The Bodhicaryavatara: A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life: The 8th Century classic in 21st Century language (The Dharma Chronicles: Walking the Buddhist Path) - Softcover

Santideva

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1460961447 ISBN 13: 9781460961445

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011

Synopsis

The Bodhicaryavatara is an ancient text written in Sanskrit around 700 CE by Santideva, Buddhist monk and scholar who lived at the Nalanda Monastic University in India. The Bodhicaryavatara roughly translates to A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. A Bodhisattva is an enlightened being on their way to attaining full Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. The text has ten chapters that explain how to develop bodhicitta, or the enlightened mind. Earlier English translations of this text are accurate but difficult to understand for many readers living in the 21st Century. The mode of expression and the figures of speech are the product of that far-off time. This book faithfully re-expresses in modern day language the underlying message of the original text. Every effort has been made to preserve the underlying spirit of the message. There will be those who object to the changing of the outward form of this much-loved classic. While the author respects the beauty of the original text, the governing principle is to bring the even greater beauty of the underlying message to a whole new audience in the modern world who might otherwise find the original less than easy to fully understand. If you are embarking on the path to enlightenment, or just curious, this slim little book could be just the change agent you have been looking for. It is said to be one of the Dalai Lama's favorite texts. Chapter 1 The Benefit of the Spirit of Awakening Chapter 2 The Confession of Error Chapter 3 Adopting the Spirit of Awakening Chapter 4 Attending to the Spirit of Awakening Chapter 5 Guarding Introspection Chapter 6 The Perfection of Patience Chapter 7 The Perfection of Zeal Chapter 8 The Perfection of Meditation Chapter 9 The Perfection of Wisdom Chapter 10 The Post-Dedication

About this title

About the Author

David Tuffley PhD combines a career as a university lecturer and researcher with his very personal search for spiritual enlightenment over the past 40 years. Bodhicaryavatara is the fruit of that journey. David's academic interests range across Comparative Religion, Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, Literature, History, Software Engineering and Architecture. He blends his broad academic knowledge with the ancient practice of Buddhism and Taoism to create a truly unique work of timeless value.

Edition details

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1460961447
• ISBN 13: 9781460961445
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 134