodhisattva refers to an enlightened being who delays niravana in order to help others become enlightened. For this reason the central theme of the work is compassion and why it is absolutely necessary for becoming a bodhisattva. Apart from compassion, it also deals with other themes like the virtue of patience, theory of impermanence and the nature of ego. There are many translations and commentaries on this work and further reading would definitely help get a better understanding. Most of the work would be comprehensible for people even slightly familiar with Buddhist teachings but chapter 8 'wisdom' needs further explanation. If I'm not mistaken santideva is primarily addressing monks or those soon going to be one and because of that reason some of the teachings seem a bit too austere for a casual reader. But this is one of those books that need to revisited time and again in order to truly grasp the wisdom it offers.
"Those who harm me rise against me
It's my karma that has summoned them.
And if through this these beings go to hell,
Is it no it I who bring their ruin?
Because of them, and through my patience,
All my sins are cleansed and purified.
But they will be the ones who, thanks to me,
Will have the long drawn agonies of hell.
Therefore I am their tormentor!
Therefore it is they who bring me benefit!
Thus with what perversity, perncious mind,
Will you be angry with your enemies?
A bodhisattva refers to an enlightened being who delays niravana in order to help others become enlightened. For this reason the central theme of the work is compassion and why it is absolutely necessary for becoming a bodhisattva. Apart from compassion, it also deals with other themes like the virtue of patience, theory of impermanence and the nature of ego. There are many translations and commentaries on this work and further reading would definitely help get a better understanding. Most of the work would be comprehensible for people even slightly familiar with Buddhist teachings but chapter 8 'wisdom' needs further explanation. If I'm not mistaken santideva is primarily addressing monks or those soon going to be one and because of that reason some of the teachings seem a bit too austere for a casual reader. But this is one of those books that need to revisited time and again in order to truly grasp the wisdom it offers.
"Those who harm me rise against me
It's my karma that has summoned them.
And if through this these beings go to hell,
Is it no it I who bring their ruin?
Because of them, and through my patience,
All my sins are cleansed and purified.
But they will be the ones who, thanks to me,
Will have the long drawn agonies of hell.
Therefore I am their tormentor!
Therefore it is they who bring me benefit!
Thus with what perversity, perncious mind,
Will you be angry with your enemies?
pizzamcpin3ppl3's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
eralon's review
4.0
Some interesting things to think about. Some weird stuff. Short but dense. Read it because Dan Harris said Dalai Lama recommended it. Hm.
I was particularly interested in some (accidental?) overlap with Christianity (love thy enemy) and modern particle physics.
As one reviewer mentioned, this is definitely not an introductory text for Buddhism but a more advanced book, and despite the previous Buddhism books I've read, a substantial amount was probably just above my head.
I was particularly interested in some (accidental?) overlap with Christianity (love thy enemy) and modern particle physics.
As one reviewer mentioned, this is definitely not an introductory text for Buddhism but a more advanced book, and despite the previous Buddhism books I've read, a substantial amount was probably just above my head.
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