A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night: A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Shambhala Dragon Editions) - Softcover

Dalai Lama

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0877739714 ISBN 13: 9780877739715

Publisher: Shambhala, 1994

Synopsis

Compassion is the guiding principle of the bodhisattvas, those who vow to attain enlightenment in order to liberate all sentient beings from the suffering and confusion of imperfect existence. To this end, they must renounce all self-centered goals and consider only the well-being of others. The bodhisattvas' enemies are the ego, passion, and hatred; their weapons are generosity, patience, perseverance, and wisdom.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is considered to be a living embodiment of this spiritual ideal. His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama presents here a detailed manual of practical philosophy, based on The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharyavatara), a well-known text of Mahayana Buddhism written by Shantideva. The Dalai Lama explains and amplifies the text, alluding throughout to the experience of daily life and showing how anyone can develop bodhichitta, the wish for perfect enlightenment for the sake of others. This book will surely become a standard manual for all those who wish to make the bodhisattva ideal a living experience.

About this title

About the Author:

His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama is considered the foremost Buddhist leader of our time. The exiled spiritual head of the Tibetan people, he is a Nobel Peace Laureate, a Congressional Gold Medal recipient, and a remarkable teacher and scholar who has authored over one hundred books.

From AudioFile:

The Dalai Lama selects portions of this Buddhist classic on which to provide commentary. As is well suited to a commentary, this production uses two narrators: Wulstan Fletcher presents the text, which is followed by the commentary presented by James Gimian. The contrast in narrators is particularly helpful when the commentary engages in a dialogue with the text. The text is one of the primary teachings on the Buddhist path to becoming a Bodhisattva and living a life of generosity and compassion. The commentary represents teachings of the Dalai Lama as presented in a week-long retreat on the text. This audiobook is well suited to a self-study or a study group. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Shambhala
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0877739714
• ISBN 13: 9780877739715
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 141