Bodhisattvacharyavatara

by Andreas Kretschmar | 246,740 words

The English translation of the Bodhisattvacharyavatara (“entering the conduct of the bodhisattvas”), a Sanskrit text with Tibetan commentary. This book explains the bodhisattva concept and gives guidance to the Buddhist practitioner following the Mahāyāna path towards the attainment of enlightenment. The text was written in Sanskrit by Shantideva ...

Just as students listening to the dharma must align their motivation and behavior with the conduct of the bodhisattvas, the master as well should practice the six transcendental perfections while teaching the dharma. If all six transcendental perfections are not completely present, the teacher’s bodhisattva activity is not fully manifest.

The first transcendental perfection, that of generosity, is fulfilled through the act of giving teachings. Among all forms of generosity, the gift of dharma is supreme. The perfection of discipline is fulfilled by the teacher remaining free from afflictions. Among all afflictions, at the very least, the teacher must remain free from aggression [zhe sdang], ill will or jealousy [phrag dog], and pride [nga rgyal]. This instructs us that a teacher is to observe the discipline of abstaining from harming others [gzhan gnod spong ba’i tshul khrims].

Third, a teacher must also practice patience, bearing any kind of fatigue [skyo ngal], whether mental fatigue [sems skyo ba] or physical hardship [lus ngal ba]; and he must teach the dharma tirelessly. He should bear any harm [gnod ’tshe] his students might inflict upon him due to incorrect understanding and practice [’khor gyi log sgrub bzod pa]. When the mind of a teacher remains composed through his practice of patience, his dharma discourse will not be disturbed. A true master must be patient with his students and should never get angry with them.

Since the master expounds the dharma with joy when teaching, he is practicing the fourth transcendental perfection of diligence. Fifth, by remaining undistracted while teaching the dharma, he is practicing the transcendental perfection of meditation or concentration. Since a qualified master is able to discern both the words and their meanings, the transcendental perfection of knowledge is also functioning within him. In this way, a proper master imparting the teachings is endowed with all six transcendental perfections.

In general, a sūtra teacher must be learned regarding the dharma [chos kyi don la mkhas pa] and must be imbued with bodhicitta [byang chub kyi sems dang ldan pa]. He must know the scriptures of the Mahāyāna tripiṭaka [theg pa chen po sde snod gsum] and must be fully endowed with all the oral instructions [gdamgs ngag] of his gurus.

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